and was the official summer residence of the royal family. The etymology of the name of the town of Aluva has been the subject of speculation for centuries. One of the more accepted version relates to the story of Hindu god Shiva drinking the Kalakootam poison to save the world. It is said that Shiva with the poison 'Alam' in his mouth 'Vaa' was made into a deity which was then rested in a temple in Aluva. The Sivarathri festival for which the town is famous for is celebrated in the honour of Shiva. In the twentieth century, when there was a community of Jews in Cochin, some used to have holiday homes in Aluva on the banks of the River Periyar. It also has a name "gate way to east" Politics Aluva is a constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Aluva assembly constituency is part of the Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency). Anwar Sadath is the MLA of Aluva. It is part of Chalakudy (Lok Sabha constituency). Benny Behanan is the MP in this constituency. Administratively, Aluva is a municipality. The current municipal council is ruled by Indian National Congress Party, led by M.O. John who was elected in December 2020. Previously it was led by Lissy Abraham (2015–2020) and M.T Jacob (2010–2015) Travel Aluva is well connected by air, road and rail from all parts of the country By Air Cochin International Airport is 15 km from the town center. Regular domestic and international connections are available from the airport. By Train Aluva railway station (IR Code: AWY) is an A graded railway station in Kerala, and is the third busiest railway station in Kochi city after Ernakulam Junction railway station and Ernakulam Town railway station. All passenger, express trains bound to southern Kerala do have a stop in this station. Some leaflets/websites still refer the town's old name (Alwaye).There is also a small railway station near Aluva named Chowara with a 4 km distance from this railway station. By Metro Kochi Metro phase 1 starts from Aluva Bypass and currently operates till Pettah. Upon completion of phase 1, it will be further extended to Tripunithura railway station. The project was started in mid of 2013 and commenced its operations in 2017. The metro system's third phase proposes to extend this line further north from Aluva to the northern suburb Angamaly connecting Cochin International Airport. By Bus Rajiv