Key facts
- Eloor is an island of about 14.21 km² formed between two distributaries of the Periyar river, about 13 km north of central Kochi.
- Eloor became a separate municipality in 1990 and had a population of 31,468 in the 2011 census.
- Eloor’s industries include Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT), Indian Rare Earths Limited and Hindustan Insecticides Limited, among more than 200 units.
- Greenpeace named Eloor one of the world’s toxic hotspots in 1999, and fish deaths and river discolouration in the Periyar near Eloor have been reported repeatedly since.
- Eloor’s PIN code is 683501.
An island most people cross without noticing
Look at a map and you will see the Periyar split into branches as it heads for the backwaters. Eloor is the land caught between two of them – an island of about 14.21 km², according to Wikipedia, roughly 13 km north of the city centre. Because it is joined to the mainland by bridges and causeways, you can ride from Kalamassery into Eloor without ever thinking of it as an island.
The usual approach from Kalamassery is over Pathalam, where a regulator-cum-bridge crosses the river; Manjummel lies on the same side. See Pathalam Bridge and the Eloor road and Manjummel and Pathalam for those approaches.
Administratively Eloor is its own municipality, separate from Kalamassery since 1990. Its PIN code is 683501. The 2011 census counted 31,468 people – a small resident population for such a large industrial footprint.
How it became an industrial belt
The turning point was FACT (Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore). Construction began in the 1940s, and the post office that grew around it was named Udyogamandal – literally “industrial zone”. Through the 1950s other large units followed: Travancore Cochin Chemicals, Binani Zinc, Indian Rare Earths and Hindustan Insecticides. Our histories of Udyogamandal and FACT Udyogamandal go further.
Today Wikipedia counts more than 200 industries, making fertilisers, chemicals, rare-earth compounds and more. For a working man, that means jobs, apprenticeships and contract work – and also shift patterns, safety rules and gate passes that shape daily life.
The pollution history, stated plainly
It would be dishonest to write about Eloor without this. According to a 2020 report in The News Minute, the first major fish-kill episode in the Periyar was recorded in 1971, and in 1999 Greenpeace described Eloor as one of the world’s toxic hotspots. Courts and pollution-control bodies have intervened several times since, including after the river ran black near Eloor in April 2020, when the Kerala High Court took up the matter on its own.
Reports of river discolouration and dead fish have continued, including a large fish kill in May 2024 linked by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to the opening of shutters at the Pathalam regulator after a long closure. Causes and responsibility are often disputed between residents, industries and authorities. If you plan to live here, ask locals about drinking-water sources and air quality in the specific ward.
Do not swim in or fish from the Periyar around the industrial stretch, and avoid using untreated river or well water for drinking unless locals confirm it is safe.
Living in Eloor versus commuting in
| Living on the island | Commuting from Kalamassery |
|---|---|
| Short walk or ride to the plant gate | A daily crossing at Pathalam or another bridge |
| Fewer shops and restaurants | HMT Junction, metro and rail close by |
| Quieter at night in residential pockets | More choice of rooms and food |
| Closer to industrial air and river concerns | Some distance from the plants |
Notable non-industrial landmarks include the FACT stadium and schools such as FACT Public School and St. Ann’s Higher Secondary School, and St. Joseph’s Hospital at Manjummel, which Wikipedia describes as one of Kerala’s earliest private hospitals. Workers comparing jobs across the belt should also read Edayar Industrial Area and our guide to CIPET Kochi at Eloor.
For Eloor shift workers: a room on the Kalamassery side
Many men who work in Eloor prefer to sleep on the mainland. Ashraf Gents Hostel is on NAD Road, at the signal in Kalamassery (Ashraf house, 683563) – a boys’ hostel and PG for students, staff and working men. Its public profile lists industrial landmarks such as the Adani port area and the Nippon skill centre within about 3 km; for your own plant gate, time the ride via Pathalam at your shift hours.
Photos in the gallery show twin-sharing rooms with cots and mattresses, a kitchen for cooking your own food and a tiled bathroom. The indicative rate is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance. Rotating shifts? Ask about entry timings on +91 90746 23855 before you move in.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eloor really an island?
Yes. Eloor is an island of about 14 km² between two distributaries of the Periyar, connected to the mainland by bridges.
Is Eloor part of Kalamassery?
No. Eloor has been a separate municipality since 1990, though it borders Kalamassery and shares roads and industries with it.
What is the PIN code of Eloor?
683501.
Is it safe to live in Eloor?
Thousands of people live there, but the area has a long record of industrial pollution concerns. Ask locals about water and air in the specific ward and do not drink untreated river or well water.
Which big companies are in Eloor?
FACT, Indian Rare Earths and Hindustan Insecticides are among the best known, alongside more than 200 smaller units.
Related guides
Sources
- Wikipedia: Eloor
- Eloor Municipality (LSGD Kerala): At a glance
- The News Minute: How a pristine Kerala island transformed into world’s top toxic spot (2020)
- The News Minute: Why activists think asking pollution body to inspect Periyar is inadequate (2020)
- India Environment Portal: KSPCB report on Periyar river pollution (Nov 2024)
Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed . How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.