Wonderla Kochi - Trip Report

Wonderla (Kochi, Kerala, India) is located 7KM from Collectrate Junction, Kakkanad toward Pallikara. It is an amusement park that offers both dry and wet-rides.The park was setup in 2000 as Veegaland and got rebranded in 2011 as Wonderla. The theme-park is best known for its environment friendliness: 2000+ trees planted throughout the park, a multi-faceted rain-harvesting system with a combined storage capacity of 20-million liters, and solar water heaters for the pools in the water theme park form the core of this initiative. For visitors, there are a couple of clear positives: a) Despite Kochi heat, the park can be a very pleasant experience as the trees provide plenty of shade, and b) The water throughout the park is lukewarm and so even during the monsoon rains, getting into the water is not a problem.

The location of Wonderla, Kochi can’t be beat as it captures the beauty of Kerala’s green landscape and rustic beauty: the park is atop a hillock that overlooks the surrounding farm-land with a tributary of Kadamrayar river running through. In overall acreage, Wonderla, Kochi is smallish at 32 acres compared to over 80 acres for their flagship themepark near Bangalore - the number of rides in both parks are however comparable at well over 50 each. The park is open all days (11AM to 6PM weekdays, 11AM to 7PM weekends and holidays). Regular ticket pricing is between Rs 720 and Rs 990 depending on whether it is a weekday, weekend, or peak season. There is a fastrack ticket for double the regular ticket prices that allows you to skip the queues at the attractions. A number of offers can significantly reduce the regular ticket pricing: a) college students up to 22 years of age are eligible for a 20% discount, b) student groups of 20 or more can avail a discount up to 35%, and c) there is a privilege card that allow purchase of tickets at 10-20% discount: buy 4 tickets at regular price to get a privilege card (5-year validity - the card becomes void if not used for more than 12 months at a stretch).

Below is a look at the main rides on offer at Wonderla, Kochi with a short description and our rating on the overall experience:

Dry Rides:

•  Maverick, Twin Flip Monster, and Space Gun: These three are the top rides for thrill seekers. Maverick and the Twin Flip Monster both specialize in churning your insides pretty well by flipping you around in every possible way while tied up on seats that allow very limited movement. The Space Gun is an indigenous variation of the “slow-killing” aspect of thrill rides pioneered by “the boat”.
• Wonderla Bamba, Super Jumper, and Vintage Tornado: These are a notch below the top thrill rides. Wonderla Bamba is similar in design to the Maverick in that the whole seating area moves rather than individual capsules. But unlike the Maverick, the movement is one-dimensional. Super Jumper is a variation on the carousal whereby the carousal spins and the capsules at the end of spokes move up/down and also jerks as when an airplane falls in an air-pocket. The Vintage Tornado is like the old classic roller-coasters: rather than on wooden rails, the trains run on all-metal railing constructed inside a water-tank like enclosure.
• XD Max, Cinemagic Ride, and Musical Fountain and Laser Show: XD Max is a 4D experience (the fourth dimension includes water/steam, air pressure, hydraulic seat movements, and lighting effects). Cinemagic Ride is similar but instead of 3D effects, it uses an HD video with hydraulic seating for special effects. The Musical Fountain and Laser Show uses lighting, laser beams and smoke - it is an underwhelming show compared to the others - the sound system is below-par and the show itself is below par.
• Dashing Cars, Dancing Cars, Balarama Cave, Caterpillar Village, and Balloon Tower: These rides are fit for most everyone but the thrill factor is obviously not as much. Of these rides, Balarama Cave was a disappointment - in spite if the special effects, it was a fairly boring overall experience. In addition, there are many other regular rides including some that are for  kids only.

Wet Rides:

• Snake Glides, Fun Glides, and Wavy and the Vertical Fall: For thrill seekers, these are the best rides among the water rides. The Snake Glides and Fun Glides are similar in that you go down water slides on a rubber mat while lying on your tummy. The former has curves and loops while the latter has bumps. Wavy Fall & Vertical Fall are similar in that you go down a water-slide while sitting as in a regular slide - the path is steeper with the Vertical Fall while it is wavy for the Wavy Fall.
• Rapid Pool, Family Slide, and Water Coasters: Rapid Pool is the best water ride and it is suitable for all ages - you wade through water on a raft (floater tube) and make your way down ten different pools by going down water-slides. Family Slide and Water Coaster are similar in that you slide down a raft through a water slide. The difference is that the raft used in the family slide can accommodate 4 people while the water coaster raft is for two people. Also, the Water Coaster ride is shorter and steeper while the family ride is longer and follows a more zig-zag pattern.
• Wave Pool: This is a pool designed like a seashore. It is open to everyone at all times. But, at certain set times lasting fifteen minutes (around 40 minutes apart - the first one starts at around 1PM), artificial waves are created that makes the experience mimic a beach scene.
• Boomerang and Water Pendulum: These two are similar rides in that you are on a two-person raft that goes down a water-slide. Boomerang first travels through a tunnel and then goes through a U-shaped structure. Gravity then takes over and moves your raft back-and-forth like a pendulum. With Water Pendulum there is no tunnel to go through first but instead you are going down a longer and steeper U-shaped structure from the start point. There are several other water rides including the Rain Disco and many smaller rides that are suitable for kids and older folks.

