Kochi
Kochi, also known by the name 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', is a beautiful town in Kerala. You can choose Thrillophilia's Kerala tour packages and experience a visit to scenic beaches, backwaters, and historical museums at this destination.
Pick from a variety of Thrillophilia's pocket-friendly packages that cover meals, transfers, and accommodation at the best locations. Get a chance to experience 24*7 customer assistance coupled with brilliant on-ground assistance. You can also choose to personalise your Kochi tours and add guided activities or attractions of your choice.
At this location, you can visit the Kodanad Training Centre, Kerala's biggest elephant training centre. You can also visit the Church of Saint Francis, one of India's oldest churches, and admire the architecture of the church based on Portuguese designs. Explore the Marine Drive in Kochi, which offers great views of the Vembanad Lake. Here, you can enjoy taking a relaxing walk along the pathway or head to the malls around for shopping. Also, it is recommended that you opt for a boat ride on the lake, available for tourists in the mornings and evenings.
Head to the Mattancherry Palace or 'The Dutch Palace', which dates back to the 1500s. You can take a look at its architecture, which is a blend of Kerala and Portuguese design. Additionally, enjoy taking a walk in the lavish courtyard and admire many portraits and exhibits that portray the life of Cochin Kings.
If you're a wildlife enthusiast, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit. You can enjoy spotting a variety of birds including the Siberian Stork, darter, egret, teal, and heron. Also, don't forget to head out for the scenic backwater tours available in Kollam and Alleppey.
Book your trip with Thrillophilia today and get ready for an exciting vacation in Kochi with your friends and family.
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Kochi FAQ's
Travel tips
You can visit Kochi by air, bus, and train from most of the metropolitan cities in India.
Take sunscreen lotions, shades, and hats along with you when you visit Kochi.
Pack lightweight clothing when travelling here. Also, pack waterproofing clothes if you are travelling to Kochi during monsoon.
Keep your cameras charged and get enough storage space for clicked photographs.
Get camping and hiking gear, clothes, and accessories along with you, as Kochi has some wonderful sites for hiking and treks.
You can also opt to stay in home stays, mid range hotels, and resorts when you visit Kochi.
Don’t expect a vibrant nightlife in Kochi. It is also considered a safe place to travel.
Take taxis instead of buses if you want to travel within the city. Private buses are susceptible to road accidents.
Avoid going out in the night, as it is not safe to wander after 7pm in Kochi.
Drinking Laws
It is illegal to drink in public areas. You must adhere to strict local laws pertaining to drinking and buying liquor which is only for those above 21 years.
Our Recommendations: What you can’t afford to miss?
Beaches and Islands
Fort Kochi beach is popular for its offbeat Chinese fishing nets. Cherai beach has paddy fields and coconut groves. This is a beauteous beach with rich vegetation on the Vypeen Island near Kochi. Veega land has watersports, ferry rides, boat rides, theme parks and many amusement places for kids and family. It is 14 kilometers away from Kochi. Willingdon Island is a manmade island near Kochi. You can enjoy the boat rides and tour around nearby places such as, backwaters of Alleppey, Kalady, and Munnar.
Forts, museums, and palaces
Kochi has a rich history and you will find many museums and palaces spread across Kochi. The Vasco house in Kochi is built in Portuguese style. You can also visit the Santa Cruz Basilica built in the 15th century. The Dutch Palace and the Bolghatty Palace depict the foreign invasion over centuries. These palaces have collection of paintings and murals. You can also visit the Jewish Synagogue that has scrolls of Old Testament and Belgian chandeliers. You can also take a look at Museum of Kerala History and view the articles and lifestyle of Kings who had once ruled Kerala.
Eco tourism
Enjoy the boat rides amidst the mangrove forests. This is an island called Kumbalangi that is 15 kilometers away from Kochi. You can also visit the Mallipuram village and take a swim in the private beach, fish for crabs, shrimps, and fishes, and enjoy the sunset at this beach.
Temples, mosques, churches, and cathedrals
This is one of the most ideal multi ethnic cities in Kerala. You will find temples for Hindus, Jains, and mosques for muslims, and Churches for Christians. The St. George Cathedral is known to be the largest cathedrals built in India. You can also visit the Jain temple, the Thrikkakara temple where onam festival is celebrated, and visit many other places of religion scattered across Kochi.
