Kochi. The name itself conjures up images
of the Chinese fishing nets, the spices, ayurveda and the ships sailing out
into the ocean. The ever vibrant, ever developing and the ever booming city.
It appears to be growing daily. Distinctly different from other parts of
Kerala, Kochi is everybody’s delight. It is an ideal blend of tradition
with the modern. The city of Ernakulam wears the new age look with some sky
scrappers scattered here and there. And the old rustic charm of colonial
days makes the island of Fort Kochi a study of contrasts. The only common
factor between both the cities are the red painted city buses, the yellow
hooded autorickshaws, friendly people and of course the mosquitoes. Be sure
to pack a lot of mosquito repellents when you come to Kochi. The queen of
the Arabian sea is also a paradise to mosquitoes. From time immemorial,
Kochi has played host to guests from far off lands. The Arabs, the Chinese,
the Dutch, the Portuguese, the French, the British, all came here for trade.
Though for different reasons, follow their footsteps for a peek into a slice
of God’s Own Country!
History
History dwells in
every nook and corner of Kochi. The Chinese fishing nets, the Jewish
synagogue, the historic churches, all speak of her past grandeur and of her
busy colonial days.
Kochi is a natural harbour. A cataclysmic flood in the Periyar River
wiped out the port of Kodungaloor- identified with the legendary Muzris, a
hub of trade in South India- in ad 1340, diverting the traders to the
newly formed Kochi port. The kings of Kochi shifted his residence to Kochi
soon after. The traders came in hordes, both from within the country and
abroad. The Arabs, the Chinese, and the Europeans landed here, their ships
laden with luxury goods, and took back with them pepper and other spices.
The enterprising traders from Gujarat and Bombay set up shops, making
Kochi a cultural cauldron. And now, the prospect of new business
opportunities and IT brings to Kochi people from different part of India.
And Kochi welcomes all.
What to see
Historical Mattanchery
The Mattanchery Dutch Palace was built by
the Portuguese as a gift for the local king. But the Dutch repaired it,
and the name just stuck. Now a museum, the palace, like many others in
Kerala, boasts of a hall full of murals narrating stories from the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There are also old colonial maps of Kochi
and royal memorabilia. The museum is open 10 am to 5 pm everyday except
Fridays.
The Jew Street
of Mattanchery is the only remaining Jewish
settlement in India. With its cobbled pathway, neat little shops and
houses on either sides, wrinkled old ladies in floral frocks, and men
leaning on their canes watching people go by, you get the feeling that
time just froze.
Fort Kochi
A walk through this area takes you through Kochi's history. End it with the
stunning sunset spectacle over the Arabian Sea. The last rays of the sun paint
the waters shades of gray, orange and red, before the night wipes it all away
in a single stroke.
Bolgatty Palace
On a tiny island, the palace was built by
the Dutch and later housed a British resident. The property has been
developed into a hotel by Kerala Tourism, complete with a golf course and
enchanting tree top like honeymoon cottages.
Chinese fishing nets
From Vasco Da Gama Square, walk down
the short promenade to see these cantilevered fishing nets reeling out
catches all through the day. They speak of a rich legacy, handed down
generations ever since traders from Kublai Khan’s court left them
over 600 years ago.
Wellingdon Island
This island between Ernakulam and Fort
Kochi is home to the Southern Naval Command. The island is entirely
manmade. It was dredged out of the backwaters and the sea. It is connected
to the mainland by the Venduruthy Bridge. The view from the bridge is
spectacular. On the Ernakulam side, you can see the tall crane of the
Kochi Shipyard, one of the major ship building yards in India and on the
island side you can see the Navy vessels.
Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura
The Hill Palace was the
seat of the Kochi Raja. Surrounded by ascending lawns, this palace turned
museum on a hilltop, 16 kms from Kochi, has 13 categories of exhibits,
which include paintings, carvings and other royal antiquities. The king's
throne and gold crown is on display here besides other effects like art,
furniture, etc. There is also a botanical garden with tropical trees
imported from Central America to Australia.
Vasco House
Vasco House in Rose Street, is said to be where
Vasco Da Gama lived.
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
This protected bird sanctuary
is right in the heart of Kochi, next to the High Court, and is home to
exotic and rare varieties of migratory and resident birds.
Museum of Kerala History
Audio-visual exhibits and
paintings show the history and culture of Kerala here.
Art Complex - Madhavan Nayar Foundation
This museum,
located in Edapally, 10 kms north of Kochi, exhibits over 200 original
paintings and sculptures by contemporary Indian artists and sculptors. A
Centre for Visual Arts displays reproductions of painting legends from the
time of Leonardo da Vinci to this century.
Getaways
Kodungaloor
Before Kochi became one of the most important
harbours of India, Kodungaloor, 32 kms away, occupied that pedestal. It is
said to be the same Muziris where the apostle St Thomas landed in AD 52.
Cheraman Juma Masjid, one of the oldest mosques of south India, is
situated en route to Kodungaloor.
Kalady
The pilgrim centre of Kalady, located 45 kms from
Kochi, is the birthplace of Shankaracharya, credited for the revival of
Hinduism under his Advaita philosophy in the 8th century AD. There are two
shrines here in his memory.
Thekkady
If you want to watch a plethora of flora and fauna
in their natural habitat, then head for Thekkady, 190 kms from Kochi. The
Periyar lake within is a congregation point for elephants and other
animals.
Alleppey
65 kms from Kochi, Alleppey is backwater country.
The houseboat ride from Kochi to Alleppey is as exotic as it gets with
green paddy fields stretching as far as the eye can see and houses which
are islands in a sea of water. By train or road it is just an hour away.
