Kochi, also known as Cochin, is one of the most visited tourist locations in India. This beautiful city is fondly called as the Queen of Arabian Sea. This city has a history of trade relations (mainly spices) with many nations across various continents and oceans from as early as 12th century. It is one of the rarest places on earth where you can actually feel history, heritage, scenic beauty etc co-existing beautifully with modernity and urban lifestyle. The name of the city comes from the Malayalam term 'Kochazhi' which literally means small lagoon.
Kochi has a charm of its own which makes many tourists rearrange their itineraries and stay longer- be it the scenic locales, the friendly people, the food or the rich cultural heritage. There are innumerable places here which attract tourists. I am giving you details on some of it.
Fort Kochi Beach and the Chinese Fishing Nets (Cheenavala): Walking through Fort Kochi beach during evenings seeing the famous Chinese fishing nets (Kochi is the only place which uses such nets outside China) can be one of the most beautiful memories of your life. There are also many historically important places such as the Santa Cruz basilica to visit nearby.
Mattancherry: Mattancherry, which lies very near to Fort Kochi, gives you a feeling of visiting an old-European town. The narrow pathways, the Jewish synagogue (built in 1568- decorated with Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers), old houses, Dutch palace, all have many stories to tell you.
The Backwaters: There are many small islands in the backwaters near Kochi. A house-boat ride through the scenic backwaters enjoying the light breeze will relieve you from any sort of tensions.
Marine Drive, Wellington island and Bolgatty Palace: Marine Drive, situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake, is the city's most popular hangout- both for the tourists and the locals. It is also a huge shopping and food centre with various shopping malls and restaurants around. Wellington Island is a manmade island named after Lord Wellington, the British Viceroy of pre-independent India. It has many hotels, shopping centers, a harbor etc. Bolgatty Palace is situated in an island which overlooks Marine Drive, Cochin Shipyard etc. Built originally by the Dutch, this place now has a heritage hotel and a well-maintained garden.
Kochi also has many museums and other places of interest which you can easily find out. Finding the right accommodation in Kochi is not an issue at all. There are numerous 3, 4 and 5 star hotels and resorts in and around Kochi (also budget hotels) which provide excellent hospitality and accommodation (Mermaid, Taj, Le Meridian, Abad etc are some of the most favoured choices). Most of these hotels have facilities of arranging sightseeing tours for you.
Martin Wynn
