Palarivattom the Vyttila Junction in the SouthKakkanad in its western direction, which is the IT hub of Kochi city, 3) the main junction of Edapally in its north end, which then diverges into the Northern and North-western regions of Kerala such as Kodangallur, Guruvayur, Thrissur, Calicut etc, and 4) eastward towards the central town area of Kochi.The junction is sometimes also referred as pipeline junction. It is a commercial area, which gained importance as a connecting point between the city's different taluks when the district's administration was moved to the nearby suburb of Kakkanad. The name Palarivattom has evolved from the name Pagalnarivattom. Pagal Nari Vattom means, a place where jackals roam even in the day time. Nowadays the region is a bustling suburb and a concrete jungle, with no jackal habitation. The State HighwaySH41 Starts from Palarivattom to Thekkadi.
Commerce
Palarivattom's claim to fame in the early day was its vegetable and fruit markets and its close proximity to the crowded Kaloor market. It also gained fame for housing the famous Rappai Thattukada, a roadside eatery serving deep fried chicken which soon gained cult status among Malayalees in the 90s. Today, there are several IT training centres, salons, gyms, supermarkets, retail stores and boutique restaurants that have opened up on the stretch from the round junction to its signal junction. Palarivattom also houses branches of all major Indian banks including the State Bank of India, the Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and the Catholic Syrian Bank, Corporation Bank Zonal Office, and has a major telephone exchange of BSNL. The first Malayalam news channel, Indiavision, broadcasts its news bulletins from Palarivattom. Palarivattom station of the Kochi Metro phase I line is located in the outskirts of the area, along the Kaloor - Edappally Road next to the Renai Hotel. The phase II line of the metro from Kaloor Stadium to Kakkanad has stations at Palarivattom round-about as well as the Bypass Junction. To alleviate the traffic congestion at the Palarivattom junction a flyover was built and it was opened to public on 12 October 2016 by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However bridge was closed in May 2019 extensive cracks on its pier caps and girders. The expert committee reports found serious lapses in the construction and recommended for rehabiltation of the flyover to ensure structural stability.
People and Landmarks
Palarivattom is one of the few centres in Kochi city where small shops selling cigarettes, fruit juices and snacks remain open till the early hours of dawn. There is a Janamaithri Police Station right at the round, as well as two petrol pumps. The region has seen the growth of real estate, with the trading community having set base here since the last few decades. The Private Bus Operator's Association is also based at Palarivattom. Most of the business activity in this region shuts down by 9 or 10 pm. In the morning, the junction transforms into a major point of sourcing labour for construction work. Hordes of labourers can be seen flocking the junction in the early morning hours. Palarivattom is also just half a kilometre away from the Jawaharlal Nehru international Stadium, which is Kerala's biggest sports stadium and India's 3rd largest. There is a study centre of Indian Institute Of Architecture & Design As part of the Kochi Metro Rail project, Palarivattom is going to be one of the major stops in the first phase launch of the Kochi Metro Network. The station will be situated in the north-end of the junction. There is a Government run guest house for tourists near to Suburban Complex, and the main hospital is the Renai Medi City near the round junction and the Ernakulam Medical Centre, near the highway signal junction.
Religious Institutions
The region is also known for its centuries old temples and churches of various denominations. One of the oldest Hindu temples in the area is the Raja Rajeswary Temple, dedicated to the deity Jala Durga. The Hari Hara Sudha Temple, dedicated to the Lord Ayyappa is newer, but more popular. Maha Ganapathy, Mahadeva, Sree Parvathy, Lord Muruga, Hanuman, Navagraha and Nagaraja also are represented in the temple, and there is a life sized statue of Sree Narayana Guru in the compound. Near the Thammanam area of Palarivattom, there exists the Ananthapuram SreeKrishna Swamy Temple. The church of St John The Baptist is located a short distance from the main commercial hub, and St Martin de Porres church on the main road has been renovated and has become an important landmark. An additional attraction here is an Auditorium near to the Main Road, with parking space. Orthodox and Marthoma churches are also situated in Palarivattom, both the churches having their own auditorium for functions. The new mosque on the main road is unique in that women are allowed in for prayers.
