Kadavanthara junction, one and a half km south of downtown Kochi is fast developing into a commercial center in its own right. Gandhi Nagar, Giri Nagar and Elamkulam are the areas coming under Kadavanthara. Kadavanthara has a number of shopping arcades, restaurants and showrooms in and around the main junction including Varkeys, Reliance Fresh, The big Graffiti Bread world, Ann's bakery, Chinese garden etc. The Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road to the left of the junction links the northern and southern parts of Kochi.

Girinagar adjacent to Panampilly Nagar, mainly a calm residential area lined with LIG (Low income Group) and MIG (Middle Income group ) houses could be termed as the first colony in Kochi. The by lanes has the community hall and the Bhavans Vidya Mandir, a Senior Secondary School (Std. I - XII) affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi and a part of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan group of educational institutions.

Gandhi Nagar another residential locale just across Girinagar, with the Vytilla Road in between has the Rajiv Gandi Indoor stadium, the second largest of its kind in India to boast of. Office of the GCDA (Greater Cochin Development Authority), Kendriya Vidyalaya - a central government school under the Human resource Ministry, for the children of central government employees affiliated to CBSE; Kadavanthara market, Fire station etc are located in and around Gandhi Nagar. The place lies behind the Ernakulam Junction Railway station. Elamkulam has a comparatively new Hotel Dream in its environs.