Venduruthy
Encyclopedia
Venduruthy is a small island in Kochi
, India
. It is now a part of the greater Willingdon Island
. The isolated island is approachable only from the Ernakulam
backwater channel. It boasted of two edifices-the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Peter
and Saint Paul, it was built by the early Portuguese
settlers in the 16th century.
In 1925 when the late Marquis of Willingdon was Governor of Madras Province, the question of reclaiming this boggy marshland arose in Parliament
and after many heated debates, reclamation was put into operation, lasting over a period of twenty years, eventually producing an island
of no mean size.
Black heavy clay silt was scoured from the channel bed by the dredger Lord Willingdon and deposited in vast quantities upon the site, whilst around the perimeter a strong four-foot stone wall was constructed as a safeguard against inroads from the sea. Trees were planted along the coast to keep the soil firm. Within a decade the island which is now named Willingdon Island came into being. The Cochin Port Trust (Madras), commandeered the areas fringing the Mattancherry Channel north-west of the island and built fine buildings and a solid wharf
. The rest of the land lay open with an abundance of grass and shrubbery
growing in great profusionhttp://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-02/html/ch13.htm.
An Indian Naval Training Establishment, INS Venduruthy
has been named after it. Two important defense schools at Venduruthy are—the Gunnery School and the Navigation and Direction School.
Kochi (India)
Kochi , formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called by the name Ernakulam, which refers to the western part of the mainland Kochi...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is now a part of the greater Willingdon Island
Willingdon Island
Willingdon Island is an island, which forms part of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. Much of the present Willingdon Island was claimed from the Lake of Kochi, filling dredged soil around a previously existed, but tiny natural island...
. The isolated island is approachable only from the Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam 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...
backwater channel. It boasted of two edifices-the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Saint Paul, it was built by the early Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
settlers in the 16th century.
In 1925 when the late Marquis of Willingdon was Governor of Madras Province, the question of reclaiming this boggy marshland arose in Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
and after many heated debates, reclamation was put into operation, lasting over a period of twenty years, eventually producing an island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of no mean size.
Black heavy clay silt was scoured from the channel bed by the dredger Lord Willingdon and deposited in vast quantities upon the site, whilst around the perimeter a strong four-foot stone wall was constructed as a safeguard against inroads from the sea. Trees were planted along the coast to keep the soil firm. Within a decade the island which is now named Willingdon Island came into being. The Cochin Port Trust (Madras), commandeered the areas fringing the Mattancherry Channel north-west of the island and built fine buildings and a solid wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
. The rest of the land lay open with an abundance of grass and shrubbery
Shrubbery
A shrubbery is a wide border to a garden where shrubs are thickly planted; or a similar larger area with a path winding through it. A shrubbery was a feature of 19th-century gardens in the English manner, with its origins in the gardenesque style of the early part of the century...
growing in great profusionhttp://mod.nic.in/samachar/dec15-02/html/ch13.htm.
An Indian Naval Training Establishment, INS Venduruthy
INS Venduruthy
INS Venduruthy is the oldest naval establishment in Kochi, India. A small naval unit was set up just two days prior to the outbreak of World War II it is currently being used as a Seamen Training Establishment...
has been named after it. Two important defense schools at Venduruthy are—the Gunnery School and the Navigation and Direction School.