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Kochi Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: July to April Read More

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Also Refered As:

Cochin

"Queen of Arabian Sea"

Kochi Tourism

Lying on the Malabar coast in the southwest of India, Kochi or Cochin is a port city with a trading history that dates back to at least 600 years. Known popularly as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, the city is also Kerala's financial, commercial, and industrial capital. Exuding an old-world charm with diverse linguistics, such as the Jews, Konkinis, Gujaratis, and ethnic communities like the anglo-indians, Kochi has an indiscriminate mix of backwaters, beaches, islands, coasts, and plain terrains.

With a history of trading in the southwest, Kochi still holds on to its dutch and Portuguese buildings, such as the Old Harbour House, Mattancherry Palace, Bolgatty Palace , Jewish Synagogue, etc., some of which have gone through renovations over the years. The cosmopolitan town has upmarket stores, art galleries, heritage homes, and some of the finest museums, such as the Hill Palace and Kerala Folklore Museum.

In a true vintage-meets-future fashion, restaurants and shopping hubs crowd Ernakulam, Jew Town, and Fort Kochi, along with palaces, beaches, temples, and heritage sites. Besides sightseeing, Kochi is a sought-after tourist destination for its Ayurvedic Massages and a must-visit place to witness performances such as the Kalarippayattu, an aesthetic martial art form, and Kathakali, the dance drama form of Kerala.
Kochi organizes a biennial international contemporary art exhibition called the Kochi Muziris Biennale for all art enthusiasts.

Cochin is also home to a group of lagoons and islands interconnected by ferries. In fact, Willingdon Island in Kochi is one of the largest human-made islands in India. Officially home to the southern command of the Indian Navy, Kochi has an active naval base and an air squadron of the Indian Navy.

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Cochin - The Queen of the Arabian Sea

Known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin, now Kochi is a principal port in the state of Kerala. Well connected by all means possible, this coastal city is both a popular tourist hotspot and an active naval base, being officially the home to the Southern Command of the Indian Navy and an air squadron of Indian Navy. Besides the above, Kochi has its own unique blend of Indian and western culture.
Despite being colonised by more than one country, the essence of Indianness has never eroded from Kochi, while at the same time preserving some of the colonial heritage as it was. Very few people know that one of the largest shopping malls in India, as well in Asia, Lulu Shopping Mall, is also in India. Soon to have the distinction of having the first water based metro transport system in India, Kochi is a coastal beauty you should never miss in your life, at all. 

History Of Cochin

Strategically located between the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west, the city of Cochin has been an important commercial trading centre since ancient times. It was called the spice trade centre of India and entertained a vast network of trading with the Arabs. Kochi was also the first of the European colonies in India, with the Portuguese invasion in 1503. Both Dutch and British forces later ruled the city. After India's independence and the slew of economic reforms that followed in the 1990s, Kochi grew in commercial significance with the boom of the service sector. In addition, the growth of port activities and the establishment of the IT sector contributed to Kochi becoming the commercial centre of the state of Kerala.

Despite being colonised by more than one country, the essence of Indianness has never eroded from Kochi, while at the same time preserving some of the colonial heritage as it was.

Culture Of Kochi

Kochi has a widely diverse crowd, including people from all over the country, and it also has a sizeable Jewish community - the Malabar Yehuden. The latter form an essential part of Kochi's business circles. Kochi also has a strong foothold in Jacobite Syrian Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, with many churches devoted to spreading across the city. In yesteryears, the city was a hub of cultural intellectualism, home to many famous writers of Malayalam literature and social activists like Sahodaran Ayyappan.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kochi

Kochi's cuisine, though has little that stands out, manages to foster the primary elements of a typical Keralan cuisine, and does so in the most splendid way possible. Essentials such as Appam and Stew and delicacies such as Fish Molly, Fish Peera and more are found here.
Some of the dishes that one must try in Kochi are Thoran, Banana Chips, Kaalan, Paachadi and Pootu, which is made from bananas and rice flour. Also, seafood is widespread and exquisite, like in most areas of the state.
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Suggested Itinerary for Kochi

Day 1 - Reach Kochi, preferably by noon and take some rest. In the evening, you can go to the main market squares, or take a stroll in the biggest mall in India, Lulu Shopping Mall. 
Day 2 - If you're in for Kochi, the 2nd day is when you should ideally take off for your trip. 6 minutes from the main city is the Chhotanikkara Bhagavathy Temple in Kochi, which is a popular tourist spot, especially for the Hindu devotees. Then, you can proceed towards the Kashi Art Gallery, which houses some of the most exquisite collections of art and craft from almost all over India, or if you choose otherwise, the glorious Kerala Folklore Museum, which is a 26-minute drive from the temple.
 Day 3 - This day should be reserved for the beautiful Vypin Islands, especially the Cherai, which is one of the cleanest beaches in the world. You can also visit the Matsya Fish Dam nearby, where the fishermen use the medieval Chineses trawling nets even today.
Day 4 - The final day can be reserved for some backwater tourism in Kochi, which is well served by ferries, cruisers, and hydrofoils. Besides the cruise, you can also opt to visit sites like Paradesi Synagogue, or the church of Santa Cruz Basilica.

