Willingdon Island In Kochi

Willingdon Island, Kochi 

Willingdon Island is one of India's largest human-made islands, named after Lord Willingdon, the British Viceroy of India. This beautiful island provides various links between Kochi port and other national and international ports. The island is also home to some of the district's lavish hotels and commercial and industrial buildings. Between Ernakulum Jetty and Kochi Port, the ferry costs around INR 6.

There is a bridge that connects the mainland of Kochi to Willington Island. This human-made island also serves as the headquarter for the southern naval command of India. Created by Sir Robert Bristow, a visionary harbor engineer, the island is significant as it is the habitat for the Port of Kochi, the Kochi Naval Base of the Indian Navy, and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology. Apart from commercial purposes, the island has a museum and natural habitat to explore.

While constructing the new Kochi Port in 1936, created the island with the soil left out in the process of deepening the Vembanad Lake to accommodate the new Kochi Port. It was then named after the 1st Earl of Willingdon, the respectable Viceroy of India, who successfully commissioned the major project.

 The chief hero and the project engineer, Robert Bristow, owned the first building on the island, which is now under the Cochin Port Trust and Indian Navy. The first liner, a part of Bibby Line, arrived here on March 9, 1935. Malabar Hotel was a port hostel for the people who wished to relax on the island.

 The basic structure of Willingdon Island was completed during the Second World War, i.e., 1939. A rail bridge, wharf, road bridge, naval works, and all kinds of infrastructural spaces joined to form this massive island. During the 1940s, custom houses and passenger jetty were built with the hotel. They even had a passenger platform on it.

Willingdon Island as a British Military Base 

The Royal Air Force, due to the island's convenient location, used this flat expanse for constructing a large aerodrome. The artificial isle soon became a flourishing military base. The Malabar Hotel was used as a quarter for the wartime staff members. Moreover, it got a new administrative block next to it. The remaining amenities were completed with an open-air swimming pool, a new post office, and a bank branch.

Willingdon Island as a Transport Hub 

In 1947, after India's independence, the authority of Willingdon Island was transferred from the British to the former. The developments during the British Raj made the island a significant territory of India. By 1960, the traffic had almost doubled since it was an all-natural weather harbor. The modern techniques incorporated in the airdrome made it the city's old airport. Currently, the airstrip here serves as an air station for INS Garuda. The remaining space became the commercial throb of the ancient city of Cochin.

 Today, Willingdon Island continues to serve as a link between India and other seaports of the world. It is a landmark of the city in which it exists. Also, it is connected to the town by Venduruthy Bridge, which has roadway and railway links. Southern Naval Command of the honest Indian Army and Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industries are also situated here. Due to the good number of resorts and the calmness it offers, the island has become famous among travel lovers.