Kochi (Cochin) Kerala - Kochi India Travel Guide

Kochi (Cochin), India

Kochi, India (cc)

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Kochi Travel Guide

Introduction

Kochi, formerly Cochin, is where the Arabian Sea is at its loveliest, bestowing upon the city the moniker, "Queen of the Arabian Sea." It's a tropical city and a premier tourist destination – among the top ones in the South Indian state of Kerala. It has gorgeous sunsets, a coast lined with beaches and cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a lovely harbor from where spices have been exported to the West for centuries, and a rich, colonial past, having been ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in turns, with vestiges of all three eras still there. There are several picturesque old churches here, right alongside temples and synagogues, a few good museums, both historic and modern landmarks, scores of good hotels and restaurants, and a hugely popular waterfront promenade, Marine Drive, that has excellent shopping venues and looks out over Kochi's emerald lagoons known as the "backwaters." And despite being the financial, commercial and industrial hub of Kerala, Kochi remains an attractive city for the most part, with the most flavorful coconuts for miles around and a kickass fish curry that'll leave you salivating for years to come.

Location

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Kochi's principal attractions include Fort Cochin where you can see the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the Jewish Synagogue, the Matancherry Palace that was built by the Dutch, St Francis Church which is a Portuguese-era relic, the 18th-century Dutch Palace, and the contemporary Chinese Fishing Net Bridge. Among the city's museums, the pick of the bunch is Hill Palace, which has the distinction of being the largest archaeological museum in Kerala.

Main Neighborhoods