EmmettAlbritton at 13:10, 17 March 2026

2026-03-17T13:10:58Z

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{{Short description|Town in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Cherai
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = town
| image_skyline = Cherai Lagoon2.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Cherai Lagoon2
| pushpin_map = India Kerala
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.977|N|76.27|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title1 = Panchayat President
| leader_name1 = Sri. Radhakrishnan
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 0
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 683514
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0484
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Am]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Cherai''' is a small town located in north side of [[Vypin]] island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CHERAI BEACH {{!}} Ernakulam District Website {{!}} India |url=https://ernakulam.nic.in/en/tourist-place/cherai-beach/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is a region in the suburb of the [[Kochi|city of Kochi]], in the state of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is at a distance of about {{convert|22.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the ''High Court Junction'', [[Kochi]].

Cherai has the longest beach in [[Kochi]] - the [[Cherai beach]]. The beach is located towards the centre-north of the Vypin island which is said to have formed in 1341.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cherai, Cherai Beach, Hotels in Cherai, Resorts in cherai, Cherai homestays |url=https://cherai.in/history.html |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=cherai.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cherai beach, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, Video |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/video-gallery/cherai-beach/5/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=www.keralatourism.org |language=en}}</ref> The ''Cherai Beach'' is {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} long. Dolphins are occasionally seen here.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cherai Beach in Kochi, Ernakulam {{!}} Kerala Tourism |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/cherai-beach-kochi/179/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=www.keralatourism.org |language=en}}</ref>

Cherai has played an important role in the history of modern Kerala by becoming the birthplace of two prominent political personsages of modern Kerala - [[Mathai Manjooran]] and [[Sahodaran Ayyappan]].

''[[Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple]]'' is one of the main [[Hindu]] temples. The temple is maintained by ''Vijnana Vardhini Sabha'' (V. V Sabha). It also known as Kerala [[Palani Murugan Temple|palani]]. The festival in the temple is the biggest festival in Eranakulam district. The festival happens every year towards the last 2 weeks of January or first 2 weeks of February. The main attractions are Elephant parade (around 20-30 elephants).

There is one more famous temple in Cherai, which is ''Azheekkal Sree Varaha Temple'' famous for its beautiful [[Temple car|chariot]]. It is one of the oldest temple owned by Gowda Saraswatha Community.

==Nearby attractions==
* [[Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur]]: First church in India and one of the seven churches founded by [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas the Apostle]] in the first century.
* Portuguese Fort: Built in 1503 by the Portuguese also known as Pallipuram Fort (''Aya Kotta''). It is the oldest European monument in India. It was an out post to safeguard the famous [[Muziris]] Port. In 1661 the Dutch captured the fort and in 1789 the fort was handed over to the King of [[Travancore]].
* Pallipuram Basilica of Our Lady of Snow: The church is built by the Portuguese in 1577. The exquisite picture of Virgin Mary on the top of "Altar" is brought from Portugal.The yearly celebrations of Lady of snow happening in August every year.The Water parade of boats is one of the notable function.

== Notable people==
{{alumni|residents|date=July 2022}}
*[[Mathai Manjooran]]
*[[Sahodaran Ayyappan]]
*[[Mary Verghese]]
*[[TVR Shenoy]]
*[[S. Sharma]]
*[[M. K. Prasad]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Cherai Beach2.jpg|[[Cherai beach]]
Image:Chinese_Fishing_Nets_Cherai.JPG| [[Chinese fishing nets]]
Image:Walk_Way_Cherai.JPG |Walkway on the sides of the road to Cherai from [[North Paravur]]
</gallery>

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Areas of Kochi'''
|North = [[Munambam]]
|West = [[Arabian Sea]]
|Centre = Cherai
|East = [[North Paravur|Paravur]]
|South = [[Ayyampilly]]
}}

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114038809751246788218.00000112844f7014c63f0&ll=10.138214,76.193576&spn=0.013518,0.018518&t=k&z=16&iwloc=00044b6e9b36c7130d2f4 Satellite image of the town]

{{Suburbs of Kochi}}

[[Category:Geography of Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kochi]]
[[Category:Beaches of Kerala]]

Cherai - Revision history

EmmettAlbritton at 13:10, 17 March 2026