
Located 50km from Kumarakom, Kochi is the closest city to Kumarakom. It has been a port since 1341, when a flood carved out its harbor and opened it to Arab, Chinese, and European merchants. Sites reflecting those influences include Fort Kochi, a settlement with tiled colonial bungalows and diverse houses of worship. Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, typical of Kochi, have been in use for centuries. Today, Kochi has been described as the financial, commercial and industrial capital of Kerala.
Why visit Kochi?
Places to visit in Kochi:
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Fort Kochi
A small fishing hamlet later that later became the first European township in India, Fort Kochi is a major tourist hub. The old houses in Fort Kochi have been built by British traders, and the Dutch cottages and split farms are reminiscent of an era bygone.
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Jewish Synagogue and Jewish Town
The Jewish Synagogue, also known as the Paradesi Synagogue, is the oldest active Synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations and is a hotspots for tourists. The Synagogue contains precious jewellery and artefacts and provides visitors a glimpse at the history of Kochi. Visitors are expected to be barefoot within the premises.
The street between the Synagogue and Mattancherry Palace is known as Jewish town. Jewish Town is known to be well-loved by antique lovers.
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Kodanad Elephant Training Centre
Elephants are present in large numbers in Kerala. As per Hindu culture, elephants are considered to be very auspicious and are worshipped in many temples.
The Abhayarnyam mini zoo and shelter for orphaned wild animals are part of an ecotourism initiative by the Kerala Government. Here, visitors will find several pachyderms living peacefully in nature. The zoo also houses a deer park that includes Sambar deers and spotted deers.
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Santa Cruz Basilica
One of the 8 Basilicas in Kerala, the Santa Cruz Basilica is considered as one of the biggest tourist spots in Kochi. Built by the Portuguese, it was elevated by The Pope as a cathedral along with the erection of a diocese in India. The main altar of the Church has been painted by the famous Italian Painter, Antonio Moscheni.
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Cherai Beach
This charming beach is nestled in the suburbs of Cherai and is often packed with visitors because of its serenity and clean environment. The low tides and slow waves make it a highly recommended beach for swimming and other forms of water sports. Elderly visitors are often seen engaging in yoga, meditation, or light strolls. The beach has several luxury villas, resorts and beach hotels lined along the Arabian sea.
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Museum of Kerala History, Edappally
The Kochi Museum is divided into three sections: the doll museum, the museum of Kerala history and the gallery of modern art.
The statue of Parasurama is placed outside the hall to pay reverence to the saint who is believed to have brought forth the land of Kerala from the mighty ocean. The doll museum is adorned with 150 plus dolls from various ethnic groups of India showcasing the cultural diversity of the nation. The modern art gallery holds more than 230 paintings by prominent artists like Raja Ravi Verma, M.F. Hussain, Ram Kinker Baij, and several other painters of international acclaim.
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Kerala Kathakali Centre
The Kerala Kathakali Centre was founded in 1990 and aims to showcase the traditional art form of Kerala. Kathakali is an art form that combines literature, painting, music, dance, and acting.
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Lulu Shopping Mall, Edappally
Lulu Shopping Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in India. With 225 outlets, a 2,500 seater food court, and 11 fine-dining restaurants, this mall is a tourist hub.
The mall also houses a 9-screen Cineplex, amusement rides, a large ice skating rink, and a 12-lane bowling alley, making it a fun hub for every age group.
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Indo - Portuguese Museum
This museum was established by the Late Bishop of Kochi, Dr Joseph Kureethra to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Portuguese in India. The Altar, treasure, procession, Civil Life and Cathedral are the five main sections of the museum, exhibiting various artefacts and objects of that period. Visitors can opt for a guided tour of the museum for a better understanding of history.
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Mattancherry Palace
This Portuguese palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is one of the prime places to visit in Kochi because of its historic relevance. The palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin, around 1545. The palace contains Kerala murals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.
The palace is a quadrangular structure built in Nālukettu style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. Certain elements of architecture, such as the nature of its arches and the proportion of its chambers, are indicative of European influence in basic Nālukettu style.
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Marine Drive
Exclusively built facing the backwaters, Marine Drive is charming and picturesque, especially during the evenings. Along the Rainbow bridge, Marine drive is lined with Shopping malls, fast food joints, and other important landmarks.
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Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
The rich flora and fauna of the Mangalavanam Bird sanctuary are of interest to many nature enthusiasts and environmentalists. 72 different species of birds are present in this area.
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Wonderla Amusement Park
One of the largest amusement parks in Kochi, Wonderla Amusement Park has water rides, land rides, and several features to keep visitors entertained. Several discount packages are available for visitor.
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Malayattoor
Malayattoor is a meeting point for land, river and mountain. The Malayattoor Hill houses the famous Malayattoor Church which is dedicated to St. Thomas, who as per belief, has prayed at this shrine. The Church houses a life-size statue of the Saint and the imprint of the feet of the Apostle on a rock. This site has been conferred as an international pilgrim centre for Christians worldwide and draws a lot of pilgrims throughout the year.
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Bolgatty Palace
This unique mansion with four palatial rooms was built by the Dutch in 1744 and is one of it’s kind (outside Holland). The palace has been converted to a luxury stay for travellers. Popularly known as the Honeymooner’s paradise, Bolgatty Palace is surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views.
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Athirapally Falls
At a height of 80m, this is the largest waterfall of Kerala and is often regarded as the“ Niagra of India”. The Athirapally Falls emerges from the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats and flows across the forest of Vazhachal towards the Arabian sea. When travelling to Athirapally, visitors may choose to visit the theme parks Dreamworld and Silver storm and can even stay in one of the many resorts located amongst the greenery.
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Pallipuram Fort
Built by the Portuguese in 1503, the Pallipuram Fort preserves European culture and artefacts and is said to be one of the oldest lasting European masterpieces in India.
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Hill Palace of Tripunithara
Hill Palace is an archaeological museum and palace located in the Thrippunithura neighbourhood of Kochi, Kerala. It is the largest archeological museum in the state and was the imperial administrative office and official residence of the Cochin Maharaja. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings spreading across 54 acres and built in the traditional architectural style. The complex has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children's park. This archaeological museum used to be the residence of the Maharaja of Cochin. It is built in traditional Kerala style with lavish façade. The complex houses 49 buildings spread across 54 acres of land which now comprises of an archaeological museum, deer park, Medicinal plant garden, pre-historic park and a children’s park.
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Willingdon Island
This is the largest artificial island of India and is named after the Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon. The island takes pride in housing several landmark offices, including the Navy, Customs, Port Trust, and Fisheries departments. This island links Kochi to major seaports internationally and is a well-known destination for commercial and financial establishments. A stay at any of the luxury resorts or hotels on the island provides an unhindered view of the Arabian Sea and its charming beauty.