Wildlife and wellness
You can also take a peek at the wildlife at places near to Kochi. You can enjoy the bird watching and wildlife at the Kumarakom, Thekkady, and Kodanad. You can also take a course on Ayurvedic massages and yoga at many centers available in Kochi. Almost every hotel in Kochi has a wellness and a spa service available. For those who binge on adventure, this is one of the best places to visit.
What you will like there?
Amusement options and recreational activities
There are umpteen options for amusement activities in and around Kochi. You can enjoy outdoor sports activities, take a course in horseback riding and golf, enjoy the boat rides, and elephant safaris near the beaches, islands, and sanctuaries. Kochi is not a haven for shopping; however, there are umpteen tourists’ places that you can visit.
Food and dining
Kerala cuisine has distinct taste. Their staple food is fish. You can enjoy many delicacies made with fish and even vegetarian dishes made in coconut oil. Do not miss the Kerala platter served on the banana leaf, as this is atypical way people in Kerala enjoy their food.
History and heritage
Kochi is a unique cusp where history meets cosmopolitan culture, and there are many things to do and places to see in and around Kochi. Architecture of palaces and buildings is made in Portuguese and Dutch style. You can take a tour of palaces and forts spread across Kochi and look at the artifacts and items of historical significance contained in them.
Boat rides and cruises
You can take boat rides and spend holidays at the places nearby in Kochi. You can also take mini cruises to reach different cities and towns in Kerala from Kochi. Kochi has popular backwater activities that are not to be missed. There are many eco friendly tours conducted in mangrove forests near Kochi.
Recommended reads for destination:
Website : Visit Kochi
Books : Santa and the Scribes: The Making of Fort Kochi by E. P. Unny
When is the best time to visit Kochi?
The best time to visit Kochi is from October to March. The temperature is not very high, and varies between 17 - 33 degree Celsius, and there aren't too many rains. The weather is very pleasant and the city is filled with tourists.
However, if you want to visit the city when there aren't too many tourists and want to strike the best travel deals, you can plan to go in April or May.
Looking for a Kerala trip, Checkout: Kerala Trip Packages
How to reach Kochi?
Kochi or Cochin is one of the well-connected city, and thus, one can reach here through air, road, or rail.
By Air: There are both, international as well as domestic airports in the city, and that's why it is connected with all the major cities of India as well as the world. The airport is located at a distance of about 29 km from the city centre, and one can get the buses, taxi or autorickshaw to reach there.
By Road: An extensive and well-structured network of the local roads and national highways link Kochi with the other nearby cities. One can hire a taxi, drive their own car or hop on a bus to reach Kochi from the nearby places. The road connecting the Kochi with other cities is a scenic one and passes through the beautiful countryside of Kerala.
The bus service also connects Kochi with the neighboring cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Bangalore and Chennai etc. There are regular as well as air-conditioned deluxe Volvo buses available.
By Water: Kochi can also be reached through waterways from the destinations like Male, Colombo, Lakshadweep, Mumbai and Goa. The scenic interconnecting backwaters connect Kochi with Allepey, Kumarakom and Kottayam in Kerala.
By Train: The major cities in India are well connected to Kochi through rail, and one can board a train from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc. to reach Kochi. There are two railway stations in Kochi, including Ernakulam Junction Stations and Ernakulam Station.
Looking a for a romantic trip, Checkout: Kerala Honeymoon Trip Packages
What are the different things/activities to do in Kochi?
Kochi is one of the best tourist destinations across India, and many people even consider Kochi as an outstanding honeymoon destination owing to its idyllic setting and romantic atmosphere. So, there are an array of activities which one can indulge in while visiting this amazing port city. These include:
- Visiting the beautiful and splendid waterfalls
- Exploring wildlife in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
- Shopping local goods and aromatic spices
- Boating in the tranquil backwaters
- Rejuvenating in an Ayurvedic spa or massage
- Enjoying a boat ride
- Staying on a houseboat
- See the amazing and colossal Chinese fishing nets
- Visiting various museum and art centres
- Visiting the ancient temples
- Visiting the elephant training centre located in Kodanad
- Seeing a live Kathakali performance
- Scuba diving
Which are the best resorts to stay in Kochi?
