HEADLINES:  

MARINE DRIVE-COCHIN

Marine drive is one of the most important commercial hubs in the city of Cochin which is noted for its duty free shops. There are number of stores and shopping complexes in and around Marine drive which sell different kinds of products like electronic appliances, electronic gadgets, home appliances, handicrafts and spices like cardamom, cassia and black pepper.

Marine drive is an attractive quaint paved public walk in Cochin which is built bang opposite facing the backwaters. This is one of the most popular hangouts for the natives of Cochin. Apart from the natural picturesque and the walkways Marine drive is an efficiently and economically flourishing part of the Cochin city.

Marine drive is always a busy place with crowd involved in shopping activity. There are lots of shopping centers dealing with wide a display of products in this area. Initially till 1980's, the Marine was concentrated on the Shanmugham Road which was constituted by the Cochin Lake and the connecting Arabian Sea to its west. But towards the end of 1980 the Cochin Marine drive project was started by the GCDA ( Greater Cochin Development Authority) and thus the whole of the present Marine Drive including part of the Kochi Lake, west of the Shanmugham Road to the present Marine Walkway was all declared from the Cochin Lake.

Initially the idea of GCDA about the Marine drive was to build a road on the Western border of the land. But unfortunately the construction became a failure because of the implementation of the Coastal Protection Laws in India. After this the GCDA decided to confer with the Marine walkway instead of an actual marine drive. The Marine drive walkway extends from the High Court Junction and continues until the Rajendra Maidan.

This walkway is thronged both by the local people and the tourists who visit Cochin. The Marine drive road is supposed to be the trendiest shopping extension of the city. This stretch houses some of the following important and commercial buildings like Public Ground, Skyline apartments, Federal Bank Building, the GCDA Shopping Complex, the Kerala Trade Center (under construction), Abad Bay Pride Mall, Pioneer Towers, Hotel Taj Gateway, Alliance Residency, DD Samudra Darshan apartment, and the India Priyadarshini Children's Park.

Marine Drive- famous shopping area in Cochin:

It is one of the busiest and crowded road in the city always buzzing with the natives and tourists lined up with a number of retail outlets mostly the branded ones, food joints and restaurants. One of the major shopping arcades in the Cochin city is the GCDA Shopping Complex. The Marine drive owns the huge public ground which is the most common place where most of the major exhibitions and other political meetings takes place. Marine drive road also houses swanky office buildings like ING, and many other international banks in it. There are lots of other world renowned shops including crockery, book shop, sweets, and movie theatres dating to several decades which are also seen in M.G. road. Some of the popular food joints in this road are Marry brown, DiMark and Coffee Bar. Marine drive is a famous shopping area with mostly branded shops, the most posh pubs, cafes and show rooms.

Marine drive has a diverse blend of shops ranging from general goods to electronic items, silk saris, antiques, textiles, etc. The major financial institutions of the city like Citibank, HSBC, etc. are situated in the Marine drive road. The Raymond Shop, Penta Menaka, Swiss Time House, Chennai silks, coffee cube, Itc Limited, Coffee Beanz and Archies Gallery are all located on Marine drive. Shopping malls, cinema halls, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets line the drive. The Rainbow Bridge and the International Tourism Boat Jetty Complex are other attractions here. There are lot of exclusive shops for saris where women should never miss to visit. There are number of shops in this area which is very much popular among the high end market shoppers with their distinct collection of textiles and a wide range of clothes.

Marine Drive Road is Also Lined With Some Branded Outlets:

Like any other shopping area bargain also works at the shops in the Marine drive road. But due to over crowd the public and the shoppers should always be cautious about their personal belongings. Marine drive road is not only famous among the natives of Cochin but as also among the tourists for the city being one of the commercial shopping hub can also witness the place being visited by lot of foreigners too. Marine drive road is also lined with some branded outlets like Levi's, Reebok, Dockers, Woodland, and Nike, etc. There are lot of retail outlets including apparels, footwear, electronic goods and much more at the Marine Drive road. Marine drive road is very popular among the teens of the city with shops like garments and accessories which are of great interest to them.

Marine drive road is the celebration hub or the focal point of New Year celebration in the city for many years. During the evening times apart from the big stores there also comes up lot of shops dealing with fabrics both on the pavements and small stores in the narrow lanes and the main road. Bargain plays a wonderful role at Marine drive shopping area. If a seller quotes Rs 500, the buyer should not quote anything more than half of it. So like any other shopping market to shop at Marine drive one should also be an expert in bargaining. Apart from the branded outlets Marine drive is perked with many roadside shops especially lot of book sellers. Some of the high class fabrics selling shops are situated in Marine drive.

Marine Drive - a Major Commercial Area in Cochin

There are lot of shops which deal with jewelry, books, Indian handcraft items and electronic products. Apart from these there are coffee shops, restaurants and hotels. Marine drive also houses some of the finest night clubs of Cochin. There are few Tibetan stores in and around Marine drive where we can buy synthetic jewellery studded with semi precious stones.

Marine drive being a major commercial area in Cochin is always seen busting with tourists and visitors who mainly coming for shopping to this up market. The genuine flavor of the city can be felt very much at Marine drive. As we take a walk in the walkway of the Marine drive we can witness from balloon to map sellers busy selling their products.

Lot of Shops on Marine Drive Deal With Antiques:

The big shops as well as the small shops in the footpath sells a wide display of items like artifacts, shawls, carpets, antiques and footwear. Apart from the branded outlets and shopping stores in Marine drive this place is also famous for its eating joints and cafes both among the locals of Cochin and the tourists who visit this place. There are lots of shops on Marine drive which deal with antiques.

There are lot of shops on Marine drive selling handicrafts, books, jewelry, crystals, brass items, incense and clothes. The ideal time to visit this place is in the evening. Lot of college students throng the shops at Marine drive for there are a number of shops which sell exclusive ethnic jewellery and colorful bangles and attractive items which mainly pulls the females especially the young girls.

Marine Drive Walkway

All kinds of electronic goods both branded and the local items are also easily available in this area. The shops in the bazaar are drop at the sides of the pavement and shopkeepers offer the customers everything such as home furnishing, fashionable clothing, bags, cosmetics, belts, sweaters, footwear, and other accessories. Being a popular hangout for the local populace of Cochin there are lot of places of interests which includes mainly shopping.

There are number of fast food joints along the walk way of Marine drive. Hundreds of people throng the Marine Drive walkway during the evenings to view the rising sun over the sea mouth, and feel the gentle breeze coming from the nearby Vembanad Lake. So most of the time Marine drive being crowded with people it gives a great opportunity to even the street vendors who somehow find their buyers to sell their products.

Lot of Shopse Exclusively assign with Bridal Saris and Lehengas:

There are shops which deal with jewellery meant for wedding collections and kids. There are also shops which sell different grades of diamond. The big shops as well as the small shops in the footpath sell a wide display of items like artifacts, shawls, carpets, antiques and footwear. There are a lot of home furnishing wholesale shops with both wholesale fabrics which is modified according to the taste of individuals and also readymade items for adorning the houses.

There are a lot of shops for stationary items and other small decorative things in Marine Drive. Shops which exclusively assign with bridal Saris and Lehengas are also seen in the big showrooms on Marine Drive. Marine Drive is very well connected to the rest of the Cochin City. Though unlike other major cities Cochin does not have a metro rail facility but still the other modes of local transport functions very efficiently acting as a commuter to the Marine Drive. Auto rickshaws are not very expensive in Cochin.