Cochin
From Imakoopedia
Kochi (official name) is Kerala's most cosmopolitan city with a bustling commercial port. (In past it was known as Cochin in English)
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Understand
Kochi began trading in spices-like black pepper and cardamom with the outside world- with the Jews, Arabs, the Dutch, Phoenicians, Portuguese, Chinese more than 600 years ago.
Kochi has a lot of remenants from the past still clinging on. The famous landmark in Kochi is a row of Chinese fishing nets at the mouth of the harbour. So it is a blend of modern India on one hand and the old quarter- like the Fort kochi area and Mattancherry area- has the colonial air still hanging thick (pollution helps!).
Kochi is also comparitively cleaner and quieter than many other Indian tourist places.
This area boasts of hundreds of islands, some even uninhabited. A famous island is that of Boghatty ( local name Mulavukad) where the Dutch built a palace. This palace was later on used as house of British Resident administrator. Right now the Dutch Palace is tourist hotel, and you are welcome to live there as guest.
Get in
By Air
Kochi International Airport (http://www.cochin-airport.com/) is located in Nedumbassery - approx 29 Km from the city. There are flights starting from Singapore, Middile East, Europe and USA to Kochi. Served by Air-India (http://www.airindia.com/page.asp?pageid=126), among others.
By Train
You can also reach Kochi from other cities Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kozhikode (Calicut), Madras, Bangalore, Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta by train. There are two major Rail station in Kochi.
By Bus
There are bus services operating from cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Madras, Bangalore, Coimbatore to Kochi.
By Road
Kochi is well connected to other cities Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Madras, Bangalore, Coimbatore by road.
By Sea
Kochi can be reached by Sea in yachts or by occasional cruise ship from Goa or Bombay.
Get around
Bus
Kochi have an excellent local bus service system and it is cheap. All most all bus have destination written in English. If you speak English traveling local bus service is not that difficult as most bus operates will be knowing English.
Autoricksha
This is cheap way of transportation facility between attractions.
Taxi
Local taxis are also available at cheap rates.
Car
There are many Car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive.
Ferry
There are also good ferry services between islands.
Walk
Many places of attractions are near by other so you could walk between them.
See
Museums and Galleries
- Hill Palace Museum - The King Palace now converted to Museum along with a small zoo is 12 Km south-east of Ernakulam at Tripunithura have Painting, Epigraphy, the collections from Travancore & Cochin Royal families.
- Museum of Kerala History - at Edappally
- Parishath Thampuran Museum contains Oil paintings, old coins, sculptures and Mughal paintings, Interesting temple models and traditional style Kerala buildings.
Landmarks
- Fort Kochi
- Mattancherry
- Willington Island - An large artificial island made out of sand removed in order to deepen the Kochi Port.
- Vypeen & Gundu Islands - The Island toasts a lighthouse at Ochenthuruthu, beaches and the early 16th century
- Bolgatty - built in 1744 as Dutch Palace; one of the KTDC Hotels with green lawns and Golf Course.
- Chinese fishing Nets - at Fort Kochi.
- Dutch Palace - constructed by Portuguese in 1568 for Maharaja of Kochi Veera Kerala Varma. Later rebuilt by Dutch.
- St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi - constructed by the Portughese[1503]. Vasco da Gama was buried here [1524] and later his remains were transferred to Libson, Portugal. His tombstone can be seen inside the church.
- Jew Street & Synagogue - at Mattancherry, it constructed in 1568 and rebuild in 1662.
- Santacruz Cathedral- at Fort Kochin
Sleep
- Fort Kochi it’s quieter and more scenic than the rest of the city. There are quite a lot of tourists so prices are relatively high, but that’s still very cheap by western standards.
- Willingdon Island
- Ernakulam city
Hotels
Here is a list of hotels Abad Plaza, Abad Fort, Abad Metro, Hotel Mermaid, White House, Abad Airport, Abad atrium, Best Western Avenue, Casino, Gokulam Park Inn, Hilton, Le Meridien, Presidency, Renaissance, Burton Boatyard, Malabar House Hotel, Taj Malabar, Taj Residency
Eat & Drink
Get out
- Aluva a town on the way from airport to Kochi has some place of attraction
- Aluva Manalpuram - is famous for the Shivarathri festival on the Sand Beach on the banks of Periyar river.
- Kalady - birth place of Adi Sankarachaarya[786-820] scholar & philospher who is the founder of advatic philosophy.
- Malayattoor Mount - A Christian Pilgrimage Centre supposed to be a place visted by St. Thomas.
- Cherai Beach - near North Paravur is a new generation tourist hot spot with Golden beaches, coconut palms corridors, backwaters, historical monuments.
- Munnar a hill resort is 130 km east. And on the way to Munnar are
- Kallil Temple - an old Jain temple but now a Hindu temple is 13 Km from Perumbavoor.
- Kodanadu - Elephant training centre.
- Bhoothathankettu - A Dam, 8 Kms north east of Kothamangalam is a nice palace to stop by.
- Thattekkad - Bird sanctuary near Bhoothathankettu.
- Guruvayoor and Thrissur
- Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud in Tamil Nadu
Info Center
- Government of India Tourist Office, Willingdon Island, Cochin 682003. Ph# +91-484-2668352.
- KTDC Tourist Reception Centre, Shanmugham Road, Cochin 682011. Ph# +91-484-2353234.
- Tourist Information Office, Old Collectorate, Cochin 682011. Ph# +91-484-2381743.
External links
- Kerala Govt. Tourism Site (http://www.keralatourism.org/index.jsp?resource=dest&viewId=second00&distId=1)
- Map of Kochi (http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/kerala/kochi.htm)
- Map of Ernakulam (http://mapsofindia.com/maps/kerala/ernakulam.htm)
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