Athirappally and Vazhachal waterfalls, about 35 km from Kochi, is a must
for nature lovers. The two waterfalls separated by a few kilometers are
distinct in nature. While one falls unhindered through a massive height,
the other cascades in a rush.
Lakshadweep
From Kochi there are ships available to take you to Lakshadweep, a group of
36 islands, about 300 km off Kochi in the Arabian Sea.
Kumarakam
Kumarakam about an hours ride from Kochi is a
vibrant lush green peninsula jutting into the ever-effervescent Vembanad
Lake The trip here is incomplete without house boat rides. Explore the
lagoons and the water ways here. Watch the fish skirt the boats...the
birds swooping low. The magic of this land makes it an ultimate tourist
destination. There are various hotels here to stay at. It is ideal to stay
back at kumarakam.
Cherai Beach
A virgin beach surrounded by tall coconut
palms and lush paddy fields. If you are lucky, you might even spot a
dolphin. It is advisable to return back to Kochi, unless you get very
late. There are hotels near the beach.
Dining
Out
Seafood is Kochi's specialty and many of the
restaurants servea variety of fish in different Kerala styles. At Fort
Kochi, seafood stalls which line the waterfront pan-fry fish bought from
nearby fishermen. You can relish them under the umbrella of Chinese
fishing nets. But seafood is not the only option. There are many numbers
of outlets all over Kochi serving different cuisines. MG Road is the hub
of eating outlets, though good and reasonably priced restaurants are
interspersed all over the city.
The Renaissance, a multicuisine restaurant of the four-star Avenue
Regent hotel at MG Road serves Indian, Chinese, Continental, Thai and
Kerala cuisine. It is a plush restaurant.
Ceylon Bake House, also in MG Road, has a limited menu but is worth a
dekko for its Ceylon parothas and mutton biryani. One of the most
frequented places for vegetarian fare is Dwarka in MG Road. North Indian
fare is a specialty here. Prices are in the middle range and the
restaurant is a landmark in town.
At Chittoor Road, next to Mymoon theatre is Fry's Village Restaurant,
unique for being a converted tharavad or the traditional dwelling place of
a joint family. Local Malayalee recipes are a specialty here and food is
therefore on the spicier side.
Rice Boats at the Taj Malabar Hotel is a restaurant where the seats are
within long rice boats. The fish curries come in spicy Kerala style.
Seafood is the highlight here.
Bimbi's is another landmark; one on Marine Drive is located off the GCDA
complex. It serves fast food Indian style, including pav bhaji. Not
exactly the place to zoom in on if you want local fare, but the food is
good and the crowd are lively and young. There is also another Bimbi's off
MG Road.
Waterfront Café on Willingdon Island has a great location
situated as it is on a lagoon with ships ambling nearby through a channel
on its way to Cochin Harbour. The highlights here are local Kerala dishes
but plenty of other cuisine options, besides buffet lunches, are on the
plate.
Shopping
MG
Road
During the old days, it was called the 60ft road; the main
artery of the Ernakulam town. Though it has been widened, the rush hour
traffic jams are real killers. No mega malls here, but all major brands
have outlets on the MG road. The state emporia Kairali is also here, for
picking up lomcal handicrafts, textiles, and bric-a-brac. Do check out the
gold and diamond centres along this road. The latest in shopping fad is
the wedding centres. Weddings are huge occasions in Kerala, and people
had to go all over the place to shop. The wedding centres by Alukkas,
offer everything which goes into the wedding package, from dress materials
to jewelry. Marine Drive: The Greater Kochi Development Authority has a
shopping complex where you can pick up souvenirs and mementos. It is the
place to shop for imported goods too.
Jew Street, Mattanchery
This winding street is dotted with
quaint shops selling antiques, artifacts, and furniture. The variety of
antiques that you find here astounds the mind. Make sure you pick at least
a tiny piece of work to commemorate your experience here.
Visiting
Kochi’s
proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains blesses it with a
moderate, equatorial climate. The summer--from March to end of May-- tends
to be hot and humid. The skies open up incessantly from June to September,
and less harder in November and December. So, whatever is the season,
remember to pack an umbrella. A trip to the city can be planned anytime of
the year.
Tourist Offices
The KTDC – Kerala Tourism Development Corporation –
office on Shanmugham Road is open all days of the week from 8 am to 7 pm.
The Tourist Police are helpful guides to the city. The Government of India
tourist assistance office is on Willingdon Island. It’s open everyday
from 9 am to 7 pm. You’ll find all of these have maps, brochures and
are willing to help you with tours.
How to get there
Air
The Kochi
International Airport at Nedumbassery is about 30 km from the city and has
daily flights to the Middle East and Singapore. Domestic flights to
Bangalore, Chennai, Calicut, Trivandrum, New Delhi, and Mumbai take off on
a daily basis from here. The airport is built in keeping with the
traditional temple architecture of Kerala. It gives a feeling that you are
really in God’s Own Country.
Rail
Ernakulam Junction is the main railway station in
Kochi, and a major stop on the south-western rail route. Trains connect
Kochi to major cities like Bangalore, Mangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi,
and Thiruvananthapuram and to smaller towns within Kerala.
Road
The government-run Kerala State Road Transport
terminus is very near the Ernakulam Junction Railway station. You can get
buses to all cities in Kerala from here. Private buses and long-distance
luxury buses to Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa and other cities in
India operate out of Kaloor Bus Station.
Water
Cruise ships to Singapore operate out of Kochi. Ships
to Lakshadweep sail out of the port twice a week
