Beach Holidays In Kerala
who made frequent stops to stock up on spices
, coffee and wood en route to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre. Its seafront is still extremely relevant to Cochin and to India: it houses a Naval Base and one of Indias busiest ports. Its twin city, Ernakulam, is an important railhead and industrial centre. Kochi''s location between the blue, blue waters of the Arabian Sea and Keralas emerald backwaters, its rich medley of Indian and foreign architecture, its truly unusual sights like the Chinese fishing nets and its quaint quiet localities like the Jewish Quarters demand the attention of all who travel to Kerala. Explore the city thoroughly: its bound to have you hooked!Historically Speaking
Cochin''s history is a bright tapestry - many coloured threads woven through centuries together present the fabric of the present. Its involvement with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British are evident in the architecture of city buildings, the old durbar hall is the spice in the dish! Modern
day Kochi may be a busy port and shipping centre but it has many attractions for ordinary tourists.
Shopping
MG Road the main thoroughfare that runs through Kochi is lines with shops selling all sorts of things. Among the most interesting purchases in Kochi is art and antiques. Local artists display and sell their work at the ambient art galleries that dot the city and a lot of the work is very exciting.
Handicraft and antiques are available at emporiums and in the Jewish Quarter of Fort Cochin. Also be sure to buy some spices at Fort Kochi around the synagogue area.
Events
The Cochin Carnival is a much-awaited event by local residents and out of town visitors. It is held in the last week of December and is a time for merrymaking and partying. Impromptu events like fancy dress competitions, beach volleyball and tug-o-war games are held in the streets and there is a
general feeling of bonhomie that fills the air. The colour white prevails during this festival as you will see white paper buntings fling high over most establishments and streets. Indira Gandhi Boat Race happens every year in the last week of December and is organised in the backwaters of Kochi. The snake boats are manned by about 125 oarsmen and they row in unison to the rhythm of the song sung by the singers who are also on board. It is a fascinating sight to see these boats snake their way down the backwaters and thousands of people crowd along the banks to cheer them along.
Night Out
Most commercial activity and tourist infrastructure is in the mainland hub of Ernakulam. All areas taken into consideration, there are a variety of places and cuisine to chose from. From 5-star gourmet restaurants that serve the most delectable food to stalls that sell delicious street snacks, theres
no dearth of places to choose from. Theres little by way of nightlife. The token disco and some restaurants that have live performances will have to satisfy you. Slightly more sophisticated entertainment here includes classes in dancing, music, yoga at the Cochin Cultural Centre, and good ayurvedic massages at the Ayurvedic hospital. One of the movie halls plays Hollywood blockbusters. But what you cant leave out of your itinerary is a Kathakali performance. There are many venues in the city where shows are regularly held, usually preceded by a demonstration of makeup application and a brief synopsis of the tale that is to be enacted.
Activities
There are plenty of things to do in Kochi so you will never be lost for recreational activities here. From beaches and backwaters to mountains and forests, a trip to Kochi is truly an unforgettable experience. You can enjoy swimming, canoeing, and boating, fishing and many water and beach sports
at its lovely beaches. Another option would be visiting the sanctuaries of Kumarakom and Periyar near Kochi. A variety of wildlife gathers around the lake providing you with the opportunity to watch them from your boat. If you are lucky, you may even spot one or two rare species of birds here. Boat rides in the backwaters of Cochin will be an experience you''ll treasure.
Sights
Ernakulam is the mainland hub of commercial and cultural activity. It has the buzz of everybody going about his or her everyday business. Yet, it retains an old-world calm that most other developing cities manage to lose. The Parishath Thampuram Museum is housed in the old durbar
hall where the king would meet his courtiers and his subjects. It has a collection of Mughal paintings, 19th century oils, coins, models of ancient temples and sculptures. The Hill Palace Museum has royal artifacts and the Museum of Kerala History traces the rich and colourful past from Neolithic man to present times in an audio-visual show. Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Vypeen Island This sepia-tinted part of the city is on the peninsular land bit that juts out of Ernakulam. Narrow winding streets, old weather beaten cottages and a tiny Jewish community characterize old Cochin. Tranquil and picturesque, facing the sea on one side, backed up against a maze of lagoons on the other, Fort Kochi oozes charm. The Anglo-Indians who settled here have given the city a culture of its own: art galleries, music programmes, Dutch and British architecture make this town beautifully unique. The St. Francis Church may be the oldest European church on Indian soil. The Portuguese Franciscans built it in wood in 1503, but it now stands in stone after having been rebuilt some years later. Depending on who was the temporal lord, this church has been through a gamut of associations from Franciscan to (Dutch) Protestant to Anglican. It now belongs to the Church of South India. EM Forsters Punkahwallah still pulls the fan in this church, and the flock gathers for instruction Sundays, 8am English, 9:30am Malayalam. The pastel interiors of the Santa Cruz Basilica are lovely and the grand exterior is impressive. Along the waters, huge Chinese fishing nets rest on their cantilevered stands. The technique came from Kubla Khans court and till date serves the purpose, any wonder the Chinese are going great guns? The Portuguese gifted the Mattancherry Palace to the raja in 1556. The double-storied building stands around a quadrangular courtyard that has a temple. Inside the rooms are stunning. Detailed and fine murals cover the walls depicting stories from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata and other legends. The Synagogue is a must see. The synagogue dates back to the 17th century and has pretty patterned floor tiles that were brought in from China. The thick aroma of spices hangs in the air and the street is dotted with tiny stalls selling curios. Vypeen has an interesting seafront. The beaches are beautiful; there is an old lighthouse and a 16th century fort. Get there by ferry from Fort Kochi. Willingdon Island is a man-made construct that has the old airport and the port here is among the busiest in the country.
How to get there by Air
Kochi has a new airport that gets international and domestic traffic, and is 26 km from town. The old airport is situated on Willingdon Island; it is about 5 km from both Kochi and Ernakulam and receives traffic from all major cities in India. There are auto-rickshaws and taxis to ferry you into
town.
How to get there by 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, Thiruvananthapuram and to smaller towns within Kerala.
How to get there by Bus
Both state-run and sleeker, faster private buses connect Kochi with the rest of the region. Maximum services are to Alappuzha and Kollam on the backwater circuit, but there are a substantial number of services to other places in Kerala and around. There are also many car-rentals that will be glad
to hire out a driver and car to you.
Best time to Visit
Since Kochi and Ernakulam are situated on the coast there are no dramatic seasonal changes. Its hot most times and the humidity is bearable only because of the convection current. But when the monsoons lash the coast June onwards Kochi undergoes a transformation. Temperatures drop and it becomes
a cool, lush, leafy paradise.
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Hotels in kerala
Fort Kochi and Ernakulam have plenty of places that span the range from budget hotels to posh 5-star affairs with top-of-the-line service. While Fort Kochi is quieter, Ernakulam is busy, bustling and bristling with energy. The Taj Malabar hotel on Willingdon Island is a popular choice in the luxury
category as is Brunton Boatyard and the Trident in the 3 star class. There a few boutique hotels too - the best known being the Malabar House in Fort Kochi.
Nearby Places
Kumarakom is a lovely lagoon and one can easily drive to Alleppey some 2 hours away and enjoy an overnight house boat cruise down the backwaters of Kerala. Munnar is a beautiful little hill station some three and half hours away from Kochi. Peace and tranquility are the order
of the day here with the rolling tea gardens and spice plantations enveloping the town. Verdant forests and trails abound, the scent of the spice gardens present a heady mix. It is a lovely place to relax and unwind. Be sure to visit!
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