Kochi Tour

Facts and Figures
» Location from Major Metros : Delhi (2594 kms), Mumbai (1384 kms), Kolkata (2360 kms), Chennai (684 kms).

» Known for : Chinese fishing nets and backwaters.

» Climate & the best time to visit : Since Kochi is situated very close to the sea, it experiences moderate climate, with heavy rains during June-August due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature shoots up to a maximum of 35°C and dips down to 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall recorded here is 310 cm. The ideal time to visit Kochi is between the months of October to March.


The city
Kochi is popularly referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, it is also referred to as the Gateway of South India. Kochi is located on the west coast of India in the beautiful state of Kerala. It is regarded as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. It is the second most important city on the western coast of south India. Kochi is not a very beautiful city, but it is just a careless smear of tinted light where sea and sky unite.

Kochi is palm-green town of Kerala and the city consists of the mainland Ernakulam, which is one of the modern cities of south India where shopping market, bazaars etc are located. The Chinese fishing nets swaying in the breeze over backwaters, the Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, Portuguese architecture, Boghatty Palace in Kochi enrich the heritage of Kerala. The festivals like the Great Elephant Race, Onam, and Thrissur Pooram are celebrated all over Kerala, but Kochi is known for the Cochin Carnival, which is celebrated to trace the New Year celebrations.

Attractions in the city
» Bolghatty Palace : This palace is one of the most visited and popular tourist attractions in Kochi. This Dutch palace is situated on the Bolghatty Island. You can enjoy a stay at this palace, which has now been converted into a luxury hotel. The island has a fine golf course and the panoramic view that makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.

» Mattancherry Palace ( Dutch Palace) : This Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi (Cochin). It was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. On display here are beautiful Murals depicting scenes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and some of the puranic Hindu legends.

» Santa Cruz Basilica : This monumental church dates back to 1558 and has beautiful paintings on the ceiling.

» St. Francis Church : This is India's oldest European Church, built in 1503 by Portuguese Francisan Friars. Vasco da Gama's remains were buried here in 1524 and later moved to Lisbon, Portugal but his tombstone still remains.

» Cherai Beach : This is a lovely beach bordering Vypeen Island, ideal for swimming and Dolphins watching. A typical Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added attraction of this beach.

» Pareekshith Thampuran Museum : This sprawling, traditional Kerala style building previously called the Durbar Hall, houses 19th century oil paintings, a collection of old coins, sculptures and Mughal paintings.

Other places of interest
» Thripunithura : Thripunithura is 12 km southwest of Kochi and has a Hill Palace Museum housing the collections of the Kochi and Travancore royal families. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and 2 to 4 P.M.

» Edapally : Edapally is 10 km northeast of Ernakulam and has the Museum of Kerala History. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. and 2 to 4 P.M.

» Parur : Parur is 35 km north of Kochi and it encapsulates the cultural and religious medley of this region. There is a synagogue, place of Brahmins, a Syrian Orthodox Church, a Krishna Temple, and a temple of goddess Mookambic.

» Chennamangalam : Four kilometers away from Kochi is Chennamangalam that houses the oldest synagogue in Kerala. There is also a Jesuit Church and ruins of a Jesuit College. One can also walk to the Hindu Temple overlooking river Periyar, a 16th-century mosque, as well as burial grounds.


How to reach
» Air : There are Indian Airlines and Jet Airways direct services to Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Goa, Bangalore, and Trivandrum from Kochi.

» Rail : Kochi is connected by rail to most of the important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Kochi has three main railway stations, namely, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Harbour Terminus on Willingdon Island.

» Road : Kochi is connected by road with several tourist centers in India. It is 565 km from Bangalore, 223 km from Coimbatore, 848 km from Goa, 694 km from Madras, 470 km from Mysore, and 312 km form Ootacamund.