Edappally

Edappally is a ward of Kochi, Kerala. The name is also used to refer to adjacent wards of Kalamassery and Thrikkakkara municipalities. Edappally is a major commercial centre as well as a prominent residential region. Edappally junction is one of the busiest junctions in the city.

Edappally in English literally translates as Eda, short for edaykku (Malayalam term for "in between") and Pallykollunna Sthalam (Malayalam term for "the place or palace where Kings(Rajas) used to take rest ). The name is connected with Edappally Palace and Edappally rajas.

Edappally is said to be one of the fastest growing areas in the city of Kochi. Edappally was the seat of the Edapally Rajas, the rulers of the area. Edappally was a Panchayath before getting included in Cochin Corporation. The Cochin corporation limits start from the traffic signal (Lulu Mall signal) towards Ernakulam and Palarivattom The area that covers Edappally toll and Lulu Mall is in Kalamassery Municipality limits. This is a place which comes partly under Thrikkakara legislative constituency and partly under Ernakulam constituency.

Oberon Mall – Oberon Mall is the first full format mall in Kerala, located on the NH bypass road, just a kilometre from the Edapally Junction. Oberon Mall is built over and the building stands on about of land. Oberon Mall also has the first multiplex theatre facility in Kerala. LuLu International Shopping Mall – Lulu Mall is the largest shopping mall in India, located in the Edapally neighbourhood of Kochi in Kerala. [1] It is built on an area of 17 acres, with the total area occupied by the mall alone at 1,850,000 square feet (172,000 m2). A premium five star 300 room hotel managed by JW Marriott Hotels is located near the mall. Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram consisting of a small children's park, two open auditoriums where programmes are organised almost every day, these programmes include various art forms, literary activities and other cultural items. Raghavan Pillai Park a small park near Ponekkara with a children's play area. Edappally Railway Overbridge was inaugurated on 4 February 2012. Edappally North (Kunnumpuram Junction) is the next main junction after Edapally junction, on way to Guruvayur from Ernakulam. Edappally Kunnumpuram Junction is the main junction to turn to Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences(Left Turn), Amrita School of Arts and Science (Right Turn), Manjummel (East Turn), Parur (Straight). Poysha Residents'Association(PRA), Kunnumpuram Central Residents' Association (KCRA), Ambedkar Road Residents'Association(ARRA), Mannam Road Residents' Association (ARRA) 'Vivekananda Road Residents' Association (VRRA) are the major Residents associations here. Oasis Mall – Oasis Mall is owned by Landmark Group who are also owners of popular outlets like Splash, Homecenter, Lifestyle etc. located on the NH bypass road, bang opposite to Lulu Mall towards Vytilla direction.

Changampuzha Smaraka Library and Edappally North Friends' Library are situated in Edappally. Edappally North Friends' Library celebrated Golden Jubilee in 2007 January. Education and Career Guidance Reference Library started as part of its golden jubilee celebration. Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram organizes various cultural and academic programmes, which include Kathakali, dramas, music, children's programmes, Akshara slokas, various cultural meetings, discussions, etc. A Senior Citizens' Forum is well functioning attached to this Kendram. Another institution at Edappally is Changampuzha Smaraka Grandhasala, a library established in 1950 as a memorial to the Malayalam poet Changampuzha Krishna Pillai. This library has a collection of about thirty six thousand titles and a reference section (approved as the Kanayannur Taluk Reference Library). This has an Art wing offering training in various types of dances, music (vocal and instrumental), painting and drawing, etc. About six hundred students undergo training in these. Beside that there is also the M N F Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures.

The Cochin bypass connects Edappally with Aroor which is an industrial town on the south end of Cochin. The Bypass Junction in Edappally is the north end of the Cochin bypass which extends up to Aroor. This entire route is evolving into a major business hub with big time stores and five star hotels. The world famous museum of Kerala History and sculpture is also located in Edappally (outside the city limits). Thrikkakkara temple is only 2 kilometres away from Edappally Toll junction, and the village of Vattekkunnam is connected via a railway tunnel. Two national highways NH 544 and NH 66 join the Kochi Bypass junction at Edappally. At Edappally, The National Highway 66 passes and continues up to Panvel, Maharashtra. Edappally is also connected by rail, and there is a railway station at Edappally. The Edappally Railway Overbrige was inaugurated on 4 February 2012. It helps passengers, so that they can have a convenient journey between Ernakulam Guruvayoor Route (NH 66). Edappally flyover was constructed in September 2016 to decongest the traffic at Edappally. Edappally North (Kunnumpuram Junction) is the next main junction after Edappally junction, on the way to Guruvayur from Ernakulam. Edappally Kunnumpuram Junction is the main junction when turning to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (a left turn), Amrita School of Arts and Science (a right turn), Manjummel (a turn to the east), Parur (straight). There is also the Edappally Metro Station, which is located near Edappally Station Kavala.