Cochin, Kerala’s prime tourist destination, comprises modern Ernakulam and the old peninsular districts of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Whilst Ernakulam holds all the shops, restaurants and conveniences of a modern city, Fort Cochin is a time capsule of the city’s colonial past with its Portuguese churches and atmospheric old mansions. The mishmash of colonial influences in the town is reflected in one of Cochin’s unique architecture styles: houses built with a Portuguese style ground floor, a Dutch style first floor and tiled sloping Keralan attic!
Fort Cochin holds several churches, such as St Francis’ Church where Vasco de Gama is buried, an important figure in Kerala’s colonial past; the church is thought to be the first that Europeans built in India. Cochin’s iconic Chinese fishing nets line the sea-shore, and the surrounding cobbled area, with its ancient trees, fish markets and ice cream stalls, is a popular socialising area for locals. Fort Cochin has several restaurants where you can try delicious Kerala style fish dishes and there are some good coffee shops in the appealing backstreets of the town, such as the renowned Kashi Art Café. Nearby is the district of Mattanchery and Jew Town, where you can walk through atmospheric streets with spice and handicraft shops towards the Dutch Palace and Pardesi Synagogue. This is also where you can find several antique shops with an array of items foraged from Cochin’s past.
Cochin is one of the best places in Kerala to witness kathakali dancing, in particular at the Kerala Kathakalli Centre in Fort Cochin. The town also has some unique festivals: Kochi Carnival in early January involves costumed processions and masked dances, whilst February temple festivals hold processions of up to 100 elephants. Cochin is Kerala’s cultural hub and in easy range of everything else Kerala has to offer, from backwater tours to wildlife parks.
Practical Information
- Select a Cochin Homestay using the links in the top right.
- The airport is 26km to the north of Ernakulam
- There are two main railway stations, Ernakulam Junction near the centre, and Ernakulam Town, 2km further north
- The KSRTC central bus stand is beside the rail line east of MG road
- There are two private bus stands, the Kaloor stand which goes to rural destinations to the south and east, and the High Court stand which has buses to Kumily, Thrissur and other destinations
- The Fort Cochin bus terminus serves tourist buses and local services to Ernakulam
- A ferry service connects Ernakulam, Vypeen Island, Willingdon Island and Fort Cochin
- India Tourism’s main office is situated on Willingdon Island
- The Kerala Department of Tourism is next to the Government Jetty in Fort Cochin
- Autorickshaws and taxis can be used to travel around
- Bicycles can be rented from many of the hotels and guesthouses in Fort Cochin
- Cochin’s main tourism season is October- March during the winter months, whilst monsoon season is between May to August