NAD Ayudh Vihar: The Naval Armament Depot’s Local Name, Explained

Ashraf Gents Hostel

Key facts

Locally, “NAD Ayudh Vihar” refers to the Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Aluva, the Indian Navy establishment that gives NAD Road its name.
The Indian Navy dates the depot’s inauguration to 19 September 1958, when Vice Admiral R. D. Katari — the first Indian to head the Navy — opened it.
OpenStreetMap places the “Ayudha Vihar” bus stop about 1.16 km west, in a straight line, of the NAD Road signal in Kalamassery.
Āyudha is the Sanskrit word for “weapon” or “armament”, so Ayudh Vihar reads roughly as “the armament establishment”.
India Post lists PIN 683563 as the Naval Armament Depot – Aluva sub post office, which is why NAD-side addresses end in “Aluva”.

Front of the Ashraf Gents Hostel building with its upstairs balcony and green shade net, Kalamassery. See all hostel photos

Where the Ayudha Vihar stop is

The Ayudha Vihar bus stop is on the road that runs west from the NAD Road signal towards Mattakkadu and the Muttom side. OpenStreetMap marks it at about 10.0680° N, 76.3457° E — about 1.16 km west of the signal in a straight line; the road distance is longer.

Going west from the signal, the stops on OpenStreetMap run: NAD Signal, then Pullalikkara (about 240 m), Shanthigiri (about 470 m) and then Ayudha Vihar (about 1.16 km). Our guide to Mattakkadu and Shanthigiri covers the stretch in between, and the bus stops around the NAD signal guide maps all twelve.

Stop (OpenStreetMap)	Straight line from the NAD signal	Direction
NAD Signal	about 50 m	south
Pullalikkara	about 240 m	west
Shanthigiri	about 470 m	west
Ayudha Vihar	about 1.16 km	west

Ayudha Vihar bus stop, Kalamassery. Open in Google Maps · Directions from Ashraf Gents Hostel

Ayudh Vihar is the Naval Armament Depot

Ask around the NAD signal and you will hear the depot called Ayudh Vihar (also written *Ayudha Vihar*). It is the same establishment as the Naval Armament Depot, Aluva — “NAD” for short — which the Indian Navy opened on 19 September 1958 and which gave NAD Road and the NAD signal their names. Our history of the depot covers what is publicly known.

The name is apt: *āyudha* is Sanskrit for “weapon” or “armament”, and *vihar* is a common ending for an establishment or settled area — so “Ayudh Vihar” is close to “the armament establishment”. You will see the name on the Ayudha Vihar bus stop and in local directories as “NAD Ayudh Vihar”.

Few published sources use the name Ayudh Vihar; this page reflects how it is used locally around the NAD signal. If you have an official reference, tell us on WhatsApp and we will add it.

Much of the land between the NAD signal, Manalimukku and the Edathala side is depot land, which is why the area feels green and quiet compared with the NH 544 side of Kalamassery. Parts of it were set aside for the Seaport–Airport Road; see the Seaport–Airport Road history.

Landmarks near the Ayudha Vihar stop

OpenStreetMap shows these within about 800 m of the stop (straight-line distances from the stop):

Salafi Juma Masjid Mattakkade — about 390 m
Vidakkuzha Thaikkaavu (place of worship) — about 470 m
Government Lower Primary School — about 700 m
NAD Lower Primary School — about 750 m
Vidakuzha Sreekrishna Temple — about 800 m
The Muttom metro yard lies a little over 1 km to the west

For everything around the signal itself — schools, churches, mosques, clinics, fuel and shops — see the map of 56 places near the hostel.

Getting there

By bus: buses on this road stop at Pullalikkara, Shanthigiri and Ayudha Vihar. Which buses run and how often is best checked locally — see bus travel hacks.
By metro: the nearest Kochi Metro stations in a straight line from the NAD signal are Ambattukavu (about 2.4 km) and Muttom (about 2.6 km); finish by bus or auto. Our metro hacks cover cheaper QR tickets.
By auto: say “NAD Ayudh Vihar, near the Ayudha Vihar stop”; agree the fare first or use the meter — see auto and taxi tips.
On foot from the NAD signal: a little over a kilometre in a straight line; check the walking route on a map, as the road is longer.

Ayudha Vihar bus stop (OpenStreetMap position). Open in Google Maps · Directions from Ashraf Gents Hostel

Courtesy around the depot

Ayudh Vihar is a working naval establishment. Its gates, fences and land are restricted: don’t enter without permission, don’t photograph or film the depot, its gates or sentries, and don’t fly drones anywhere near it. Follow every Navy signboard, and if a guard asks you to move on or delete a photo, do so politely. The public roads, homes, shops and places of worship around it are ordinary neighbourhoods.

People who work at the depot, or visit on official business, should follow the instructions given by the establishment — this guide doesn’t cover access or procedures.

Staying nearby

Ashraf Gents Hostel is at the NAD Road signal on the edge of the depot area — about 1.2 km east of the Ayudha Vihar stop in a straight line. It is a men-only hostel with 6 twin-sharing rooms, taking daily and monthly stays (indicative ₹2,000–3,000 per head a month; the nightly rate is quoted on the call). Contract staff, trainees and visitors with work in the area can see rooms and rates or call/WhatsApp +91 90746 23855.

Frequently asked questions

What is NAD Ayudh Vihar?

It is the local name for the Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Aluva — the Indian Navy establishment that gives NAD Road in Kalamassery its name.

When did the Naval Armament Depot open?

The Indian Navy says NAD Aluva was inaugurated on 19 September 1958 by Vice Admiral R. D. Katari.

Where is the Ayudha Vihar bus stop?

On the road west of the NAD Road signal, about 1.16 km from the signal in a straight line, after the Pullalikkara and Shanthigiri stops (OpenStreetMap).

Can visitors enter Ayudh Vihar?

No — it is a restricted naval establishment. Don’t enter, photograph or fly drones near it; people on official work follow the depot’s own procedures.

Which PIN code covers the NAD area?

India Post lists 683563 as the Naval Armament Depot – Aluva sub post office.

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 8 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.

Cite this guide: Ashraf Gents Hostel. “NAD Ayudh Vihar: The Naval Armament Depot’s Local Name, Explained.” Published 8 October 2026. https://ashrafgentspghostel.adserr.com/nad-ayudh-vihar-guide/ Plain-text (Markdown) version · quoting with a link back is welcome.