The popular rides can get very crowded, especially during weekends - waiting times upwards of 40 minutes is not uncommon on some of the rides. One strategy that really works and reduces time spent in queues significantly is to organize your visit so as to go for the water-rides first. Most do it the other way (dry rides first - parks personnel also encourage this) as there is a logistical problem with going for the water rides first: once wet, you are not allowed in the dry rides, as it is unsafe. Make sure you carry spare clothes and change after the water rides (changing rooms are aplenty and locker is Rs 80).

Our Take:

Last year (2014), TripAdvisor recognized Wonderla, Kochi as among the top twenty-five theme parks in Asia. It is yet to make an appearance among the top theme parks of the world. From our perspective, there are a few things that make the experience in Wonderla, Kochi even better than many top theme parks in the world:

• The stunningly beautiful location along with the environmental friendly initiatives makes Wonderla, Kochi a distinctly different experience compared to visiting any other theme park.
• The ticketing, locker, parking, etc. areas are organized extremely well and that helps minimize time wastage.
• Outside food is not permitted inside Wonderla. But unlike other top theme-parks, there is no park-premium on food purchased inside.There are many restaurants, food counters, etc. spread through-out the park and they are run very efficiently. This helps minimize time spent waiting in line for food.
• Parking is free and the tickets are good for all rides. This is unlike many top parks were it is quite common to fleece customers by charging exorbitant fees for such things.

Some things that are holding back Wonderla, Kochi include:

• Wonderla, Kochi is very much a locally focused theme park. Most visitors are from within or neighboring states. For it to be world-class, the promotors need to invest on attracting a more metropolitan crowd.
• Although there are seven restaurants and numerous other food outlets, variety is very limited. For lunch, rice meals, biriyani, and Chappathi were the only options - the restaurants all seemed to serve the same thing. Some outlets have burgers, fried chicken and other fast-food items. Although the restaurant spots are at great locations, the view at most spots are hidden by half-walls and such for some unknown reason.
• There is a dress-code but it is not enforced at all.

Overall, we feel extremely fortunate to have such a good theme-park near our house.

Related Posts:

1. Wonderla, Kochi
2. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo
3. Great America Santa Clara
4. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
5. Trip Report to Genting

Last Updated: 10/2015. 

Spice Coast Marathon (SCM) and Cochin International Half Marathon (CIHM) 2014 - Experience - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

We had the privilege to participate in two half marathons in the space of three weeks right here in Kochi -

Spice Coast Marathon (SCM) on November 16th and Cochin International Half Marathon (CIHM) on December 7th. This is indeed a big step - a couple of years ago having even one such event was a faraway dream. At the outset, we should mention that we are non-runners - we just run for fitness. The difference between a runner and a non-runner became crystal clear after participating in these two events - runners regularly push themselves to reach the next level while non-runners are quite happy to be able to keep their weights in check while continuing to enjoy culinary options to the maximum - the less we need to exert to achieve this objective the better! Also, the expectations of these two groups from a race are very different - for runners, the event is all about themselves - PBs (personal best timing), medals, certificates, post-event pampering (food primarily), etc. For non-runners, it is more about the festivities, camaraderie and the quality of entertainment on offer.

The two events were a contrast to the extreme in many respects.

Spice Coast Marathon - SCM (organized by Soles of Kochi):

The Good:

1. The race started precisely when it was supposed to. 
2. The full marathon was a Boston Qualifier (BQ) event - only a few in India have that designation.
3. The after-run refueling was a proper breakfast.

