The Cochin State Railways - Remains of Ernakulam Terminus

This is the entrance to the once royal station of Ernakulam Terminus (later Ernakulam Goods, ERG). Look at the gate pillars. The Sign board reads "Southern Railway - Ernakulam Goods colony" (Jimmy Jose)

This was once the head office of "Cochin State Railways". During the 1980's some railwaymen started a railway club or "Railway Institute" here, but the location was soon shifted elsewhere (Jimmy Jose)

Large parcel office of the station. There was considerable parcel service from the station once. This was the only way to transport large parcels from the town of Trichur to Ernakulam. Both the towns were in the princely state of Cochin while a large p

Main road that lead to all important locations. You can see the king's waiting room in the distance (Jimmy Jose)

Another view of the headquarter complex of Cochin State Railway. Dont get amused, the sodium vapor lamp died many years ago! Look at the huge banyan tree (Jimmy Jose)

This must have been the entrance to the main station building. It is totally unapproachable. Look at the huge marshy plants in front of it (Jimmy Jose)

View of the main station structure (Jimmy Jose)

The once grand "Kottaram" (translates to Palace in malayalam). This was the king's and his family's waiting room. (Jimmy Jose)

On top of the building is this cavity which once held the idol of "Sree Pornatryeesa", the family deity of the kings of Cochin (Jimmy Jose)

This is the condition of the interiors of the Royal Waiting Room! (Jimmy Jose)

Welcome to the Platforms.... Please enter only with proper tickets! Looking south (Jimmy Jose)

Platforms, looking north. A lone "survior" from the past await us (Jimmy Jose)

Tracks of the platform, buried deep in time (Jimmy Jose)

Okay, I am the king, looking at the lone survivor. Wo is this survivor anyway? An ancient R class wagon remind us that trains once rolled into the station (Jimmy Jose)

The crumbling heritage of Royal Waiting Room (Jimmy Jose)

Remains of a flag post suggest the Maharajah once hoisted his national flag here!! (Jimmy Jose)

This was the only way we could enter the main station building, though not that easily!! (Jimmy Jose)

Wanna stay in that lock up?? (Jimmy Jose)

Interiors of the magnificient station building. A nice paint job and you could get confused with interiors of a five star heritage resort. Look at the fine teak doors (Jimmy Jose)

Platform canopy behind the main station seem to be too short for the rainy season (Jimmy Jose)

Once people used this as a railway station. Now it is used for this... (Jimmy Jose)

The beautiful construction. The entire complex comprises of such arches. The construction is mainly of red cut stones easily available in this part of the country (Jimmy Jose)

Close up of the ornate canopy. Jason had to stretch himself to get a closer shot (Jimmy Jose)

A later day construction. Unapproachable anyway (Jimmy Jose)

A board boldly read smoking is strictly prohibited! (Jimmy Jose)

Don't bother to meet an RPF policeman here. But once somebody welcomed RPF here. Proof that this was once a railway station, guarded by it's precious guardians (Jimmy Jose)

The parcel area looks really intact. A small patch up and this could be used for a station. Look at the pillars near the railway track side (Jimmy Jose)