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A Rendezvous with
Cochin |
Popularly
known as 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', Cochin has emerged as a major
commercial centre of India and the industrial capital of Kerala. Located in
the west coast of Kerala, Cochin or Kochi is one of the world's finest
natural harbour. It is said that the best views of Cochin are available in
the evenings when the lights around the harbour and seafront start twinkling
and the scene is almost like a fairy tale. Being an ancient port, many
colonial powers like the Portuguese, British, Dutch and French had shown
interest in Cochin. Cochin has absorbed the cultures of each of these
nationalities and proudly boasts of a cosmopolitan character today.
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Things You Can Do
in Cochin |
» Sightseeing : There are numerous sites in
this ancient port city of India for its tourists. Cochin is also connected
to several backwater countries of Kerala and also boasts of owning a beach
to refresh the beach lovers. Besides, the city houses museum, palace, fort,
bird sanctuary and lots more adding spice to its tasteful surroundings.
» Shopping : Keralites being naturally gifted
artisans, among Cochin's best buy are metalware, camel-bone carvings, wood
carvings, articles made of coconut shells and bamboo cane. M.G Road is
Cochin's main place for shopping.
» Eating Out : Delectable restaurants serving
delicious food abound in Cochin. Some of the finest multi-cuisine
restaurants of the place are Four Foods, The Frontier, Kebabistan, Pandhal
and Bimbis. South India dishes are very common in almost all the restaurants
and eating joints.
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Sightseeing in
Cochin |
» The St.Francis Church : The church is
historically very important. It was here that Vasco Da Gama was initially
buried in the year 1526. However, son Pedro Da Gama later shifted his mortal
remains to Portugal. It is also the oldest existing European church in
India.
» The Dutch Palace : The palace is another major
tourist attraction. The main attraction of the palace is wall murals all of
which have been done using the tempera process of painting. Forty-five
scenes from the Ramayana adorn the walls of this palace.
» The Parishath Thampuram Museum : The museum has a
very impressive collection of nineteenth century old coins, sculptures,
Mughal paintings,temple models and oil paintings.
» Fort Cochin : Fort Cochin leaves a strong legacy
of the Europeans. The massive buttresses were put up by the British to
protect against possible attacks by European rival powers.
»
Cherai Beach : The lovely Cherai beach bordering Vypeen Island is ideal
for swimming and spotting dolphins. A typical Kerala village with paddy
fields and coconut groves nearby further adds to the beauty of the place.
» Willingdon Island : Named after British viceroy
Lord Willingdon, this is a man-made island surrounded by beautiful
backwaters. The mesmerizing beauty of this island has to be seen to be
believed. The island also houses city's best hotels, customs and trading
centres, and the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command.
» Jewish Synagogue : Built in the year 1568, the
synagogue has been magnificently decorated with the use of Chinese tiles and
Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament are another
attraction of the place. The synagogue is located near the Dutch Palace.
» Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary : Though difficult to
believe, this bird sanctuary is located right in the heart of the city. Many
exotic and rare varieties of birds have been housed here. There are also
some migratory bird species.
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Excursions from
Cochin |
There are many exciting weekend getaways from Cochin. Thattekkadu is
a popular bird sanctuary while Bhoothathankettu is known for its vast virgin
forests. Chendamangalam and Kodanad are appreciated for their scenic beauty.
Kaladi, the birthplace of Adi Sankaracharya is a pilgrimage destination
located some 10 kms away.
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Most Ideal Time
To Visit |
Being a coastal area, the climate of Cochin is moderate and
pleasant. Cochin also receives a lot of rainfall. South -West monsoon
brings heavy showers during the July-September period. The North East
monsoon also brings some light rain during the October-December period.
In summers, temperature could be expected to reach a high of 35 degrees.
The winter months from December to February are cool with temperatures
around 25 degrees mark. Cochin can be visited anytime during the year.
However, the heavy monsoon months could be avoided.
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Getting There |
» By Air : Cochin figures prominently in
the air map of India. It is India's recent and one of the best
international airports, with the state-of-the-art terminals and all
modern passenger amenities. On the international circuit Cochin is
directly linked to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Dahran, Male,
Bahrain, Doha, Singapore and Colombo. The Airlines operating to the city
are Air India, Indian Airlines, Air Maldives and Sri Lankan Airlines.
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways connect Cochin to major destinations of
India which includes Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Coimbatore, Goa,
Kozhikode, Tiruchirappali, Thiruvananthapuram and Agatti (Lakshdweep
Islands). Cochin International Airport is located beside National
Highway 47. The distance from downtown Cochin is 30 kms. Pre-paid and
shared taxi services are available from the airport round the clock.
» By Trains : Cochin is well connected to all
main destinations in India by a very good train network. This city of
Kerala has three main railway stations - Ernakulam Junction (South),
Ernakulam Town (North) and Harbour Terminus on Willington Island.
Ernakulam Junction is the main rail access point with services from most
regions of India.The two main stations are located two kms apart.
» By Road : Cochin is well served by a network
of national and state highways connecting it to all major centres of the
area. National highway 47 connects Cochin with other parts of Kerala and
nearby states. NH-17 and NH-49 originate from Cochin and connect the
place to Mumbai and Madurai. Bus services of Kerala State Road Transport
Corporation, State Express Transport Corporation of Tamil Nadu and
Karantaka State Road Transport Corporation connect the city with many
centres of South India. In addition, there are several private deluxe
coaches operated by private operators, which run regularly in this
region. The Central Bus Station in Kochi is located in Ernakulam, about
0.5 km from the railway station and as far from the main artery M G
Road.
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Anchoring in
Cochin |
 Cochin
is dotted with antique buildings with dutch style architecture. Cochin
has three main parts - Ernakulam, Willingdon Island and Fort Cochin. The
three areas are connected by road bridges. However, ferry services
connecting the three areas are more preferred by the locals. The public
transportation system is also good. Taxis and autos are easily available
at the mainland and also on the islands. However, the prices have to be
negotiated before availing the services. A vague idea of the rates from
the locals can be a great help.
Policing in the city is good and people are friendly. The localites may
not be fluent English or Hindi speaking people but with time and
tourists, exchange of information is no more a problem.
For a great trip to Cochin, we have exciting tour packages designed for
you. Our services are known to be the most competitive and customer
friendly. Apart from having a fleet of luxury cabs, we also have
collaboration with the finest hotels of the area.
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Accommodation |
Cochin has many hotels in the star category. Mid range hotels
are also available in good numbers. Yatri nivas, tourist lodges and
hostels provide a convenient and cheap base.
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