The Bad:

1. Pre-run warm-up was a farce and the commentary left much to be desired. There were two people with mikes, one in fancy dress (protective gear and helmet making someone comment it is to avoid the stones thrown his way) and the other with a female voice but pretty much hidden from participants (again a comment that it was the same guy acting out both roles). There was some talk about the structure of the course and the guy kept mentioning about a small ‘iffy’ stretch but irritatingly refrained from elaborating on what exactly was the ‘iffyness’. As far as warm-up, the idea was to get warmed up from the enthusiasm of this one guy with the mike...
2. There were several running professionals that offered talks and such during the bib collection event. While on the outside, this appeared a very good gesture, it was again pretty much a farce - although these invitees had obvious marketability (Guinness book, etc.), their actual reputations were rather spotty.
3. The event was publicized as an eco-conscious effort with even the medals being made of eco-friendly coir - however, the medal ended up being quite unwieldy, size-wise. The execution of the eco aspect of the race was well below par - the most glaring gaffe was a glossy booklet issued as part of the bib packet that explains the heritage sites on the course - an online link to the content would have been ample and would have saved many trees - the content was not copy-edited and hence had numerous errors.

The Ugly:

1. A number of portable potties lined the entrance but to most everyone’s chagrin, no water. There was no alternative although the KV (Kendiya Vidyalay - the school whose grounds were used as the starting point) bathrooms were right by the side - the organizers made no effort to get those accessible to the participants.
2. The event started at 5 AM. As we started running, it was fairly dark - the 5AM start was really unnecessary for the half-marathon.
3. We couldn’t find even a single distance marker throughout the course. The volunteers were clueless about their own position in the course and kept feeding us erroneous information. (One of the organizers later told us that their eco-friendly markers were too small to be of any practical use).
4. Medical and potty facilities were missing throughout the course. It is a miracle that nothing undue happened.
5. One of us had a podium finish within our category. To this day there has been no acknowledgement or trophy. Besides, even after three weeks, there is still no way to even download the finisher’s certificate (there is a link which downloads something that looks like an SCM Ad instead of the certificate).

Cochin International Half Marathon - CIHM (organized by Kochi Municipal Corporation):

The Good:

1. As with their 2013 event, the race was an Association of International Marathons and Distance Racers (AIMS) approved event. The course was adjusted this year to accommodate a new start-point but overall it was very similar as last years.
2. For a 20,000+ participant race, the event itself was conducted extremely well and started right on-time. The holding area was crowded as expected but there was room for everyone to do their warm-ups and follow the cues from the professional crew at the podium. Parking also was a breeze and the police force very helpful.
3. The entire course had a number of water stations (water & energy drink) and medical units. The first medical unit was just getting set-up as we passed but as the event progressed they were in action.
4. It was a pleasure to see the folks from the Indian Navy running alongside the rest of us. Their behavior throughout the course was exemplary and is truly a matter of immense national pride.
5. The race was flagged off by Padmasree Mohanlal himself - a nice gesture from his part as the brand ambassador.
6. Quality live entertainment was another big plus this year.

The Bad:

1. Bib collection experience was a negative compared to last year. The papers said it starts at 11AM on the 4th, the emails said 10AM, while the display at the facility said 1PM. The official excuse was that the flight carrying the bibs was delayed. We reached there by noon on the opening day and spend an hour chatting with the volunteers and the people in the queue as the essential ingredient ‘the bib’ was yet to arrive.
2. The race categories were adjusted presumably to encourage senior women runners. But, as with most government stuff, speculation is rife that it was done to help a few select participants.
3. Information sharing improved compared to last year but was still well below par. Downloading the course route with good resolution was an exercise in futility even on the day before the race.

The Ugly:

1. While the setup and execution of the race went relatively flawless, the logistics at the finish gave it all away - no acknowledgement, no intimation as to where to obtain the medal and food packet, etc. The real bummer was that they ran out of medals. This led to mass-protests and there were even reports of police man-handling some folks. What a shame!
2. The race was promoted as a people’s run, but the organizers let celebrities and politicians take center-stage while ignoring the participants completely. It was pathetic to see participants finishing the grueling race only to be pushed and shoved at the finish-point.

Overall impressions and some feedback:

Kochiites can be proud to have hosted two international marathons this year. Truth is, from a participant perspective, both were failures although due to entirely different reasons. While SCM probably met some of the expectations of runners it was a disaster for non-runners. With CIHM, the scenario was the exact reverse - it did meet most of the expectations of non-runners but miserably failed to satisfy runners.

SCM claims to cater to runners, but the reality left a lot to be desired. It is an event organized by Soles of Kochi (a runner’s group) and we supported it with our participation mainly because a friend of ours is a founding member.

