Marine Drive, Kochi
Encyclopedia
Marine Drive is a picturesque promenade in Kochi, Kerala
, India
. It is built facing the backwaters
, and is a popular hangout for the local populace. Ironic to its name, no vehicles are allowed on the walkway. Marine Drive is also an economically thriving part of the city of Kochi. With several shopping mall
s it is as an important centre of shopping activity in Kochi. Major fast food joints, including Marrybrown
, DiMark, Barista
, Coffee Bar are present along the walkway. The view of the setting and rising sun over the sea mouth, and the gentle breeze from the Vembanad Lake
has made Marine Drive an important tourist destination in Kochi.Hundreds of people (both natives, and tourists) throng the walkway during the evenings. The walkway starts from the High Court
Junction and continues until the Rajendra Maidan. There are also several boat jetties
along the walkway.
The walkway has two contemporarily constructed bridges, the Rainbow bridge and the Chinese Fishing Net Bridge.
was the literal marine drive with the Kochi Lake and the adjoining Arabian Sea
to its west. In the 1980s, GCDA
started the Kochi Marine Drive project (following from the Mumbai Marine Drive
) and thus the whole of the present Marine Drive (part of the Kochi Lake, west of the Shanmugham Road
to the present Marine Walkway) was claimed from the Kochi Lake. The then plan of GCDA was to eventually construct a road on the western border of this land, which would thus become a literal marine drive. But due to the enforcement of the Coastal Protection Laws in India in the 1990s, construction of a road became impossible. That's what led the GCDA toward settling down with a marine walkway instead of an actual marine drive. But the name Marine Drive, since the initiation of the project in the 1980s, identifies the whole region (which was claimed from the lake), and not just the walkway.
, Pioneer Towers, Hotel Taj Residency, Alliance Residency, DD Samudra Darshan apartment, and the India Priyadarshini Children's Park - in that order from North to South. These buildings and grounds are in between the marine drive walkway and the Shanmugham Road
.
The Public Ground at the Northern part of the Marine Drive is the preferred venue for major exhibitions, and more importantly political meetings that mark major landmarks in the Kerala political scene. It was here that the meeting to announce AK Antony's comeback to the Indian National Congress was held in 1982. The GCDA Shopping Complex is a major shopping arcade in Ernakulam city.
The important landmarks are:
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is built facing the backwaters
Kerala Backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state...
, and is a popular hangout for the local populace. Ironic to its name, no vehicles are allowed on the walkway. Marine Drive is also an economically thriving part of the city of Kochi. With several shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s it is as an important centre of shopping activity in Kochi. Major fast food joints, including Marrybrown
Marrybrown
Marrybrown Restaurant is a Malaysia based fast food chain.Established in 1981, they now have over 250 outlets serving Fried Chicken, Burgers, Seafood, Rice Base Products, Noodles, Porridge, Finger Foods, Desserts and Beverages. In 1980s Marrybrown became the first local fast food chain to franchise...
, DiMark, Barista
Barista Coffee
Barista Lavazza is a chain of espresso bars in India. Headquartered in Noida, Barista currently has espresso bars across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Middle East. It was founded in 1997 by Amit Judge and was part of his group of companies. He sold part of the equity to first Tata Coffee....
, Coffee Bar are present along the walkway. The view of the setting and rising sun over the sea mouth, and the gentle breeze from the Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
has made Marine Drive an important tourist destination in Kochi.Hundreds of people (both natives, and tourists) throng the walkway during the evenings. The walkway starts from the High Court
Kerala High Court
High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court of Kerala is headquartered at Kochi...
Junction and continues until the Rajendra Maidan. There are also several boat jetties
Jetty
A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the...
along the walkway.
The walkway has two contemporarily constructed bridges, the Rainbow bridge and the Chinese Fishing Net Bridge.
Name & History
Until the 1980s, the Shanmugham RoadShanmugham Road
Shanmugham Road is a major road of Kochi, India, named after R. K. Shanmukham Chetty who was the Diwan of the Kingdom of Kochi from 1931 to 1945. It runs parallel to Kochi Backwaters, and popularly known as Marine Drive. It is a busy and highly commercialised street of the city, dotted with...
was the literal marine drive with the Kochi Lake and the adjoining Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
to its west. In the 1980s, GCDA
Greater Cochin Development Authority
Greater Cochin Development Authority is the statutory body overseeing the development of the City of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India...
started the Kochi Marine Drive project (following from the Mumbai Marine Drive
Marine Drive
Marine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west...
) and thus the whole of the present Marine Drive (part of the Kochi Lake, west of the Shanmugham Road
Shanmugham Road
Shanmugham Road is a major road of Kochi, India, named after R. K. Shanmukham Chetty who was the Diwan of the Kingdom of Kochi from 1931 to 1945. It runs parallel to Kochi Backwaters, and popularly known as Marine Drive. It is a busy and highly commercialised street of the city, dotted with...
to the present Marine Walkway) was claimed from the Kochi Lake. The then plan of GCDA was to eventually construct a road on the western border of this land, which would thus become a literal marine drive. But due to the enforcement of the Coastal Protection Laws in India in the 1990s, construction of a road became impossible. That's what led the GCDA toward settling down with a marine walkway instead of an actual marine drive. But the name Marine Drive, since the initiation of the project in the 1980s, identifies the whole region (which was claimed from the lake), and not just the walkway.
Places Lining the Marine Drive
The Marine Drive stretches from the Jankar Jetty in the north to the Ernakulam Boat Jetty in the south. The adjoining areas are the Public Ground, Skyline apartments, Federal Bank Building, the GCDA Shopping Complex, the Kerala Trade Center (under construction), Abad Bay Pride MallBay Pride Mall
Bay Pride Mall is a mall located in Kochi, Ernakulam. Bay pride Mall is located strategically at Cochin Marine Drive, facing the Arabian Sea.The Mall comprises two levels, ground and first levels set apart for an exclusive upmarket commercial plaza with a total built-up area of .The establishment...
, Pioneer Towers, Hotel Taj Residency, Alliance Residency, DD Samudra Darshan apartment, and the India Priyadarshini Children's Park - in that order from North to South. These buildings and grounds are in between the marine drive walkway and the Shanmugham Road
Shanmugham Road
Shanmugham Road is a major road of Kochi, India, named after R. K. Shanmukham Chetty who was the Diwan of the Kingdom of Kochi from 1931 to 1945. It runs parallel to Kochi Backwaters, and popularly known as Marine Drive. It is a busy and highly commercialised street of the city, dotted with...
.
The Public Ground at the Northern part of the Marine Drive is the preferred venue for major exhibitions, and more importantly political meetings that mark major landmarks in the Kerala political scene. It was here that the meeting to announce AK Antony's comeback to the Indian National Congress was held in 1982. The GCDA Shopping Complex is a major shopping arcade in Ernakulam city.
The important landmarks are:
- The Marine Walkway streatching from Subash Chandra Bose Park in the south, to KSINC Boat Jetty in the north.
- The Rainbow Bridge which is part of the Marine Walkway
- The China Net Bridge which is part of the Marine Walkway
- GCDA Shopping Complex in Marine Drive.
- The Asoka-Tharangini Apartments