brought up in Mulanthuruthy. Places of interest Marine Drive, Kochi Kadavumbhagam Mattancherry Synagogue Kadavumbhagam Ernakulam Synagogue Paradesi Synagogue: Constructed in 1567, only active synagogue in the Kochi. Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheena Vala) Hill Palace, Tripunithura Bolgatty Island Willingdon Island Dutch Palace: Made in 1568 by the Portuguese. Later re-structured by the Dutch. St. Francis Church, Kochi: Originally built in 1503, the oldest European church in India Kodanad: Elephant training centre is located here. Pareekshit Thampuran Museum Kerala Historical Museum: Located at Edappally Chendamangalam, a village Palium Palace Vypeenakotta Seminary Bhoothathankettu, a scenic dam site St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor: The only international shrine in Asia. Believed to have been visited by St. Thomas, the apostle. Wonder La, Kakkanad: Amusement park Cherai Beach. Kuzhippilly Beach Fort Kochi Beach Paniyeli Poru Ezhattumugham Transport Road connectivity The three major national highways passing through Ernakulam are the Cochin-Mumbai Highway (NH 66), Salem-Kanyakumari (NH 47 part of NSEW corridor), and Cochin-Dhanushkodi highway (NH 49). Railway station Ernakulam has 17 railway stations. The Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Aluva are the major stations. The other stations are Angamaly, Thripunithura, Edapally, Mulamthuruthy, Cochin Harbour Terminus, Karakutty, Chowara, Kalamassery, Nettoor, Kumbalam, Mattancherry H., Chottanikkara road, and Piravom road. The rail routes travel via Thrissur, Kottayam, Cochin H.T., Alappuzha, and Vallarpadam. The Angamaly-Erumely Sabarimala route passes through the district. Kochi Metro runs in Kochi. Airport Ernakulam district has two airports: Naval airport in W.island (Old Cochin airport) and Cochin International Airport (CIAL). CIAL is the fourth largest airport in the country after Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, and serves International passengers. Water transport Ernakulam lies in the flat delta region of the Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers. Water transport is prominent in the district via rivers and lagoons. Notable people Hibi Eden (Present MP) Adi Sankaracharya (Saint Advaita) Abraham Barak Salem (Jewish Gandhi)) Ajay Kudua (cricketer) Swami Chinmayananda (Indian spiritual leader and geetacharya ) Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (Syrian Orthodox Saint) Paulose Mar Athanasius (Syrian Orthodox Saint) Shadkala Govinda Marar (Carnatic musician) Sahodaran Ayyappan (social reformer and former minister of Kochi State) K J Yesudas (singer) Changampuzha (poet) Malayattoor ramakrishnan (novelist) NS Madhavan (writer) N. A. Naseer (photographer, activist and author) Sebastian Paul (politician) Simon Britto Rodrigues (politician) K J Maxi (Kochi MLA) Feroze V Rasheed (cricketer) K Jayaraman (cricketer) G. Sankara Kurup (poet) P K Vasudevan Nair (former chief minister) Balachandran Chullikad (poet and actor) Sreesanth (cricketer) K.