A British-made Island in Kerala. Would you believe it?
Willingdon Island is a 22sqkm man-made island on the Vembanad Lake lying between the twin cities of Cochin and Ernakulam. It was created in the early 1920s, using the sludge that was dredged up while deepening the backwaters to build what subsequently came to be called the Cochin Port. The island was named after Lord Willingdon, the then governor of Madras. The mastermind behind it however, was Sir Robert Bristow, a brilliant British engineer.
The first ship to berth at Cochin port was ‘MT Padma’ under the command of Capt. Bullen. It dropped anchor here on 28 May 1926. The first liner to call at the port was a Bibby Line vessel which docked at the port on 9 March 1935. A hostel was built close to the berth to accommodate passengers who wished to spend a few nights before moving on. This hostel evolved into what today is the Malabar Hotel owned by the Taj Group.
The basic port infrastructure consisting of a deep wharf, and rail and road bridges connecting to the mainland were completed in 1939 before the outbreak of World War II. A naval works was also built on the adjacent Venduruthy Island. A large tract of the vast expanse of newly reclaimed land was soon sequestered by the Royal Air Force, and a large aerodrome was built there. After India’s independence, this continued to serve the Indian Navy while doing double duty as Cochin’s civilian airport till a new one was built at Nedumbassery a decade ago. When the British withdrew from India in 1947, they left Willingdon Island as a significant and well organized transport hub with an all-weather sea port, a functional airport, a rail head, a network of roads, and connecting bridges to the mainland.
The old Thoppumpady Bridge (also called the Mattancherry Bridge) is a classic example of British engineering. It connects Willingdon Island to the mainland on the west, where Fort Cochin is situated. In its heyday the centre span of the bridge would be raised to let large vessels pass. Now only two and three wheelers use the bridge. A new bridge built approximately a kilometre to the south carries most of the traffic today. Efforts are on to convert the bridge into a heritage monument.
Be sure to include this vestige of British engineering in your visit to Kerala. Willingdon Island has some pretty good places to stay too, including the Taj Malabar. To book your Kerala Holiday just call Kerala Travel Centre at 0808 178 9799. Have a whale of a time exploring Britain’s contribution to Kerala’s history!
