Location : In the
south Indian State of Kerala, on the high ranges of the western ghats.
Tourist Attractions : Bolghatty Palace, Chinese Fishing
Nets, Dutch Palace, Fort Kochi beach, Hill Palace, Jewish Synagogue,
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary, Museum of Kerala History, Palliport
(Pallipuram) Fort, Parikshith Thampuram Museum, St. Francis Church.
Best Buys : Metalware, camel-bone carvings, wood
carvings, articles made of coconut shels, baboo cane, embroidered screwpine
mats; grass mats; and several other types of handicrafts
Best Hangouts : Chinese Fishing Nets, Mangalavanam Bird
Sanctuary, Fort Kochi beach.
Best Activity : Backwater cruise and yes, don't forget
to taste the sea food.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Periyar, Kozhikode, Kannur
, Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Coimbatore.
When to Visit : September to May
About Cochin
Kochi or Cochin is a port city with rich and interesting past and an active
present. Cochin has been the business and commercial hub of south India
since very ancient days. The Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans sailed into
this city to trade and their influence is still found in the buildings and
lifestyle of the city.
This important trading port city of the ancient times is popularly referred
to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea for its unique beauty and charm. Today,
the land of spices that attracted the
European
traders is a quaint blend of the old and the new, the Indian and the
Western. Even today, Cochin is the commercial and industrial capital of
Kerala. The climate of Cochin remain very pleasant through out the year,
making it an ideal tourist destination through out the year. A visit to
Cochin enriches one about the historical and cultural past of Kerala.
Cochin is an attractive city with the serene backwaters, golden sunsets,
lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms, picturesque island, all of
which contribute to its beautiful landscape.
Major Tourist Attractions in Cochin
Bolghatty Palace
Bolghatty Palace is a Dutch palace, situated on the Bolghatty island. At
present the palace is being used as hotel. The island has a fine golf course
and the panoramic view makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat
service is available from the mainland.
Chinese Fishing Nets
The chinese fishing nets found here are the only ones of its kind in India.
It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan
introduced these nets here.
Dutch Palace
The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portugese in 17th century. The
Dutch modified it and presented to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many
Rajas of Kochi were held here. The place has a fine collection of mural
paintings the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana.
Fort Kochi beach
A walk along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing
nets and sailing ships in the background, is just fantastic. Many European
style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline.
Hill Palace
Built in the 19th century by Raja of Kochi, the Kochi province was ruled
from here. The palace has been converted into a museum displaying a fine
collection of articles used by the Rajas of Kochi apart from many
archaeological findings.
Jewish Synagogue
Located
near the Dutch Palace, the synagogue, elaborately adorned by Chinese tiles
and Belgian chandeliers, was built in 1568. Giant scrolls of the Old
Testament can be found here.
St. Francis Church
St. Francis Church is the oldest church built by European in India. On his
3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portugese trader who reached India
from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St.
Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal, the exact
place where he was buried has been marked out inside the church, making its
a very auspicious place for the Christians.
Getting There
Air : Cochin city is directly connected Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Goa,
Bangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram. All major domestic airlines have their
services to Cochin.
Rail : Cochin is connected by rail to most of the important cities
like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
Road : A well defined road network connects the city with various
towns and cities in the country.
Accommodation
There are several hotels in various categories in Cochin. To provide you a
perfect accommodation with best services and facilities, we have engaged
ourselves with some leading hotels which range from luxury, deluxe, to star
and budget. The hotels with best services in luxurious surroundings offer
the best facilities you would expect. Select the one which is ideal for you
and make your tour to Cochin India completely comfortable.
