Cochin Bridge
Bound up both sides, on the east by the Western Ghats mountain range and on the west by the Arabian Sea, Kerala has always lived in partial isolation from the rest of India. In ancient times the pass at the centre of this mountain range, known as the Palghat Gap was (it still is!) the only easy overland route to and from this state. However access to this pass was denied the southern areas by a river called Bharathapuzha. Although it was formidable only during the monsoon rains, it was an obstacle all year round.
Until the COCHIN BRIDGE!
This bridge and the rail line to Kochi were completed in 1902 at the cost of 84 lakh rupees by Shri Rama Varma Thampuran, the farsighted Maharaja of Kochi, who reigned from the year 1895 till 1914. It was the first to ford this river that obstructed passage between Malabar and the southern states of Kochi/Travancore. The first freight train passed over the bridge on 2nd June 1902 and a few days later on the 16th the first passenger train made the journey from Shornur to Kochi on this line.