Kochi is a popular tourist place in Kerala, and many tourists who want to visit Kerala often come to Kochi. So, there are a number of good resorts in Kerala matching every budget needs. These include:
- Holiday Inn Cochin
- Ramada Resort Cochin
- Lake Symphony Resort
- Le Meridien
- Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort
- Old Harbour Hotel
- Fragrant Nature
- Hinterland Village Resort
- Cherai Beach Resort
- Kochi Marriott Hotel
- Sealine Beach Resort
- Kadalkkara Lake Resorts
- Vedic Village Resort
- Shravana Ms Green Ayurvedic Resort
- Kalathil Lake Resort
What are the best public transport modes to commute around Kochi?
The best way to travel in Kochi is through road, and one can hire a taxi or rent a car. You can also hire auto-rickshaws to go from one place to another within Kochi.
Which are the best places for shopping in Kochi?
Indulging in shopping therapy can be a great experience when you are in Kochi. Here are the top markets and shopping streets which you must visit to buy local stuff and other goods in Kochi:
- Spice Market
- MG Road Market
- Bazaar Road
- Broadway
- Marine Drive Street Market
- Jew Town
- Lulu Hypermarket
- Jewel Junction
What is the best local cuisine here? Where can I get to try it out?
The best local cuisine in Kochi is the traditional south Indian food made with use of rice and coconut. Some of the traditional dishes include full course meal known as "Sadya", various fish dishes which are often cooked in banana leaf or coconut milk curry, beef curry, lentil curry, idli, dosa, sambhar, rasam, idiyappam, upma, prawn or chemmeen curry, fish moilee, payasam, pazham pori etc.
You can visit one of the following restaurants to try the best local cuisine in Kochi:
- Malabar Junction
- Dhe Puttu
- Fort House Restaurant
- Mullapanthal Toddy Shop
- Ginger House Restaurant
- Gokul Oottupura
- The Rice Boat
- Le Meridien Kochi
- Old Harbour Hotel
- Mosaic
- Trilogi
- Cassava
Which are the famous beaches in Kochi?
Kochi, being one of the oldest port cities, has a colossal coastline and a lot of beaches where visitors can enjoy a lot of activities apart from basking in the sun. The beaches in and around Kochi include:
- Fort Kochi Beach
- Mahatma Gandhi Beach
- Cherai Beach
- Marari Beach
- Andhakaranazhi Beach
Which are the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Kochi?
Kochi has a rich wildlife and the wildlife sanctuaries located in and around Kochi let you explore the wild animals in their natural habitat. Here are the famous wildlife sanctuaries located in Kochi:
- Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
- Eravikulam National Park
- Chimmini Wildlife sanctuary
- Kumarakom Bird sanctuary
- Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Which are the famous Temples and Churches in Kochi?
There are a lot of famous temples and churches in Kochi, and many of them are ancient. These include:
Temples
- Krishna Temples
- Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
- Jain Temple
- Thikkakkara Vamana Moorthy Temple
- Sree Balabhadra Temple
- Ernakulam Shiba Temple
- Jewish Synagogue
- Cochin Thirumala Devaswom
- Edapally Ganapathi Temple
- Chottanikkara Devi Temple
- Mahadeva Temple
Churches
- Little Flower Church
- Lourd Matha Catholic Church
- St. George Orthodox Church
- Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
- St. Francis CSI Church
- St. Anne's Church
Where can I enjoy Boating in Kochi?
There are an array of spots in Kochi where you can enjoy boating in Kochi. These include:
- Kochi Tourist Boating Center
- Marine Drive Tourist Boat Association
- Blumarine Backwaters
- Willingdon Island Boat Jetty
Which are the famous Historic destinations in Kochi?
Kochi, which is a renowned port city in Kerala is being used as a port and gateway to India since 1341, and thus, it has a rich history. Some of the famous historic places in and around Kochi include:
- Fort Kochi
- Aspinwall House
- Kerala Folklore Museum
- Ernakulam Shiva Temple
- Hill Palace, Tripunithura
- Mattancherry Palace
- Indo-Portuguese Museum
- Museum of Kerala History
- SNC Maritime Museum
- Paradesi Synagogue
- St. Francis Church
- Bolgatty Palace
- Pallipuram Fort
- Vasco Da Gama Square
Which are the famous Waterfalls in Kochi?
Kochi, which is located in the Ernakulam district has a lot of scenic and spectacular waterfalls. Here are the most famous waterfalls located near Kochi:
- Athirapally Waterfall
- Vazhachal Waterfall
- Thommankuthu Waterfall
- Cheeyappara Waterfall
- Areekkal Waterfall
- Paniyeli Poru
Newly Added Kochi Experiences
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