Cochin is the most visited tourist destination in Kerala that consists the beautiful sea front with Chinese fishing nets and stalls selling seafood. Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is one of the principal seaports of India and is located in the district of Ernakulam, about 220 kilometers (137 mi) from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the second largest city of Kerala after the Thiruvananthapuram. Kochi is popularly known, as the Queen of Arabian Sea is the commercial capital of Kerala. Cochin has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Cochin was once the major center of commerce and trade with the British, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch etc. It is regarded as the industrial capital and commercial hub of Kerala. Traveling Kochi is a great experience and there are many tourist attractions.
Contact Us for Kerala Tour, Kerala backwaters, Kovalam Beach Trip, Trip to India, India Tour, Holiday India, India tour packages, Luxury Tours India, Budget Tours India and India Group Tours.
Kerala Ayurvedic Package Booking
Kerala Highlights Tour Package
Culture & Heritage of Kerala Tour Package
Click Here for Travel South India Itinerary
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Bolghatty Palace: Bolghatty Palace is situated in Boghatty Island; a palm fringed island accessible easily from the mainland. The Dutch built the Palace in 1744, converted into a hotel at present. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions. The island has a fine golf course and excellent view. There are frequent boat services available from the mainland.
Fort Kochi beach: A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the Chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. The coastal stretch has many small food stalls which serve mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish.
Chinese Fishing Nets: The Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced the exclusive Chinese fishing nets here. Chinese Fishing Nets, used at high tide exhibits a mechanical method of catching fish at Fort Kochi. The entire stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.
Dutch Palace or Mattancherry Palace: The Portuguese originally built this palace in 1555 AD. In the 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented to the king of Kochi. It was the coronation platform of many kings of Kochi in the past. This palace has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the great Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Jewish Synagogue: The Jewish Synagogue was built in the year 1568. There are Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers magnificently decorate the synagogue. This palace is located near the Dutch Palace. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry.
Hill Palace: Hill Palace museum is situated 12 km away from Eranakulam. The king of Kochi built it in the 19th century. At present this palace has been converted into a museum. There are different types of sculptures; rare coins, old weapons, the throne, the crown, ancient manuscripts and artifacts of Cochin Royal Family on display.
St. Francis Church: The Portuguese originally built The Protestant church in 1510 AD. It is believed to be the oldest church built by the Europeans in India. It is said that the Portuguese trader, Vasco da Gama was buried here; 14 years hence his remains were taken to Portugal. The exact burial place of Vasco da Gama is ear marked inside the church.
Santa Cruz Baslica Church, Fort Kochi: The original church was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named cathedral in 1558. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. This Roman Catholic Church is situated close to St. Francis Church and it is worth visiting. It has some beautiful paintings.
Vasco House, Fort Kochi: Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. This house features European glass paned windows and verandahs.
Willingdon Island: This Island is an important part of Kochin. It is a man-made island created from the material dredged while deeping Kochin Port. It is situated between the main land Ernakulam and the old town Mattancherry that is separated by the backwaters.
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary: This bird sanctuary is situated in the heart of the city. It is the home of many exotic and rare varieties of migratory birds.
Museum of Kerala History: The museum has on display spectacular audio-visual exhibits depicting the history and culture of Kerala along with life size statues of famous personalities and paintings depicting the history of Kerala.
Edappalli: Edappally; the centre for Visual Arts and Gallery Paintings & Sculptures is located next to the museum of Kerala History. It houses around two hundred original paintings of recognized Indian masters, both contemporary and past.
Palliport (Pallipuram) Fort: It is the oldest surviving European fort in India, built by the Portuguese in 1503, situated in Pallipuram on Vypeen Island.
Cherai Beach: This lovely beach ideal for swimming is located on Vypeen Island, one of the many small islands just off the mainland. The beach is lined by coconut groves and paddy fields. It can be reached by land or boat.
Marine Drive: A stroll along the long coastal pathway that lines the backwater is worth a visit especially in the evening. The backwaters dotted with fishing boats, speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats can be observed from this walkway.
Veega Land: Veega Land is South India’s largest amusement park situated 14 Kms from Cochin. This park has attractions such as mini castles, water theme park, ferries, wheel rides, slide shows and fountains.
SPECIALS
Kathakali performance: Kathakali is a traditional dance form of Kerala. The dancers make impressive facial expressions; hand gestures and dance moves that can leave the beholder spellbound. Kathakali See India Foundation, The Cochin Cultural Centre, and Art Kerala organize Kathakali performances every evening.
Boat ride: Traditional kettuvallom (boat) the backwaters separating Ernakulam from Fort Kochi and Mattanchery are dotted with many small and mid-sized islands. A boat ride through the backwaters is an unforgettable experience.
Getting There: Cochin is well connected by air and Rail from all major cities in India. If you wish to travel by Air, Kochi is connected by excellent air network to all major cities in India. A network of national and state highways very well services Kochi, an important commercial center of the South India, connecting it to all major centers of the area.
Best Season and Climate : Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate, with heavy rains during June-August. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall is 310 cm.
