Kochi

12 Tours

Kochi (formerly Cochin) is a cosmopolitan city in Kerala with a bustling commercial port.

Kochi is the financial capital of Kerala and, with a population of more than 2 million, the biggest urban agglomeration in the state. It is one of the major tourist destinations in India. The second largest city in Kerala after the state capital. Kochi is also the largest city in South India without a Hindu majority.

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Key Attractions

Ernakulum Mainland City

The heart and transport hub of Kochi with three distinct parts, the Central Business District (CBD) which has Mahatma Gandhi Road (MG Road) as the main arterial road along with Marine Drive and Chitoor Road; Downtown with upscale residential areas and the business district at SA Road and Vytilla Junction and the Suburb which has many business and commercial areas.
Willingdon Island

Large man-made island made from sand dredged from the backwaters to deepen the Kochi Port. Named after Long Willingdon, then-the reigning Viceroy of India, it houses the Kochi Port, Southern Naval Command Headquarters of Indian Navy and many five star hotels.
Islands of Mattencherry and Fort Kochi (Old Kochi)

These are primarily a tourist enclave. Fort Kochi forms the upper part of the Island with neatly arranged colonial buildings, narrow well-paved roads, Anglo-Dutch influenced structures and large antiques shops. Mattancherry is primarily a trading city, famous for its thriving Gujarati settlement brought to the city in the 16th and 17th centuries by the spice trade.
Thrikakara Town

Famous for the large Vamana Temple, the focal centre of Onam, the national festival of Kerala. Also the home of Cochin University and other educational institutes.
Thripunithara

The erstwhile capital of the Kingdom of Kochi is famous for various historical palaces, museums and temples, and as a centre of the arts.
Hill Palace Museum

The erstwhile Kochi Maharaja's palace, now converted to a large museum along with a small zoo. Has paintings and epigraphy from the collections of the Travancore & Kochi royal families. This is the largest archaeological palace in South India with more than 500 artifacts divided into 16 galleries. The highlight of the Palace is the display of multi-billion worth Cochin Royal Crown and Crown Jewels. The Crown Gallery is a high security zone which has elaborate security check procedures, photography and bags are prohibited. The Palace complex is huge with several buildings inside it.
Santacruz Basilica

The first European Church built in Asia, by the Portuguese in 1502, also the first Cathedral of Asia and seat of second Catholic Diocese in India. The British modified the structure and added oil paintings. Today, it serves as the primary seat of the Latin church of Kerala. Pope John Paul II declared it a Basilica in 1984. It houses several historical paintings, decors and artifacts.
St. Francis CSI Church

Constructed by the Portuguese in 1503 and the burial place of Vasco da Gama (his remains were later transferred to Lisbon). His tombstone can be seen inside the church. The church has large cemeteries which are resting grounds of many Portuguese army officials and soldiers. The church is the only Catholic Church not demolished by Dutch which was handed over to British to re-establish an Anglican church.
Dutch Palace

Constructed by the Portuguese in 1568 as a gift to Maharaja of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma, after he granted permission to construct Fort Immanunel. During the Dutch siege of Kochi, many parts of the original palace were destroyed.
Jew Street and Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town

The synagogue was constructed in 1568 after allowing Jewish refugees from Jerusalem to settle here during the Crusades making this the Commonwealth's oldest Synagogue. This is one of the very few functional synagogues in India and the structure is unique due to influence of native Hindu-Christian architecture as well as the only synagogue having two bimahs
Cherai Beach, North of Vypin Island

Golden beaches with big sand grains, coconut palm corridors, backwaters, and historical monuments. Cherai Beach is one of the safest beaches to swim or play water sports or beach games. Very large beautiful backwaters just 250 meters from beach famous for its scenic beauty and boating. Cherai Beach surpasses all with its swimming facility and coconut groves. An occasional sight of dolphins is also an added attraction. Kodanadu Elephant Training College (Ana Thothil). 9AM-6PM. Lies on the southern bank of the Periyar amongst the scenic beauty of the high ranges, Kodanadu is extremely famous for its unique elephant training college, elephant orphanage and a mini zoo with deer and peacocks here. Wild elephants are first tamed in special cradles and then taken to the nearby training college, where they are trained. The elephant orphanage rears baby elephants until they are ready for training college. Elephant safari is one of the most sought tourist activity here along with kids playing ball games with baby elephants.
Fort Kochi Beach, Fort Kochi

