Wikipedia
Aluva (formerly Alwaye), is second biggest town of Greater Cochin City in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India which is also considered as the Industrial and Commercial City of Kochi. Located on the River Periyar, Aluva is the industrial epicenter of the state. A major transportation hub, with easy access to all major forms of transportation, Aluva acts as a corridor which links the highland districts to the rest of the state. Cochin International Airport Limited - CIAL at Nedumbassery, is 11.7 km away from Aluva. Aluva is more famous for its accessibility through Rail (Aluva Railway Station), Air (CIAL Airport) and Metro (Kochi Metro Rail Limited).
Aluva, home to the summer residency of the Travancore royal family - the Alwaye Palace - is also famous for the Sivarathri festival celebrated annually at the sandbanks of Periyar. The Advaita Ashrams in Aluva founded in 1913 by Sree Narayana Guru, one of India's greatest social reformers adds to the cultural significance of the town. Today, whilst part of the Kochi urban agglomeration, Aluva is an autonomous municipality, its civic administration conducted by Aluva Municipal Council. The town also serves as the administrative centre of the Aluva taluk.Villages from Mukundapuram,Kanayannur,Kunathunad and North Paravur taluks were combined together to form Aluva Taluk in 1956.The headquarters of the District Police Chief of Ernakulam Rural Police District, Superintending engineer, PWD(Roads) and of the District Educational Officer, Aluva are also located here.It is the starting point of Kochi metro rail under construction.