Best Time to Visit Kochi

Kochi Photos

Kochi, Kerala

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Things to do in Kochi by Neighbourhood

FAQs on Kochi

What are the top hotels in Kochi?

There are 943 in Kochi which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Kochi are Royal Residency, Nucleus Inn, Contemporary 2 BHK Villa in Amrita Nagar, Kochi, Exotic 2BHK Abode in Vytilla, Kochi, Cochin Backpackers, Verdant Heritage Bungalow (Entire 1st Floor). You can see all the hotels in Kochi here

What is famous about Kochi?

A coastal delight. Well connected by all means possible.

What is not so good about Kochi?

Politically volatile.

Who should visit Kochi?

Ideal for the coast lovers. Suitable for backwater lovers from Kozhikode, Trivandrum etc.

What is the best time to visit Kochi?

Kochi, the southern city of Kerala has optimum temperatures throughout the year, which means visiting Kochi during any time of the year, would work for travellers. However, Best time to visit Kochi is said to be from the months of October to March which comprises of the winter season for the city. Summers and monsoon, although a tad difficult due to the extremes, are equally attractive in Kochi, especially for budget travellers.
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What is the local food in Kochi?

Kochi's cuisine, though has little that stands out, manages to foster the primary elements of a typical Keralan cuisine, and does so in the most splendid way possible. Essentials such as Appam and Stew and delicacies such as Fish Molly, Fish Peera and more are found here.
Some of the dishes that one must try in Kochi are Thoran, Banana Chips, Kaalan, Paachadi and Pootu, which is made from bananas and rice flour. Also, seafood is widespread and exquisite, like in most areas of the state.
Read More

What is the best way to reach Kochi?

Kochi has its own airport with regular flights connecting major cities. Trains are a cheap and easy mode of travel. Major South Indian cities have buses plying to Kochi. You can also drive to Kochi as the National Highways and connecting roads ensure a smooth drive.
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How much does a package cost for Kochi?

The packages for Kochi start at INR 5591 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What are the things to do in Kochi?

The top things to do in Kochi are Mattancherry Palace, Fort Kochi, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets, Willingdon Island, Veeranpuzha Lake and Backwaters. You can see all the places to visit in Kochi here

What are the places near Kochi?

The top places near to Kochi are Alleppey which is 60 km from Kochi, Munnar which is located 86 km from Kochi, Kumarakom which is located 44 km from Kochi, Ernakulam which is located 2 km from Kochi, Vagamon which is located 75 km from Kochi

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Popular Questions And Answers on Kochi

Q. How to reach fort kochi from airport and where to find rental vehicles in fort kochi? And from where to catch bus to Munnar?

Sajith Babu

5 years ago
There is prepaid taxi counter in Airport or Volvo bus service (Government Operated) is available from Airport to Fort Kochi though service not frequent. There are plenty of home stays available in Fo (Read More)rt Kochi and you can check availability of rental vehicles with them. Volvo bus service is available from Fort Kochi and bus stands in Ernakulam to Munnar. Ernakulam KSRTC bus stand and Vyttila Hub. Or please take a bus to Kothamamglam from above mentioned bus stand and from there frequent buses available to Munnar.
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Q. What are some hangout places in Kochi?

Kaveesh Nair

5 years ago
You might want to go to tandav which is sort of a bar cum nightclub. Or relax at the Subhash Bose Park or eat some really good chicken and chill with friends at Chick King. There are a lot of places (Read More)you could go to in the city depending on your needs.
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Q. I want a planing form Hyderabad to kerala

Holidify

5 years ago
Please fill out the form in the following link, and our travel partners will be able to devise the perfect package that meets your travel requirements: https://www.holidify.com/custom-package/
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Kochi Reviews

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Unknown Legend PRASANTH

4 years ago
Kochi is the most populous and the second largest city in Kerala. Kochi has amazing Metro network, The Lulu Mall( Largest Mall in India), Fort Kochi , and apart from this Kochi is a good tourist hub. (Read More)

Jessy James

4 years ago
Kochi being the commercial hub of Kerala is one of the best cities in India. It has an it park, a ship building yard, a seaport, a marina, a transshipment terminal and many other industries.

Rutvi Saxena

5 years ago
Something a lot of people don’t appreciate about the coastal city-it’s Churches! The Jewish synagogue, the Santa Cruz basilica and dozens of other churches offer some beautiful paintings and frescoes (Read More) to admire-visiting during Christmas season is quite the experience.The boating and Fort Kochi need no introduction. The language barrier can be quite a struggle, but still manageable in Kochi as it’s one of the more commercialized cities of South India ( Naval Command, Fort Kochi, NLU Kochi, etc).The beaches within the city and it’s access to nearby backwaters such as Alleppey and Munnar make this city a must for the sea-lover.
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