Ernakulam (Malayalam: , Ekula) refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in Kerala. The Kerala High Court, the Office of the Corporation of Cochin and the Cochin Stock Exchange are situated here. The name 'Ernakulam' is derived from the name of a very famous temple of Lord Shiva called the Ernakulathappan Temple. It is also said that the word Ernakulam was drawn from Malayalam words 'Ere naal Kulam', which mean 'Pond for a long time'. It is also said that the name Ernakulam is a long modified form of "Eraivanar Kulam" (Eraivan = God, in Tamil, and Kulam = Pond). Ernakulam is located at 959N 7617E / 9.98N 76.28E / 9.98; 76.28. It has an average elevation of 4m (13ft). Ernakulam assembly constituency is part of Ernakulam (Lok...
