Overview of the destination A person travelling to Cochin will not understand the importance till he actually strolls around the lanes of Fort Kochi. This is evidence of rulers of India over 500 years, spread over less than 10 sq km.
The relaxed pace of life is contagious; and if you go during Christmas/New Year, it?s very emotional - Gandhi's dream on Secularism comes true here - all communities celebrate Christmas.
Food, sight-seeing and shopping Dutch Palace is not grand; visitors who have seen other palaces, please note - do not get upset as this has to be seen for the historical reason. Jewish Synagogue and also the St Francis Church hold similar historical importance. However, please do check as they do have rather inconvenient timings & holidays. Chinese fishing nets is a must see but now the catches are not much apparently. I assume these are being run more as a tourist attraction. Shopping not recommended.
Activities & things to do Walking around the Streets of Kochi and eating in the small restaurants which existed from the days of the Raj is an experience in itself. If you do not plan to visit other places in Kerala for backwater trips, then you could stay in the small home stay Backwater Retreats in Kumbalangi 5 km away and spent time in Fort Kochi.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc. Train to Ernakulam; get a taxi and head straight for Fort Kochi, not wasting time in mainland as the price will shock you in the little uppish restaurants. Please do stay in one of the home stays which you can find on the internet. A newcomer, unless having made prior bookings, would not get much help as people other than those of Fort Kochi in whole of Kerala ask too many questions - especially if you are an Indian tourist. Careful: monsoon, unlike other parts of Kerala, are okay; but Kochi needs a lot of spirit to visit. Restaurants are not exactly a vegetarian?s delight. Try the guys who fry your fish near the Kohder House lane heading towards the beach near the nets.
Queen of Arabian Sea - Eulogized in travel literature as 'Queen of the Arabian', Kochi is the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala.
Destination Kochi - Kochi is a vibrant city situated in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'.
Official Websites
Kerala Tourism - Kerala Tourism Government portal - Official website of Dept. of Tourism, covers Kerala Entry formalities, Places of Interest in Kerala, Lists of Tourist Guides in Kerala and Transportation in Kerala.
Kerala Government - Kerala Government portal covering diverse topics including health, tourism, culture, climate, Tenders and e-Governance.
Other Useful Links
Weather - Weather forecast for Kochi with a fast, easy to use interface. Includes weather maps, graphics and radar images.
King Mahabali & Onam - The legend of King Mahabali is the most popular and the most fascinating of all legends behind Onam.
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