Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin or Kochi, is an intriguing mix of Portugal, Holland and Britain. It lives in a remnant past that is untouched by the complications of modernity. For more than 600 years, tourists, traders and explorers have visited here and left their presence in synagogues, mosques and fishing nets that has given this city a unique identity.
Chinese Fishing Nets
Synonymous to Kochi, Chinese Fishing Nets, since 14th century, has been used by local fisherman for their daily fishing operations. Seeing them fishing is a real feast for an eye, so one can walk on the shores and watch the fishermen fishing. Also, buy some seafood and get it cooked by the fishermen.
Walk through the Lanes of Mattancherry
Take a fascinating walk through the history of Mattancherry and witness its colonial buildings. The star attraction here is the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, which was built by Portuguese in 1555, for Raja of Kochi. It was later refurbished by the Dutch in 1663. There is a small museum inside, which has some paintings of earlier kings and some beautiful murals of Hindu epics.
Jew Town
Once the center of spice trade, Jew Town, in the heart of Mattancherry, is a quaint area. One can stroll around the lanes, and visit the antique stores. Though, the Jewish population has reduced here, but the synagogue continues to be in use. Some Kashmiri shops sell chandeliers, gold platforms and imported floor tiles.
Princess Street
Full of cafes, restaurants, art and book shops, Princess Street happens to be one of the oldest streets in Fort Kochi. A lively destination for an afternoon walk.
St Francis Church
Oldest European church in India, St Francis Church once housed the tomb of Vasco de Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524. His body was later transferred to Portugal. Inside, one will also find a cenotaph that was built in 1920, in memory of the martyrs of World War I.
Kerala Folklore Theater and Museum
Learn about Kerala's culture, in the privately owned museum operating since 2009. The magnificent edifice is full of artifacts and remnants of temples with their wood carvings. Every day, at 6.30 pm, one can witness the stage performances of Kerala art and dance.
Kathakali Performance
Watch a Kathakali dance, which is an ancient form of dance-drama originating from Kerala. The dancer has red bloodshot eyes and borders on grotesque. The movements of the dance are based on a mythological story. Kathakali is one of the toughest dances in India and performers have to undergo intense training in eye exercises. Best places to see a performance are Cochin Cultural Center, Kerala Kathakali Center and Greenix Village.
Kerala Food and Cooking Lessons
Cuisines of Kerala are famous all over the world. Their seafood, idli, dosa, appam, idiyappam, puttu, and pathiri have earned international reputation for their taste. Many homestays organize cooking classes, so that the guests can learn these dishes and cook at home.
Festivals in Kochi
Kochi is an assimilation of various cultures, celebrated by people of all religion. The festivals and fairs of this exotic fort offer a vivid glimpse of the local traditions while you romp around during the sightseeing spree. Here's information about some major fairs and festivals celebrated in Kochi city of Kerala.
The Onam Festival (August – September)
Celebrating the Homecoming of Mahabali
The 10 day long grand harvest festival, Onam celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabali, a legendary ruler in the state. With its mythological roots in Kochi, this is the best time to taste the incredible Sadya (Onam feast), an assortment of 24 to 28 dishes in a single meal on a huge banana leaf.
Legend of Onam
Scared by the popularity of Mahabali, heavenly Gods decided to curb it on request of his mother Aditi. Lord Vishnu, Mahabali’s favourite deity, took the avatar of a dwarf Brahmin. Vamana asked for a piece of land that he could cover by his three steps. Mahabali agreed, and he saw the vamana grew larger than earth and and in two steps covered the entire earth and sky. This surprised the king as he understood well that the vamana is not an ordinary dwarf. Mahabali requested to put his third step on his head. Lord Vishnu then appeared in his original form and took the king to heaven with his physical body. On Mahabali’s request, he was given a boon to come back home every year during this time. Since then, people of Kochi and entire Kerala would decorate their houses with flowers and lights to welcome this great king.
Christmas and Kochi Carnival (December)
Comes December, and it is again a celebration time for people of Kochi, who are busy decorating the Fort Kochi like a bride for Christmas. The place disperses a Yuletide spirit in the surrounding.
Just a few days later, in the last week of December, is the iconic Kochi Carnival that is inaugurated at Vasco da Gama Square by hoisting the Carnival flag. Witness massive processions led by ornamented elephants and dances from North India. Competitions like wrestling, beach football, bike race, bullet race, kayaking, swimming and marathon races are popular. The festive spirit also bringsforth art shows, food festivals, fairs and colourful rallies attract people from all over the world.
The “Queen of Arabian Sea”, apart from its attractions and festivals is also a heaven for shopping enthusiasts, especially bargaining experts. Bundled with various products, the markets of Kochi depict a typical shopping culture, found in its high-end malls and traditional markets alongwith crowded streets near Fort Kochi. Some of them to choose from are:
Lulu Mall
One of the largest malls in India, LuLu Mall has everything from high fashion goods, food and other household objects from tools and electronics.
Mahatma Gandhi Road
High-fashion shopping destination for local and international brands. Buy Kerala’s most famous sari brands, like Seematti and Jayalakshmi.
Jew Town, Fort Kochi
A great place to look for traditional antique furniture, silver jewellery and rare artefacts.
Penta Menaka Shopping Complex
An electronics hub, one can pick up laptops, cameras, mobile phones and other genuine gizmos from trustworthy dealers.
Street shopping in Broadway
A quintessential shopping destination, the entire area has tiny shops with a gamut of articles from clothes to utensils. Try your bargaining skills and get some great deal in cheap prices.
Jewel Junction
Full of Jewellery showrooms and the most popular shops here are Bhima, Josco and Alukkas. Pick up some trendy collections from famous showrooms here like Alappat, Alukkas, Bhima, Ayodhya Jewellery etc.
Marine Drive
GCDA shopping complex here has many varieties of cotton clothes much cheaper than the Western shops. Also try out the Keralite fast food joints and cafes on the roadside.
Oberon Mall
The mall in Kerala with multiplex theatre, the building has an indoor gaming zone with the largest glass domes in South India. Buy some branded garments and get a quick bite in the food court.
Street shopping near Fort Kochi
Pick up from a unique assortment of products like colourful bead jewellery, sculptures, mats, coir bangles, wood, bamboo, shells, brass, ivory and sandalwood. The place is near the synagogues.
The biggest charm of Kochi is that, it can be visited anytime of the year.
Winters
(October to February), winters are quite pleasant as the temperature ranges between 17 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. Best time to visit for honeymooners, beach bums and adventure seekers.
Summer
(March to June) is when the average temperature goes between 20 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius. While planning a visit to Kochi during this time, one must carry light cotton clothes and sunscreen.
Monsoon
(July to September) rain-washed Kochi comes in its full bloom during this time. It is a great time to visit the city covered with a carpet of greenery. One must carry and umbrella or raincoat while planning a holiday.
By Air:
Cochin International Airport is 20 km away at Nedumbassery. It is well connected with many international and domestic flights from different parts of the globe.
By Rail:
Kochi railway junction is the main railway station alongwith the Kochi Harbor Terminus. It is linked with important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
By Road:
With an excellent network of roads, Kochi is well connected to all major towns and cities in South India as well as rest of the country.
