Ernakulam Market By Cargo Boats, Old Photo 1940s
This is an old 1940s photograph of a cargo boat entering the Ernakulam (Cochin) Market. These cargo boats were called Kettuvallams. Plying huge loads of cargo of rice, spices, coconuts, etc. The Ernakulam Market had access both by road and also waterway. Which was a narrow canal connected to the Vembanad lake. At one time the Vembanad lake was a major hub with country boats of all sizes busy ferrying cargo and people. The lake stretching from Thrissur district in the north to Alapuzha in the south which was around 96 km in length.
Now the Kettuvallams are almost nonexistent and in its place, there are tourist houseboats, fishing and state owned passenger boats. Years ago there were massive Kettuvallams where even families resided for days carrying cargos of rice and other produce. Today’s tourist houseboats are a knockoff of these massive Kettuvallams. But sadly these old cargo carrying crafts went out of existence possibly by the 1970-80’s. Although the smaller cargo boats shown in the photo are possibly still in existence albeit in rare pockets of this land. The historically old Ernakulam Market is giving way to a more modern set up. Click on the photo for better view.
Did you know- Cochin was controlled in successions, first by the Portuguese in 1503, followed by the Dutch in 1662, then the British in 1814.
From the collection- c1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Nude (#3)., Vasco Da Gama Before The Zamorin Calicut – Old Postcard., King George V Emperor Of India, Old Print 1910., Lorry In British Era Madras, Old Photo 1919