Kochi Tour
Kerala, popularly known and believed as God's Own Country, is an ideal destination for business traveler as well as holidaymaker. One of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia , Kerala is India's only tropical paradise. The state is blessed with myriad features like dense tropical forests, beautiful beaches, cliffs, rocky coasts, an intricate maze of backwaters, still bays and astounding 44 radiant rivers. One such mesmerizing place in Kerala is Kochi , the most Cosmopolitan City of the state.
About Kochi
Previously known as Cochin , Kochi is the Commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. Famous as Queen of Arabian Sea , Kochi is situated on the coast of the Arabian Sea in central Kerala, a city with milange of several exotic cultures like the Portuguese, Jewish, English, French, Dutch and Chinese.
The city is host to the best harbors in the country, and has been a much visited port by British, Arab, Chinese and Dutch traders in the earlier times. A commercial hub, the city houses many buildings and modern day structures.
Modern Kochi comprises of the old port city called Old Cochin including Mattancherry, Ernakulam mainland, Fort Kochi, Edapally, Kalamassery, Thrikkakara, Kakkanad and Tripunithura.
Tourist attractions
Some of the famous tourist attractions in the city are -
- St. Francis Church : India's oldest European Church, it was constructed in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars.
- Cheeyappara Waterfalls : Cascading down in seven steps, it is a great place for trekking.
- Bolghatty Palace : One of the oldest existing Palaces built by the Dutch in India, it is located in the scenic Bolgatty Island.
- Fort Kochi: The first fort built by the Europeans in India.
- Mattancherry Palace : Built by the Portuguese in 1557, the Palace exhibits beautiful murals.
- Synagogue: Built in the year 1568, it is probably the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth.
- Kochi Carnival: Held in the last week of every year, it is a major crowd puller.
- Chinese Fishing Nets: These huge cantilevered nets seen at Vasco da Gama Square are very popular.
- Ernakulam : A place developed on modern lines, it has some museums and popular worshipping places.
Climate
Kochi, which has a moderate climate, is ideal for a visit between December to February when the weather is cool and pleasant.
How to reach
To reach Kochi, the nearest International Airport is at Nedumbassery (20 km). The main Railway Station is Kochi (Cochin) junction. An excellent road network links Kochi to all major towns and cities in India. There are two ferry stations as well.
Accommodation
The hotels in Kochi offer an impressive intermingle of tradition and modernity. Some of the luxury hotels in Kochi are Taj Malabar, Casino Hotel, Taj Residency, Abad Airport Hotel, etc, while The Malabar House Residency, Hotel Abad Plaza, The Metropolitan, The Trident, etc are some of the budget hotels in Kochi.
