Cherai

{{Short description|Town in Kerala, India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Cleanup|date=February 2011}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Cherai

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| other_name =

| nickname =

| settlement_type = town

| image_skyline = Cherai Lagoon2.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Cherai Lagoon2

| pushpin_map = India Kerala

| pushpin_label_position = left

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India

| coordinates = {{coord|9.977|N|76.27|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Kerala

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Ernakulam

| established_title =

| established_date =

| founder =

| named_for =

| government_type =

| governing_body =

| leader_title1 = Panchayat President

| leader_name1 = Sri. Radhakrishnan

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes =

| area_rank =

| area_total_km2 =

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 0

| population_total =

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| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym =

| population_footnotes =

| demographics_type1 = Languages

| demographics1_title1 = Official

| demographics1_info1 = Malayalam, English

| timezone1 = IST

| utc_offset1 = +5:30

| postal_code_type = PIN

| postal_code = 683514

| area_code_type = Telephone code

| area_code = 0484

| registration_plate =

| blank1_name_sec2 = Climate

| blank1_info_sec2 = Am (Köppen)

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Cherai is a small town located in north side of Vypin island. It is a region in the suburb of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is at a distance of about {{convert|22.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the High Court Junction, Kochi. Cherai has the longest beach in Kochi - the Cherai beach. The beach is located towards the centre-north of the Vypin island.

The Cherai Beach is {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} long.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Dolphins are occasionally seen here.

Cherai has played an important role in the history of modern Kerala by becoming the birthplace of two prominent political personsages of modern Kerala - Mathai Manjooran and Sahodaran Ayyappan.

Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple is one of the main Hindu temples. The temple is maintained by Vijnana Vardhini Sabha (V. V Sabha). It also known as Kerala palani. The festival in the temple is the biggest festival in Eranakulam district. The festival happens every year towards the last 2 weeks of January or first 2 weeks of February. The main attractions are Elephant parade (around 20-30 elephants).

There is one more famous temple in Cherai, which is Azheekkal Sree Varaha Temple famous for its beautiful chariot. It is one of the oldest temple owned by Gowda Saraswatha Community.