The reason for the failure of SCM may be summarized as follows:

1. For the success of any event, it is critical that there should be a clearly articulated purpose. SCM had no such purpose and when pressed for the cause gave very vague responses. The last word we heard from our friend was that the managing committee will decide what to do with the profits from the event.
2. This would sound harsh but would lack honesty if left unsaid - Soles of Kochi, the organizers of the SCM event behaves like a cult and already demonstrates several characteristics. The core group has perceived noble goals but is in reality shooting for power, fame, and fortune. The rest are recruits at different levels in the hierarchy. Membership is primarily achieved by presenting an image of invincibility (opportunity to be part of an elite group who can do things very few others can and the chance for runners high), but it is just cult messaging at its best.  The core propaganda is that running is a very big deal and running with the group is vital. Come on guys - running is not a big deal at all - anyone can do it - all it takes is practice. It is the right spirit to shoot for power, fame, and fortune in one's pursuits but have the courage to be open about it instead of hiding behind a noble facade. Moreover, there is power-struggle at the top and this contributed to the event’s failures.
3. Money was a big issue probably due to lack of good sponsors. At almost double the CIHM event fee, SCM was not value for time and money. This was probably the main reason why the participation was only around one-twentieth of the participation in CIHM.
4. SCM seemed to cherry pick from the upper echelons of the society rather than catering towards the commoner. This probably backfired as it alienated the vast majority. Given they used a lot of the city’s resources before, during, and after the race, it was only proper for them to at least give back a little - an opportunity to let a few hundred promising youngsters take part in the event for a nominal fee would have been only right.

With CIHM, the problems are less severe although the effort and inclination needs to be there to address issues before things get out-of-hand again:

1. When you come right down to it, the lack of medals/recognition at the end was what made this race a failure. Technically, this can be easily resolved. Hopefully, next year will see a turnaround.
2. When promoting the race as a people’s run, it is extremely critical to try and make it as affordable to the participants as possible. The Rs 200/- fee last year was perfect in this regard but the organizers chose to make it Rs 500/- this year. It would have been better to increase the fee by 25% and focused more on increasing the participation.
3. The marketing effort was well below par compared to last year. The participation could easily double or more with concerted effort.

Summary:

Despite some of the negatives, we consider ourselves lucky to have been able to participate in two half marathons in the space of three weeks in our backyard. The podium finish and the PBs were a bonus. It is amazing that the two events were a contrast to the extreme and it opens up the possibility of what could be, if the organizers of the two events are able to combine/collaborate. We did provide this feedback to SCM six months before the actual event, but the SCM response was disappointing - they did not want CIHM to steal their thunder. Well, now that their maiden event is over, may be it is time to reconsider this aspect. In any case, we conclude wishing the coming years will witness a truly world class event from our beloved Kochi.

Related Posts:

1.  Cochin International Half Marathon 2013 - A maiden gala event at Kochi.

Cochin International Half Marathon 2013 - A maiden gala event at Kochi

Kochi hosted its maiden Half Marathon on December 29, 2013. The experience from the mini-marathon conducted in 2011 helped make this a hugely successful event for the city and its people. Runners in general, were somewhat skeptical about Cochin International Half Marathon 2013 due to a number of factors, chief among them being the event was organized by the city as opposed to a runners group - the local runners figured it would be used to showcase politicians and celebrities as opposed to promoting running as a lifestyle change for the general public. The city silenced all its critics by pulling off a highly professional event - most parts were outsourced to the best organizations available and that probably helped.

Having participated in the half marathon event, below are some observations:

Good: 

1. Entry on the Marathon Day: The main-gate to Maharajah's ground was opened only slightly for some weird reason. This resulted in a stampede atmosphere in the adjacent street (Hospital Road) and the main entrance area. Policemen manned the area and the gates and they continued to keep the gates half closed despite the mad-rush of the participants to get inside. This was the one real red-flag in the entire event. Once past the half-opened gates, the race categories as well as the age-category pens were marked well that getting to the correct slot was not a problem. Also, it was heart-warming to see dignitaries such as Rishi Raj Singh waiting in the pen just like the others for the start - no special treatment at all and there were a bunch of folks from the transportation department with him (Rishi Raj Singh finished the race in 2:52 (bib number 7144) - unfortunately, an emergency angioplasty was done soon after following chest pain). The presence of the 2000-strong navy crew across the half-marathon and 7K events was a wonderful sight. They encouraged the runners too during the race!
2. Warm-up Drills: A professional warm-up crew was on the stage from around 5:15AM to 6:15AM and they kept the runners entertained. The warm-up drills were hard to follow as the category-pens were crowded. Not a surprise, given the participation of over 8000 people.
3. Water, Sponge, Electrolytes, Refreshments, Goodies, Medical Support, and Restrooms:  Water was plentiful  throughout the course. It was distributed roughly at the rate of one per kilometer. Water-sponges and electrolytes were distributed only twice. Medical support was not a problem as they had temporary facilities both at the start-point and at a few locations on the course. Green Kochi initiative however  took a back-seat during the event - plastic bottles and no proper disposal areas. Goodies were missing too - the bib-packet consisted of just the bib, timing chip, and safety pins - an option to purchase a marathon themed T-shirt would have been good. Refreshments at the end of the event consisted of a bun and juice but they ran out of them half way through the event - there was no verification at all in the medals and refreshments distribution-area and that probably contributed to the problem. Alas, no restroom facility either.

