Kochi

With verdant palms outlining the glistering waters like jewels exquisitely resting on a royal charm, the silent welcoming of the great ships that enter into her arms from oceans afar, the continuous buzz of activity that is her ambience, the joyous hospitality of the people, the grandeur and antiquity of the buildings that constitute her very being, the powerful aroma of spices wafting in the breeze that sighs through her streets, there is no question why Kochi has been termed the Queen of the Arabian Sea.

Best time to visit

As Kochi is located on the edge of the Arabian Sea; the climate is pleasant throughout the year. June to August, Kochi gets heavy rainfall, so one should avoid this period. The best time for Kochi tours is from the months of November to February.

Getting There

By Air
Cochin International Airport which is 34 km away, is well connected to all major cities of India.

By Rail
Ernakulam Town, North and Ernakulam junction, south, both serve as railheads for this town and are well connected to cities in Kerala and India.

By Road
Kochi Kerala is linked to Willingdon Island by pair of bridges that are linked to Ernakulam mainland by NH 47, Eranakulam’s KSRTC bus stand has daily services to all major cities.

Sights and Attractions

Veega Land

Kochi’s Veega land was initially developed as one of its kind theme park in Kerala. Within short span of its commencement it has become the preferred destination for fun seekers in South India and is must visit place when on Kochi Tours. Veega land’s magnificent and tranquil setting is matched only by the ambitious scale and grandeur of the park itself. Apart from the amazing sky and land rides, there are also a number of cool and exciting water rides for the entire family.

Ernakulam

Bustling with life and in the throes of evolving into a cosmopolitan metropolis. Ernakulam is where the buzz of modern day Kochi exists. Alive and throbbing with people, shopping centers, cinema, theatres, offices, hotels, plush buildings, roadside eating joints, exotic restaurants; the factors that come together to create the quintessential city life can be experienced on a Kochi Tours to Ernakulam. An amalgamation of the old and the new, Ernakulam is the only city in Kerala where you can experience the conveniences of an urban lifestyle that is now increasingly prevalent in the big cities of India.

Marine Drive

This scenic strip, which is the main hangout for the local populace, is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of the Kochi city with a spectacular view of the backwaters and the harbor. The other side of this stretch is closely packed with buildings that house establishment varying from corporate offices, luxury hotels, banks; to cinema halls, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets. At night, the lights from the ships anchored in the harbor create a breathtaking scene.

Fort Kochi

This laid back town gives appearance of still being in an era gone by. Once the centre of military, maritime and commercial activity of the region, Fort Kochi is now a picturesque reminder of what was. Quaint narrow lanes, colonial buildings and tranquil open spaces give it an atmosphere of genteelness, making it a major tourists attractions and the perfect getaway from the bustle of the city.

Chinese Fishing Nets

Along the beachfront of the Vasco da Gama Square, you will see the; gigantic cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the singular symbol that has come to be associated with Kochi. A legacy of the earliest visitors to this coast, they are said to have brought to Kochi between 1350 and 1450 by traders from the court of Kubla Khan. Employed mainly during high tides, these nets are set up on bamboo poles supported by teak wood structures and require at least four men to operate their systems of counterweights. You can see the fishermen haul up the nets at 6 am, once again at 11 am and then finally, around 4 pm.

Mattancherry

In complete contrast to Fort Kochi, which was the epitome of the quiet and peaceful lifestyle for its colonial residents, next door neighbor Mattancherry was where the bustle was. For Mattancherry was not only a place that attracted invaders and traders from far off places, it was also the destination for local migrants keen on making a fortune. This the original Cochin, was the epicenter of trade, especially that of spices. The years have wrought little change. The nooks and corners of Mattancherry continue to buzz with the busy-ness of an active hive and should not be if you are on Kerala holidays.

Spice market

It was spices that lured travelers from across the globe to Kochi. To this day, the air in Mattancherry is saturated with the smell of ginger, cardamom, cloves and pepper, thanks to the spice markets that still survives. The market is easy to find. Big trucks feed pushcarts that are used to transport that are used to transport sack loads of spices in and out of the warehouse that line the narrow streets. Watch out for the multitude too on a Kerala holidays.

