Rajendra Maidan Ernakulam Kochi, Old Photo 1944

This is an old 1944 photo showing the Rajendra Maidan (ground) at Ernakulam, Cochin, or Kochi. Interestingly it shows the future location of Park Avenue Road, Durbar Hall Road, and the Foreshore Road intersection. This junction is the BTH Roundabout with Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the center. The Cochin Maharaja’s life-size statue is shown standing regally on the ground where today it is the Rajendra Maidan. The Foreshore road did not exist then.

And in its place was the backwaters that is visible at the back see picture. The Foreshore road would later be developed by reclamation. Much of the maidan would also be reclaimed from the backwaters that is on the right, not shown in this photo. The building shown at the back still exists and is occupied by KSEB for many years now. Partially visible on the left side with white boundary walls is the vast ground of the famous Shiva Temple.

Rajendra Maidan is an indispensable part of Kochi today. It played an important role in the pre-independence era. When agitations were regularly held opposing British Raj. The ground got its name after one Mr. Rajendran who was involved in an agitation and became a martyr. It is flanked by the beautiful backwaters on one side and the Park Avenue road on the other.

See my previous post Backwater View From Rajendra Maidan Kochi – Old Postcard. Read also Frames from the past.

Did you know- Cochin (Ernakulam) was the center of the Indian spice trade and one of the biggest trading ports for Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Jews, and Chinese in ancient times.

From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s “Mohini On A Swing” – Vintage Print 1930s., Toddy Tappers In Chennai – Old Postcard 1900., Indian Soldiers In The British Raj – Old Print 1895