Aluva Town Guide for Kalamassery Residents

Key facts

Aluva railway station (code AWY) is one of the busiest stations in the Kochi area and a stop for most long-distance trains through central Kerala.
Aluva metro station is the northern terminus of Kochi Metro Line 1, open since June 2017.
Aluva Sivarathri is held on the Manappuram sandbanks of the Periyar and is one of Kerala’s largest religious gatherings.
The Advaita Ashram at Aluva was founded in 1913 by Sree Narayana Guru.
Aluva Palace on the Periyar was a summer residence of the Travancore royal family.

The Aluva Manappuram Siva temple with its tiled roof on the sandy riverbank. Photo: Vis M / Wikimedia Commons, CC0

Why Kalamassery people go to Aluva

Trains. Kalamassery station mainly sees passenger and MEMU trains; Aluva is where most expresses stop.
Long-distance buses. The Aluva KSRTC bus station is one of central Kerala’s important hubs.
Shopping. Markets and wholesale shops for clothes, household goods, fish and vegetables.
The river. Evenings on the Periyar, the Manappuram and the Sivarathri festival.
Errands for people whose addresses, like many on the NAD side of Kalamassery, mention Aluva.

Aluva railway station, Kerala. Open in Google Maps · Directions from Ashraf Gents Hostel

Getting there from Kalamassery

The simplest way is Kochi Metro: ride north from Kalamassery or Cochin University station through Muttom, Ambattukavu, Companypady and Pulinchodu to the Aluva terminus. Buses run up NH 544 all day, and a few MEMU and passenger trains link Kalamassery and Aluva stations directly. From NAD Road, local buses run towards Aluva too. See Aluva railway station to Kalamassery for the reverse trip and Companypady, Ambattukavu and Muttom for the stops in between.

The metro terminus and the railway station are not the same building. Allow time for the short transfer – by foot, auto or feeder – and check the walking route on a map the first time.

The railway station

Aluva (AWY) is a large station and, according to Wikipedia, among the busiest in the Kochi area. It is the practical choice for trains towards Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and beyond, and for many long-distance trains to other states. Book early around festivals and holidays, and use the official IRCTC or Indian Railways apps for current timings – we do not list timetables because they change.

Markets and shopping

Aluva’s town centre is a dense grid of textile shops, hardware stores, bakeries and household-goods dealers, with a busy market area for fish, meat and vegetables. Prices are often keener than in mall-led Edappally, and it is a good place to set up a hostel room in one trip: buckets, a mattress cover, steel plates, a pressure cooker. Our guides to fish and vegetable markets and setting up a hostel kitchen give more detail.

The Periyar, Manappuram and landmarks

Manappuram and the Mahadeva temple – the sandbank where Aluva Sivarathri is held, one of Kerala’s largest religious gatherings. See our Sivarathri guide.
Aluva Palace – once a summer residence of the Travancore royal family, beside the river.
Marthanda Varma Bridge – the old road bridge over the Periyar.
Advaita Ashram – founded in 1913 by Sree Narayana Guru, an important centre of Kerala’s social-reform movement.
Union Christian College – one of the older colleges in the district; see UC College hostel options.

For quiet evenings by the water, see Periyar riverside evenings. Respect warning signs: the river can run fast in the monsoon.

Should you live in Aluva instead?

If your work is in Aluva itself, or you take a train home every weekend, it can make sense. If your work is in Kalamassery – CUSAT, the Medical College, HMT, KINFRA, Eloor – living in Aluva adds a daily ride against the main traffic flow. Our honest Edappally vs Kalamassery vs Aluva comparison lays out the trade-offs.

Using Aluva from a NAD Road room

Ashraf Gents Hostel is on NAD Road, at the signal – Ashraf house, Kalamassery, Aluva, Kerala 683563 – which is why “Aluva” appears in its postal address. It is a boys’ hostel and PG for students, staff and working men, on the side of Kalamassery that faces the Aluva direction. Look at the rooms in the photo gallery.

The indicative rate is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance. Arriving at Aluva station with luggage? Call or WhatsApp +91 90746 23855 to confirm your room and the best way over before you set off.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Kalamassery to Aluva?

Take Kochi Metro north to the Aluva terminus, or a bus along NH 544. Some MEMU and passenger trains also run between the two railway stations.

Do express trains stop at Kalamassery?

Mostly not. Kalamassery station mainly serves passenger and MEMU trains; use Aluva or Ernakulam for expresses.

Is Aluva metro station next to the railway station?

They are close but separate. Allow a few minutes to transfer by foot or auto.

When is Aluva Sivarathri?

It is held on Mahashivaratri night each year, usually in February or March, on the Manappuram sandbanks of the Periyar.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.