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Kochi is set in the
midst of an
island-studded
harbour, which has a
modern bustling town
on the main land,
Ernakulam. It is
located on the coast
of the Arabian sea
with Kottayam and
Alappuzha districts
on the south, Idukki
on the east and
Thrissur on the
north.The commercial
capital and the most
cosmopolitan city of
Kerala, Kochi, in
Ernakulam, is also
known as the Queen
of the Arabian Sea.
There is a
commercial hub for
merchants dealing in
cashew nuts, coir,
seafood, timber,
tea, coffee, rubber
and spices. This is
what gives Kerela
its name as "The
Spice Coast". A
Jewish community
with roots going
back to 1000 AD and
a 16th century
synagogue are
testimony to the
land's diversity.
Ernakulam District
can well emerge as
the greatest tourist
destination for both
Indian and
international
travelers.
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Air
: Kochi is connected
by excellent air
network to all major
cities in India.
Rail
:Kochi has three
main railway
stations, namely,
Ernakulam Junction,
Ernakulam Town and
Harbour Terminus on
Willingdon Island.
Road :Kochi is
connected by road
with several tourist
centers in India. |
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Mattancherry Palace: |
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The Dutch Palace at
Mattancherry is a
good catch for
tourists at Kochi.
The place exhibits
beautiful mural
paintings that
depict the scenes
from Ramayana. The
palace was built by
the Portuguese and
gifted to the Raja
of Cochin, Vira
Keralavarma. Some
contributions were
later on made by the
Dutch.
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Fort Kochi: |
Fort Kochi is
inhabited by
Anglo-Indian
community.
 The whole
of the region
presents a different
aura and ambience.
The culture is quite
unique and
represents the
Eurasian culture.
Dwelling places
built by the British
traders and colleges
established by the
Dutch are worth
observing. Present
in this part of the
city are two art
galleries with good
collections. St.
Francis Church
located in the
region is a
wonderful
attraction. Vasco da
Gama is believed to
have been originally
buried here and
later on shifted to
Portugal. |
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Ernakulam:
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Ernakulam is the
developed on the
modern lines and
features a
commercial centre in
thecity. Located at Ernakulam aresomemuseums and popular
worshipping places.
The region also
features great
eating places in the
city. the elephant
procession taken out
during festival days
is a wonderful
event, filled with
great fun and
excitement. |
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Santa Cruz Basilica
Church: |
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This Roman Catholic
church is situated
near the St. Francis
 church and is worth
a visit. It is a
specimen of
Portuguese
architecture built
in 1503. ‘Frescoes’
and mural paintings
decorate the ceiling
and interior parts
of the church. The
gothic architecture
and the lofty spires
gives it a unique
grandeur. |
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Bolghatty Island:
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Bolghatty palace
built by the Dutch
in 1744. Later it
became
 the seat of
the British Resident
of Cochin. Today it
is a hotel run by K.T.D.C. The grounds
have a small golf
course & several
vantage points for
lovely views of the
harbour & the sea. |
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Willington Island:
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Connected to the
mainland by
road-cum-railway
Venduruthy Bridge,
Willington Island is
named after the
former Viceroy of
India, Lord
Willington. It is a
manmade Island
created from the
materials dredged
while deepening
Cochin Port.
Willington Island
sites some of the
district’s best
hotels, Trading and
industrial offices.
Besides the airport,
ship building yard,
wharf, the Southern
Naval Command Head
Quarters, the
customs house and
the Cochin Chamber
of Commerce and
Industries, the
government of India
Tourist Information
office is situated
here. Many offices,
branches of national
and international
banks, travel
agencies, souvenir
shops warehouses can
also be found here. |
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Thattekad Bird
Sanctuary: |
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Though recently
established
Thattekad is one of
the
most important
bird sanctuaries in
South India. A boat
cruise from Bhoothathankettu to
Thattekad is an
unforgettable
experience through
the evergreen
forests nesting
migratory and
indigenous birds.
The birds commonly
seen here are
Malabar Grey horn
bill, Great Indian
horn bill, Grey
jungle fowl, Heron
egret, Parakeet and
numerous other rare
species. Thattekad
is also accessible
from Kothamangalam
(20 km). |
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The Pareekshit
Thampuran Museum:
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It is an
archeological museum
adjacent to the
Shiva temple in
Durbar Hall Road,Ernakulam. This
museum features
collections of the
19th century
paintings ,
Pre-historic
monuments , Old
coins in a
numismatic gallery,
Scriptures in stone
& Plaster of Paris,
Copies of mural
paintings etc & the
collection from the
Cochin royal family.
In the earlier days
the museum was the
Durbar Hall of
Cochin Rajas where
guests were
welcomed, and where
official ceremonies
and meetings were
held. Now under the
State Archaeological
Department, it has
been named after
Rama Varma
Pareekshit Thampuran,
the Family’s last
ruler. |
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The Hill Palace
Museum: |
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The largest
archeological museum
of Kerala , Hill
Palace
Museum is 13 Kms from Cochin. It
displays the
erstwhile wealth and
prosperity of the
royal family of
Cochin, including
the King’s throne
and crown.
Paintings, carvings,
etchings are
displayed in the
museum which is
located on the
Ernakulam -
Chottanikkara route.
Also on show are
other trappings of
royalty like
majestic beds
,weapons and samples
of epigraphy. |
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Cochin Boat Rides:
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The highlight of
Cochin is a boat
ride through all the
islands.
 The city
face a broad expense
of backwaters
studded with
palm-flanged islets. |
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Chinese Fishing
Nets: |
A legacy of the
trading connections
between China and
 India many centuries
ago. The long rows
of Chinese Nets
silhouetted against
the sunset present a
spectacular sight of Cochin's waterfront.
These are large nets
which hang from
bamboo or teak
posts, still to be
in use by the local
fisher folk of Fort
Cochin. |
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Malady: |
Kalady is the birth
place of Adi
Sankaracharaya the
great
Indian
Philosopher who
lived in the 8th
century is 45 Kms
from Cochin. It is
situated on the
banks of river
Periyar and there
are two shrines in
memory of Sree
Sankaracharaya. One
dedicated to him as
Dakshina Moorthi and
the other to the
Goddess Sharada. Adi
Sankara's Shrined in
Kalady are open to
all pilgrims
irrespective of
Religion and caste.
The spot were Adi
Shankara's Mother
was cremated is
called Vrindavan.
Nearby is an old
Krishna Temple, the
family temple of
Sankaracharaya.
Another Temple known
as Sri Ramakrishna
International Temple
was built in 1976
with the hope that
it would ultimately
become a temple for
all religions and an
abode of peace. |
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Malayattoor Church:
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53 km. from Cochin,
8km. From Kalady.
Situated on a
small
hillock, it attracts
thousands of
devotees who
undertake a trip to
the shrine to
participate in the
annual festival, Malayattoor Perunnal
(March/April) St.
Thomas is believed
to have prayed at
this shrine. |
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