Mattancherry

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The Jain temple at Mattancherry
The Jain temple at Mattancherry

Mattancherry is the western part of Kochi corporation in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India. It is said that the name Mattanchery is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. Its is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry from Ernakulam town. The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam.

[edit] Tourist attraction

Mattancherry is a part of Ernakulam District in Kerala, India.It is a tourist destination. It is surrounded by the backwaters of Arabian Sea.Mattancherry was the first trade hub of the present district.Mattancherry is populated by people from various walks of life and various parts of India & Abroad. There are people who have come and settled in Mattancherry from Goa, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and so on.

Earlier Mattancherry was the trade link to Ernakulam. Main Trade was on spices such as pepper and turmeric. Tea is also traded. Mattancherry deteriorated mainly since the porters working at various firms had some unaccounted trouble with the Merchants. Slowly the traders moved to Ernakulam as Mattancherry proved to be costly. Mattancherry has a Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace Museum, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin samaj temples including the Venkatraman temple and a Jain's Temple (known as MahajanWadi to localites)and Mosques. Mattancherry Palace Museum hosts different weapons such as swords, spears and various other artilleries such as cannon used to protect the borders from invaders in the historic ages. The museum also hosts various paintings and murals. Near the museum, a private BUS Depot is also present. Close to the Bus Depot there is a Boat Jetty, where we get boats to Ernakulam, Fort Cochin and Willington Island. There is also Bazaar (Market) where we get to buy different spices and articles used interior decorations.

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