Willingdon Island

Nestled in the backwaters, between mainland Ernakulam and Mattancherry, lies the main island of Willingdon. Named after a Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon, this island with an area of 775 acres, was created from material dredged while deepening the Kochi harbor in 1928. The man responsible for accomplishing this engineering marvel was a visionary called Sir Robert Bristow.

Athirappally waterfalls

Only 80 kms from Ernakullam city, Athirappally falls are a tourists destinations as well as a popular location for film shoots. You can also enjoy these falls from the top of the rocks and watch the water rush past to plunge down the 80 feet incline or take a scenic hike down the forested hill to the foot of the fall. On the way to Athirappally, look out for the Vazhachal falls, are also magnificent.

An added attraction at Athirappally which is very popular is the Silver Storm water park, which offers many water based activities. Bhoothathankettu Located 50 kms from the Ernakullam city in Kochi Kerala, Bhoothathankettu is a scenic dam site with boating facilities situated in vast virgin forests. According to the story behind the name, this natural fortification of forests and hills was built by bhoothams (spirit/ ghosts) overnight. The natural topography as helped in building a dam here. Trekking through the forests here is an exhilarating experience.

Cherai Beach

Idyllic Cherai Beach is the perfect destination fro those seeking a beach experience on a tour to Kerala that does not include crowds and vendors. Located on one end of Vypeen Island, around 26 km from Ernakullam, Cherai has the added advantage of being flanked by the golden sands of the beach on one side and the palm fringed backwaters on the other. The sea is usually calm and the beach is a swimmer’s paradise. If you are lucky, from the newly constructed 400 meter walkway, you may also catch the delighted sight of dolphins frolicking in the waves.

Sanctuary

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary

The Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Thettekkad is Kerala’s first officially recognized bird sanctuary. Lying snugly between two branches of the Periyar River and the serenity of the Anamalai hills, this compact 25 sq km of pristine beauty has everything for the avid birdwatcher. Thettekkad has a spectacular bird life and Dr Salim Ali, the late renowned ornithologist who once described Thattekkad as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable to the Eastern Himalayas.

Activities

What to buy
Kochi has good options for shopoholics and souvenir hunters. The streets in Mattancherry have shops selling antiques and reproductions. Try Crafters. Princess Street in Fort Kochi is charmed with small shops worth browsing through. Cinnamon on Ridsdale Road in Parade Ground is a branch of the chic Bangalore boutique and stocks stylish house ware, scarves, purses, jewelry and Indo- western clothing. For Kerala Saris, ethnic jewelry and other souvenirs, head to MG road in Ernakulam. Try Jayalakshmi and Kairali for handicrafts.

Things to do

Boat trips are a must for anybody on a tour to Cochin. The State Government run Kerala Tourism Department Corporation (KTDC) offers a sightseeing boat tour around the city as well as a village tour on country boats every day. All trips begin from the Sea Lord jetty on Marine Drive and are undertaken only if a minimum number of passengers are available.

The boat tour to Cochin is conducted twice a day and is of three and a half hours duration. The first tour starts at 9 am and the second at 2 pm. The tour includes a visit to historical monuments like the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St Francis Church, Bolghatty Island and a close view of the Chinese nets. The fare is 100 per head.

The Village Kerala backwaters tour, by canoes is conducted through the narrow canals linking the city to the villages. Both half day and full day tours are available. The half day tours cost Rs 350; the full day tour is Rs 650. There are two half day tours everyday- one at 8:30 am and the other at 2:30 pm- of four and a half hours duration. Food is provided either on boat or in the village. On a village Kerala backwaters tour you can see daily life and activities like coir making and toddy tapping. During season, you can also see prawn and crab farms.

There is also a sunset tour, depending on the weather. This is of one and half hours duration, starting at 5:30 pm and costs Rs 40. Apart from KTDC, there are private operators conducting boat services.

• Dravidia on Jew Street is a small but very active gallery with an emphasis on contemporary works of art. It also has Indian classical music performances and concerts are staged here daily between 6 and 7 pm.
• Cycle or bike around the beautiful town of Mattancherry
• The Best possible way to understand the culture of Kochi Kerala is by understanding the food. Spend two hours and learn upto five dishes with Leelu Roy.