Better: 

1. Registration: Registration opened just six weeks before the race day. Online registration was the best option as it was very smooth. The option to register manually through Muthoot branches was less than perfect as many ended up waiting a long time during bib collection - some manual verification of proper registration was involved, thus delaying the process.
2. Bib Delivery Process: The bib collection center at Maharajah's ground was open on the 26th, 27th or 28th. Participants had to show ID proof in original and registration confirmation email. Starting trouble was there on the first day and those who arrived first to collect the bib had to wait upwards of 30-minutes. From then on, the process went relatively smooth.
3. Marathon Route, Start-times, Cheer-leading, etc: The marathon route was completely flat except for the short climbs to cross the two bridges from Ernakulam  to Mattanchery through Wellington Island. Although the route itself did not go through any of the touristy areas, the heritage nature of the place was easy for anyone to recognize. The start-times for the races were announced somewhat late. Organizers officially announced 6:15AM as the start time for the half-marathon and 6:45AM for the 7K fun-run just a week prior to the event - apparently, there was pressure to make it a late start to make it convenient for celebrities and other dignitaries but sanity won-out in the end. The organizers had plans for a parallel competition for the cheer-leading crews that could independently register but apparently there were few takers. Good 'chendamelam' and such were there in the Mattanchery area and though the rest of the course lacked group events the locals that flagged on either-side of the entire route more than compensated for this by their enthusiastic response.

Best: 

1. Participation Fee: The organizers managed to keep the entry fee extremely low compared to other well-known marathons in the country - the entry fee for the half-marathon was Rs 200 and for the 7K fun-run was Rs 100. This is compared to an average of well over Rs 1000 for other international marathons in India. Not only that, subsidized registrations were offered to under-privileged groups. 
2.  Prize Money: For a maiden effort, the overall prize money at over Rs 25L was comparable to the prize monies offered by the best races in the country. The age-wise and gender-wise categorization with separate prize monies for Indians ensured the race gave something to celebrate for the locals, even-though their best efforts may not equal the best in the world. Further, equal prize money for men and women was another positive factor. Although, the winners check of $5K was low compared to international standards, the event still attracted some of the best athletes ranked within the top ten in the world.
3. Course Logistics: The marathon route was in pristine condition on the day of the marathon. Runners especially appreciated the lack of potholes and traffic on the course. Also, the timing chip transfixed on the body-side of the bib and the timing mats functioned well - the mat locations were easy for the runners to recognize as well. Within two hours of the run, the official results became available online. The finish-point was well-organized although the area became very crowded over time. The open and elite winners were announced at the main stage but some of the other category winners did not get to stand on the podium following some confusion about the official timings

Related Posts: 

1.  Two international marathon events in the same year (2014) in Kochi - Experience - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Last Updated: 12/2014.

Waterfront Flats/Apartments in Greater Kochi Area - Review

The backwaters of Kerala are famous and the state is among the premium tourism locations in the country. The industrial capital of Kochi is a prime focus for real-estate developers and the area is blessed with several beautiful waterfront locations because of the confluence of three factors: the Arabian Sea, the back waters, and rivers. Below is a look at current waterfront flat and apartment projects in the area:

1. Heera Constructions:

Wind Faire (Vytilla, off NH47 byepass): A single block (G+19 floors) with five apartments in each floor (95 apartments total) on 1.61 acres of land. They are all 3BHK units with square footage between 2008sft and 2260sft. The apartments offer sweeping views of Chilavanoor Backwaters and takes after their previous project, Heera Waters. Amenities include club house, swimming pool with party area, gym, children's park, air-conditioned lobby, etc. 10/2012 Update: The Base Selling Price (BSP) is set at Rs 4150psft with car parking (Rs 3L) and other charges additional - that is quite a premium compared to the Rs 2200psft that their previous project was launched at, a few years ago.  10/2015 Update: The project is nearing completion and there is very limited availability. Current Status:  The project is delayed with construction progressing at a slow pace. Very Limited Availability. 