A historic beach where 1st Portuguese-Dutch war broke out in the 17th century. Once a very large beach, it has reduced to a quarter in sizes after the Tsunami. A beautiful, small walkway is constructed recently, making ideal for evening strolls. One can find remnants of Old Portuguese Immanuel Fort along with parts of Dutch Stormberg Fort with some canons still kept intact. An obsolete boiler that once used for powering cranes of old port and a very large anchor of an old Portuguese ship are displayed on the walkway. Works for creating a new artificial beach is undergoing near to this old beach with help of Tsunami development funds.
Cochin Carnival (Dec 20-Jan 2)

It is the biggest carnival festival in the city. It started in 1582 as part of Portuguese New Year's celebrations. A wonderful array of colorful rallies, fancy dress parades, regular competitions, bike races, beach games, sports, theme festivals, concerts and dances, fireworks and most important, the night beach parties, make it one of the largest celebrations in India. The New Year's Eve party is the highlight of this festival, when a large parade carrying a huge statute of Papanai (a Santa Claus-like image) is taken to the beach, where it is set on fire on the stroke of midnight. This is followed by a grand party. The carnival ends with the Grand Parade on the afternoon of January 1st.
Onam Festival (ten day festival mid-August to mid-September)

The state festival of Kerala originating in Kochi. It is based on the legend of welcoming home the mythical King Mahabali, whose capital was believed to be at the current site of Thrikakkara Temple. The ten day festivities start off with a parade on Atham day called Athachamayam. It is held in Thripunithara starting from the Atham Grounds and has many tableaux, dance parades, cultural art forms ending at Thrikakkara Temple.
Shiva Temple Festival (first week of January)

It takes place at the Shiva Temple and Durbar Hall Ground, famous for its ten elephant parade and host of cultural activities. The last day of the festival, Pakalpooram, is famous for its traditional Kerala percussion ensemble, a huge display of fireworks and a 21 gun salute by the Indian Navy and Kerala Police.
Chendamangalam Matta Chanda ( 2 days prior to Vishnu Festival ) near Chendamangalam Fort

It is the only official barter market in the world, as reminiscent of olden market style. The recorded history of this market is nearly 300 years old, where traditional & heritage items are sold in exchange of modern items of equal value. Matta Chanda is today a tourism attraction and a traditional ritual rather than serious shopping, hence only traditional Kerala specialties can be brought in exchange of modern and regular items like branded soaps, perfumes, clothes, hair accessories, electronic components, batteries, medicines etc., as agreed mutually buyer and seller.
Boating on the Kochi backwaters, (at Marine Drive)

Get the real feel of the Vembanadu Lake through boating. There are many cruises offered by many private players as well as the Kerala State Inland Shipping Corp. Sunset cruises are popular. Many guesthouses offer the trip and in the centre you can arrange it by yourself as well. Recently speedboats started plying the backwaters. Some premium hotels in Willington Island and Fort Kochi offer motorized watersports for its guests.
Ayurvedic pleasure treatments

A good Indian massage supplies proper circulation, which helps our bodies to grow and renew. Ayurveda massage expels toxins and provides deep relaxation. Physically it helps all systems of the body. Mentally it helps mind to relax by removing energies that store past tensions and emotional problems in our body.

Nearby Places

Alappuzha (70 km)

(Also called Alleppey) is famous for house boats, the heart of backwaters of Kerala with amazing maze of lagoons, backwaters, rivers, canals created by nature. Rs 81 bus from the interstate bus stop.
Athirapilly waterfalls

Milky waterfall in Chalakuddy 18 km from Cochin International Airport, is known as Indian Niagara with numerous giant waterfalls and small rapids nearby. This is a popular picnic spot. The waterfall is inside the thick forest and western Ghats.
Bhoothathankettu (35 km)

Scenic dam site with boating facilities is situated in a vast virgin forest. It is a popular picnic sport with Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary nearby.
Idukki (90 km)

A hilly region with lots of hill resorts, in Northern Travancore.
Kumarakom (40 km)

Popular internationally known bird sanctuary located on wedge of a backwater island.
Kottayam (55 km)

The biggest spice trading hub famous for large churches, wild trekking and cultural monuments.
Muvattupuzha (30 km)

A small town famous for pineapple cultivation, historical orthodox churches, spice trading and rubber plantations.
Thattekkad (45 km)

Bird sanctuary near Kothamangalam, famous for a good boating and a wild picnic.
Thrissur (60 km)

Cultural heart of Kerala famous for various cultural monuments, temples and grandest festival- Thrissur Pooram.
Wagamon (50 km)

Famous for pristine forests, small rapids, vast green meadows, it’s also known as Scotland of Asia.
Thenmala (225 km)

famous for ecotourism, waterfalls, boating, adventure activities and a deer park Thiruvananthapuram — the capital city of Kerala, 5 hours away by train with many attractions such as