Cherai Beach
Cherai is a costal town in Ernakulam district of Kerala. It is situated 30 Km from Ernakulam.
Cherai is a part of greater Vypin Island and it came into existence due to floods in 1341. Cherai is mainly known for the Cherai beach which attracts many tourists.
The beach is 15 Km long with crystal clear water with waves brushing the coast, One can sight dolphins on this beach and one can have awonderful view of the sun set. Few minutes walk long the coast, you can reach the abandoned but shallow Kuzhuppilli beach and backwater. Now very less populated after hit by tsunami.
The Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple festival held here once in a year is the biggest temple festival in Ernakulam. In this festival the main feature is the spectacular procession of eighteen caparisoned elephants. The nine day festival falls in the month of January or February every year.
Cherai also has political significance as it was the birth place of Mathai Manjooran and Sahodaran Ayyapan both political personalities of Kerala.