2. Purvankara:

Purva Oceana (Marine Drive): A large single block of 95 3BHK apartments with eight different plans facing the Arabian and Bolgatty Palace on 1.24 acres. Four of the larger plans (upwards of 3000sft) offer waterfront balconies. Square footage varies between 2536sft and 3417sft. Amenities include terrace pool, billiards, gym, steam and sauna, landscaped garden, jacuzzi, jogging path, etc. 2013 Update: Pricing starts at Rs 4000psft and goes up to a whopping Rs 8500psft for the ones on the higher floors with the best views. 10/2015 Update: Construction is in full-swing and there is limited availability. Price has gone up to a base selling price between Rs 6,495 psft and Rs 9,995 psft (all inclusive). Current Status: The project is complete. There is very limited availability.

Purva Grand Bay (Marine Drive): 265 three-bedroom units on 2.65 acres ranging in square footage between 1885 sft and 1933 sft located a little further up from their Oceana project. There are six blocks (B+G+14). 10/2015 Update: The base selling price is set at Rs 6,440 psft. Current Status: The project is complete. There is limited availability. 

Note: They have a huge new project in Marine Drive called Marina One coming up in a whopping 16.7 acres of prime waterfront land. It is a joint project with Sobha.

3. Dewa Group:

Dewa Pier20 (Marine Drive): Seven huge blocks with 605 apartments that cover a total built-up area of 1.5 million sft in Phase I. The blocks offer a large number of two, three, four, five BHK and duplex units that vary in square footage between 1200sft and 5150sft. Some of the first floor apartments have a private garden. The blocks are on the other side of the road and so cannot be considered a true waterfront property although the views are still very good. Amenities include family pool, 50M lap pool, kid's pool, wading pool, water walk, party area, decks, amphitheater, etc. Current Status: The project is delayed (frames of some towers are up). There is availability.   

4. Tata Realty: 

Tritvam (Marine Drive): Six towers on 8.44 acres of prime property located between the backwaters and Mangalavanam bird sanctuary (near Highcourt) at Marine Drive. Towers 3 & 4 are currently open for sale. The project is in its very early stages and is a maiden project of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited in the area. The towers offer 3 BHK units with square footage between 2268sft and 2185sft. The Base Selling Price is set at Rs 5850psft and applies to units that do not have Preferred Location Charges (PRC - for view). The pricing goes all the way up to Rs 9075psft for a unit that has a direct view of the backwaters. Floor Rice Charges also apply and that is set at Rs 50 per floor after second floor. 10/2015 Update: Tower 5 is currently in pre-launch. A sixth tower called iconic tower with duplex apartments was announced as well. Current Status: The project is almost complete and occupation certificate is obtained. Limited Availability.


5. Nest Infratech:

JKH Signature (Alwaye):  Ultra Luxury four and five BHK units on the Periyar riverfront from 2924sft to a whopping 10,000sft for a penthouse. Location is by the side of Perumbavoor bus-route, a popular spot with several other river-front projects. Ultra luxury features include centralized hybrid air-conditioning with room controls, infinity pool, video phone security, sky squash, roof top multigym, lawn tennis, etc. 10/2015 Update: Construction in full-swing - frame is up - limited availability. Current Status: The project is delayed. Limited Availability.

6. Asten Mather Company:

Nautica (Cheppanam, Panangad):  Sixty apartments on twin-18-floor towers in a prime waterfront two-acre location on Vembanad Lake at Panangad (near sailing club house). Square footage varies between 2500 and 4100 and prelaunch pricing (03/2013) is set at at Rs 5000psft. Amenities include leisure club, games room, pool table, half basketball court, muti-purpose gym, yoga area, steam and sauna, swimming pool, theatre, rooftop party area, etc.06/2013 Update: Asten Mather has a Periyar River Front project called Cocoon which features a distinct "villament" concept. The project is on 4.5 acres at Mudikkal (Alwaye-Perumbavoor route), 15 minutes drive from Alwaye. It is designed by nature lover and architect Mr. Sanjay Mohe - The design highlight of the property is the terraced design with each level unfolding beneath the other with sweeping views from the natural hillock on to the adjacent river. Pricing is at Rs 5500 psft.  10/2015 Update: The projects are delayed. Construction in full-swing on the Nautica project but the Cocoon project did not take off. Limited availability.  Current Status: Delayed - the 2nd tower in Nautica is still in pre-launch - pricing up to Rs 7Kpsft but they are taking only 5% upfront now.

