A charming blend of colonial culture,
Cochin symbolizes a city with melange of several exotic cultures like the
Portuguese, Jewish, English, French, Dutch and Chinese. The fascinating
beauty of the place has an essence of cosmopolitan character and this
reflects in the buildings and structures of the city which represents
different regions of the world. Cochin boasts of one of the finest natural
harbours in the world and its natural beauty and colonial charisma has
earned it the name ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’.
Location :
Kochi (Cochin), is situated on the west coast of India in the beautiful
state of Kerala. It is flanked by the Arabian Sea on the western side and
the Western Ghats on the eastern side.
Best Time & Climate :
Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate. Heavy
showers are experienced during the months June, July and August due to the
South-West Monsoon. In summer the temperature rises to a maximum of 35 ºC
while in winter it is around 25 ºC. The best time to visit Cochin is
between December to February when the weather is cool and pleasant.
How to get there ?
» By Air - Cochin city is directly connected Delhi,
Mumbai, Madras, Goa, Bangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram. All major domestic
airlines have their services to Cochin.
» By Rail - Cochin is connected by rail to most of
the important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
» By Road - Cochin 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 Chennai, 470 km from Mysore, and
312 km from Ootacamund.
» Ferries - Ferry service is available for travel
between the island towns.
Must
Visit :
» Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) - Built by the
Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi
(Cochin), the palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. Beautiful murals
depicting scenes from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and some of the
puranic Hindu legends are kept on display.
» Bolghatty Palace - Built by the Dutch in 1744 AD,
this palace once served as the residence of the Dutch and the British
Governors. The palace is on the scenic island near Ernakulam and a ferry
ride to the island offers a pleasant picturesque view.
» Cheeyappara Waterfalls - A feast for the eyes,
Cheeyappara and Valara waterfalls are located between Neriamangalam and
Adimali on the Kochi - Madurai highway.
» Fort Cochin - The first site of the Portuguese
settlement, Fort Kochi is a complex of colonial buildings, commercial and
trading centers, military base, and residential buildings, representing the
remarkable cultures of the European who left their heritages to this land in
their respective periods.
» Jewish synagogue - Situated on Mattancherry
island, this Jewish place of worship was built in 1568. It contains, among
other things, the scrolls of Old Testament and some exquisite Belgium
chandeliers.
» St. Francis Church - The oldest church built by
the European in India, St. Francis was the site where Vasco da Gama was
buried. The church is distinguished for its decorated façade with
multi-curved sides.
Besides these, the other tourist attractions are Hill palace, Cherai Beach,
Thalassery Fort, Bhoothathankettu, Gundiu Island, Kodanad, Kodungalloor,
Pareekshith Thampuran Museum and Vypeen Island.
»
