Cochin gateway to Kerala

Cochin, gateway to Kerala

Kochi is an enchanting city that's had an eclectic influence. Arabs, British, Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese have all left their mark there. The architecture and historical sites in Fort Kochi draw most of the visitors to the area. Fort Kochi is an excellent place to explore on foot or bicycle. Don't miss these top Kochi attractions and places to visit.

Must visit places in Kochi

Fortkochi

The Chinese fishing nets which symbolises Kochi can be seen only in Fort Kochi which may be the only place in the world where the Chinese fishing nets are unique outside China for which the credit goes to the traders from the court of Chinese emperor Kubla Khan. Presently, there are 11 Chinese fishing nets dotting the Fort Kochi shoreline while it was 20 about ten years ago.St Francis Church which is one of the oldest built by Europeans in India and another landmark in this area is Vasco House where Vasco Da Gama is believed to have lived.

Mattancherry Palace

Mattancherry is another fascinating area in Kochi. The name mattancherry originated from the house name “Ancherry Mattam”, a Brahmin house which was pronounced by foreign traders as Matt-Ancherry. Mattancherry is tourist spot in Kochi where Portuguese influence can be seen and in particular the Dutch Palace. Jew Town is another tourist attraction of Mattancherry with the synagogue dating from 1568 which is India’s oldest functioning synagogue along with other tourist spots like Mattancherry Palace Museum which hosts different weapons such as swords, spears etc , Mattacherry Pazhayannur Royal temple and Palliarakkavvu temple, Ram Mandir, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin temples etc.

Bolgatty palace            

Bolghatty Island is a short boat ride away from mainland Kochi and has Bolghatty Palace which is one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland .Bolghatty Palace is now converted into a hotel and there is even a small golf course , a swimming pool, 9-hole golf course, ayurvedic centre and daily Kathakali performances and is a popular resort to stay for Indian and overseas tourists.

Lulu mall

Kochi also has India’s largest shopping mall in Edappally – Lulu Shopping Mall owned and operated by EMKE Group. For a shopping experience in Kochi there are lots of markets but a visit to Lulu Mall is a treat with air conditioning and 300+ food outlets, stores and restaurants. There are both international brands as well as local specialties to see in this modern complex and there is also a premium five-star, 20-storey, 300 room hotel managed by JW Marriott Hotels is located adjacent to it, within the mall compound.

Cherai and vypeen beach

Vypeen Island is another island that is really popular among visitors to Kochi & Kerala . Vypeen is also the location of Pallipuram Fort which is the oldest surviving fort in India built by European settlers and was constructed in 1503. Just off the Coast of Vypeen Island is Cherai beach which is among the famous beaches is Kerala and which is a beach that is shallow, calm and is ideal for swimming & sunbathing and is also known as Princess of Arabian Sea.

Kodanad village

The Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, which was moved to Abhayaranyam near Kaprikkad, is one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala. It is flanked by the high ranges and is set near the southern banks of the Periyar River. Since the ban on capturing elephants was enforced, this place now serves as one of the premier elephant training centres in Kerala. Muthanga of Wayanad and Konni of Pathanamthitta are two other elephant training centres.

Hill palace museum

Located about 10 kms from Kochi, the Hill Palace Museum was the official residence of the erstwhile rulers of Kochi. Built in 1865, it is now famous for being a full-fledged Ethno-Archaeological Museum and Kerala's first ever Heritage Museum. The palace complex itself comprises 49 buildings and is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture. It has over 52 acres of terraced land around it.

One can see oil-paintings, murals, sculptures, manuscripts and belongings of the Kochi royal family. Antique ceramics from the Far East, Kudakkallu  (tombstone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), laterite memorials and wooden memorials from ancient civilisations like the Indus Valley and Harappa can also be found here. It even has a gallery housing contemporary art. It is our pride to have relics of such value and significance placed here. 

Marine drive

Marine is a beautiful and picturesque promenade in Kochi which faces towards the backwaters of Kochi. It's one of the famous must-visit places for tourists and local populace. It's 140 m walkway that stretches from the Jankar Jetty (north) to the Emakulam Boat Jetty (South). It is situated along the edge of backwaters that begins behind the Children's Park ending at the Shanmugham Road. It is surfaced with black-dotted, red-carpet ultra tiles. Wooden benches, cast-ironed, weather-proof seating on ash grey tiles offers utmost relaxation.

There are various shopping malls and fast food joints which attracts many tourists from all across the world. It's a major centre of economic activities in Kochi and visitors throng this place to view the glance of rising sun over the sea jaws.

Getting there :

By Air

The Cochin International Airport is well connected to major cities all across India and the world. From the airport, the main city centre is about 29 kilometres away. Buses, taxis, cabs, and trains can be used for the purpose of reaching the requisite destination from the airport.

By Bus

Cochin has a strong network of Kerala State Run Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services that connects it to all the major cities in Kerala and with some of the major cities in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Air-conditioned deluxe Volvo bus services are available from Cochin to cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum.

By Train

Cochin is well connected to all the major railway stations in India. Most of the Kerala bound trains have a stop at either of the two railway stations in Cochin – Ernakulam Town Station and Ernakulam Junction Station. From the railway station, one can board a bus, a taxi or a cab to reach the required destination in Cochin.

Road/Self Drive

Hopping into a cab or a taxi and driving to Cochin from nearby cities is another feasible and fun way to reach Cochin. Driving through the beautiful countryside of Kerala is a beautiful experience in itself. An extensive network of national highways and local roads link Cochin to major cities across India.

By Water

One can reach Cochin by water from destinations like Goa, Mumbai, Lakshadweep, Colombo and Male. There are regular yachts and cruise ship services on these routes and make for a scenic journey. The interconnecting scenic backwaters provide regular boat services from places like Kottayam, Kumarakom, and Allepey to Cochin.

Travel tips :

·        While doing flight reservations, you can book to Cochin (Kochi), Trivandrum or Calicut depends on your travel plan and with the consultation of your travel agent

·        While booking train tickets if you are trying for Cochin, search Ernakulam which is same as Cochin. There is no railway station by name Cochin and code for Ernakulam is ERN or ERS

·        Foreign passengers are required to obtain a VISA from the nearest Indian Consulate and remember to apply for the VISA at least 14 days before date of arrival and buy adequate travel insurance

·        For your safety, try to carry minimal gold ornaments

·        There are lots of ATMs at most of the places there by avoiding carrying more cash with you

·        Always try to carry mineral water with you and avoid unsafe water from taps for drinking

·        Smoking and consumption of alcohol is prohibited at public places and will be fined if caught

·        Do carry your medicines and few tablets for fever, cold, head ache, vomiting etc

·        India’s time zone is GMT/UTC +5.30 and can expect jet lag for International passengers.

Timings and season

Cochin has a different charm in different seasons and though it can be visited all around the year, here is a month wise break-up of the weather of the city:

October to February: Winters are by far the best time to visit Cochin as the weather is very pleasant. Temperatures range between 17 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. This is a great time of the year for honeymooners, beach bums and adventure seekers.

March to June: March marks the beginning of the summer in Cochin and temperatures begin to rise. The average temperature during this time of the year is between 20 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius. This is a great time to visit Cochin as the city is not crowded and you can secure great deals on hotel tariffs. Do make sure you carry light cotton clothes and sunscreen along.

July to September: The monsoon season is another great time to visit Cochin and admire the city in its rain-washed splendour. Covered in a carpet of green, Cochin comes alive during the rains. Since this is not peak tourist season, it is possible to get good deals on hotels. Do make sure you carry an umbrella or raincoat along as you enjoy your monsoon holiday in Cochin.