7. Prime Meridian: 

Blue Waters (Panangad):  Blue Waters is a super-luxury project (Rs 8000 psft - very limited availability) nearing completion. 4/2014 Update: "The Dominion", an apartment project opposite Lakeshore Hospital on NH-byepass road is announced and is priced at Rs 5000 psft during the pre-launch period till May 10, 2014. After that, pricing is scheduled to increase to Rs 5500 psft. 10/2015 Update: The ultra luxury project got a huge boost recently when Sachin Tendulkur purchased one of the few independent homes in the project. "The Dominion" project is delayed and is still in pre-launch phase. Current Status: No further updates on "The Dominion" project and it is not even listed in their upcoming projects.

8. Trinity: 

Periyar Winds (off. Alwaye-Perumbavoor Road): 51 three-bedroom units (1555 sft and 1585 sft) on 53 cents of prime periyar waterfront land. 10/2015 Update: The project is in early launch phase. There is availability and pricing starts at Rs 58.5L. Current Status: Construction started with frames up till level-5. There is availability.

9. Anta Builders:

River Valley (Tripunitura): 62 three-and-two bedroom units on 74 cents of Kaniyampuzha River waterfront land. 10/2015 Update: The project is nearing completion and there is very limited availability.  Current Status: The project is complete - very limited availability.


Historical info on waterfront flat/apartment projects:

Below is some historical information (2012 thru 2015) on flat/apartment projects when we scouted in the 2012 timeframe. Updates over the years and the status as of 2015 are also included, if available:

1. Asset Homes Silver Swan & Silver Streak (Alwaye): Silver Swan is a single block (G+16 floors) of 73 apartments with two and three BHK units that vary in square footage between 1200sft and 2150sft and six different plans. The Base Selling Price (BSP) is set at Rs 3750psft with a floor rise charge (FRC) of Rs 20 per floor. It is a Periyar river-front property located off the NH47 Highway next to Uliyanoor Bridge. Amenities include raised swimming pool overlooking river Periyar, gym, children's play area, clubhouse facing river Periyar, river-side party zone, angling point, etc.Silver Streak is another Asset waterfront single block apartment in Alwaye. Pricing for both start in the Rs 45L range. Scheduled completion is set for March 2014 and April 2014 respectively. 05/2013 Update: Pricing for Silver Swan has increased from Rs 3750psft Base Selling Price (BSP) to Rs 4000psft to be effective May 15, 2013. Final Update - 2015: The projects are complete.
2. Sahara Grace (Chittethukara, Seaport-Airport Road): 944 two, three, and four BHK apartments and penthouses on 14.71 acres of land across 14 towers. The project is on the banks of Chitrapuzha river and the clubhouse has the best views. Square footage varies between 1200sft and 2500sft with the Base Selling Price (BSP) set at Rs 3000psft. The first two blocks (B1 and B2) are nearing completion while the recently launched A3 block is projected to complete by 2015. There is availability in all three launched towers. Amenities include swimming pool, health club with ayurvedic massage parlor, sauna, jacuzzi, gym), party lawn, billiards, snooker, table tennis, guest rooms, kids' play area, artificial lake, gazebo, jogging track, etc. Infrastructure facilities include piped cooking gas supply, helipad, substation, RO plant, CCTV, boom barrier, main gate and boundary wall security, etc. Final Update - 2015: Not much progress - the first two blocks are nearing completion - no ETA on when the project will complete.
3. Skyline Riverville (Alwaye): Around 60 three BHK units that vary in square footage between 1574sft and 2249sft. The project location is ~6KM from Alwaye by the Perumbavoor transport-bus route. The concept is similar to their completed project called Riverscape further up on the same route. The launch price is set at Rs 2990psft and Rs 3190psft for the smaller and larger units respectively - the larger units have better views of the Periyar river although all apartments have waterfront views from the balconies. Amenities include raised swimming pool with excellent views of the river, children's play area, landscaped garden, gym, and clubhouse. Final Update - 2015: The project is complete.
4. SFS Aqua Greens (Alwaye): Couple of large blocks with six different plans, some facing river Periyar. The location is on the Kalady road from NH47 at Desam Junction. Plans vary in square footage between 1209 sft and 1646 sft. Amenities include large swimming pool, clubhouse opening to the pool, gym, children's play area, garbage chute, incinerator, generator backup, etc. Final Update - 2015: The project is complete.
5. DLF Riverside (Vytilla): A large set of blocks on 5.12 acres on Chilavanoor riverfront with two, three, four BHK apartments along with larger duplexes (total units - 185). There are five different plans and the square footage varies between 2000sft for a 2BHK unit to 5600sft for a 4BHK Duplex unit. The Base Selling Price (BSP) is set at Rs 4750psft and there is Preferred Location Charge (PLC) for waterfront apartments at Rs 475psft for single apartments and Rs 575psft for duplexes. Amenities include clubhouse, swimming pool, landscaped garden, jogging track, party hall, yoga plaza, river decks, tennis court, boat jetty, and resting pavilions. Final Update - 2015: The project is complete but is in a regulatory cloud - Kerala government recently (June 2014) cancelled the environmental clearance for this previously approved project and in December 2014, the high court of Kerala ordered that the building be demolished.
6. Shwas Aqua City (Alwaye): A large waterfront city in the banks of river Periyar with around twelve different blocks and villas on 17 acres of riverfront property. It is located off Parur Kavala on NH47 after UC college. Amenities include clubhouse, gym, swimming pool, kid's pool, aquarium, riverside boat house restaurant, riverside walkways, boat club with pedal boats, jogging track, etc. Final Update - 2015: The project status is still listed as "nearing completion". The project is delayed several years and there are many customer complaints. 
7. Jewel River Woods (Alwaye): An apartment block on 60 cents of land (G+14) in the heart of Alwaye town (near private bus stand) located by the side of river Periyar with four units per floor. Square footage of the units vary between 1645sft and 1775sft. There are four plans of which two are water facing. The apartments are competitively priced at Rs 2900 to Rs 3100psft for town-facing apartments and Rs 3000psft to 3200psft for water-facing apartments, depending on floor. Amenities include gym, party area, children's play area, riverview point with park benches, generator backup, reticulated gas supply, RO plant, sewage treatment plant, etc. Final Update - 2015: The project is complete and sold-out.
8. Galaxy Winston (Kadavanthra): This is part of a twin project that also include Galaxy Kingston. The towers have 13 floors and face Chilavanoor river and is located at Chilavannoor road. There are two main plans with square footage at 1026sft for the 2BHK units and 1490sft for the 3BHK units. Amenities include gym, clubhouse, centralized gas supply, swimming pool, motor boat, mini auditorium, elevated river-view point, etc. Final Update - 2015: Both projects are complete.
9. National Puzhayoram (Alwaye): Sixty apartments in a single block just 100 meters from NH47 right after Maglapuzha bridge. They offer two basic plans with 1910sft for the 3BHK plan and 2490sft for the 4BHK plan. Pricing is set at Rs 3600psft with Rs 25 per floor Floor Rise Charges (FRC). Amenities include swimming pool, gym, party hall, children's play area reticulated gas connection, etc. Final Update - 2015: The project is ready-to-occupy. Extremely limited availability.
10. Chakolas Habitat Bayside (Thevara): Large 4BHK units (3690sft) in a single block on Thevara waterfront. Amenities include clubhouse, infinity pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, landscaped waterfront garden, squash court, pool table, table tennis, and terrace garden. They also have a single-tower waterview project in Edakochi.  Final Update - 2015: The projects were originally set to complete in 2012 and are delayed significantly. Construction is almost complete. 
11. Holiday Group Baycastle (Marine Drive): A large single block with three and four BHK units on ten floors with first two floors of commercial space. The project offers four plans that vary in square footage between 1810sft and 2080sft. Amenities include swimming pool, kid's pool, jacuzzi, sauna, children's play area, clubhouse, gym, generator backup with apartment coverage at 2000 watts, etc. Final Update - 2015: The project is delayed slightly and is nearing completion.
12. Dream Flower CLAIRE (Thevara): Small 12-apartment tower on 14 cents of land on the Thevara waterfront, just 1.5KM from MG Road. The units have an area between 1085 and 1160 square feet and are priced in the Rs 50L to Rs 55L range (all inclusive but excludes registration). The project was launched on 09/2012 and has a completion target of 02/2014. Final Update - 2015: The project is complete.

 
Related Posts:

1. Waterfront Flats/Apartments in Greater Kochi Area - Review. 
2. Greater Kochi Villa Projects Review. 
3. Kakkanad Flat/Apartment Projects Review. 
4. Kakkanad Flats (Condos) - Shopping Experience. 
5. CREDAI Kochi Real Estate Property Expo 2010 - A Report.

Last Updated: 10/2016.