Cochin (Kochi)
Affectionately called the queen of the Arabian sea, Kochi is situated on the west coast of India in the beautiful state of Kerala.
Art and Culture
Kochi with its rich history, cultural heritage and archaeological wealth was the cradle of art and culture in Kerala. The contributions made by highly gifted men enriched its image all the more.
Cochin Information
Cochin consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbour, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the southern peninsula, and Vypeen Island north of Fort Cochin, all linked by ferry.The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident in Cochin and its people. The oldest church in India, 500-year-old Portugese houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, synagogues and mosques all tell the fascinating story of this harbour town.
The harbour is still at the heart of the city and pepper, sea food, rubber and coir are exported from here. Despite this, Cochin is an attractive city with serene back-waters, lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms and picturesque islands.The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the troppical Malabar coast. Cochin is one of India's largest ports and a major naval base.
Climate of Cochin
Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate. Heavy showers are experienced during the months June,July and August due to the South-West Monsoon. The North-East Monsoon brings light rainfall during the months September, October, November and December. December to February is pretty cool. The annual rainfall is about 310 cm . In summer the temperature rises to a maximum of 35 ºC while in winter it is around 25 ºC.
Reaching Cochin
Cochin By Air
International flights are operated from and to the Cochin International Airport (Tel: 2610087/2610115), located 25 kms northeast of the city at Nedumbassery. Destinations include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dhahran, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Singapore and Sharjah. Domestic flight services are operated by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways. Air-India and Indian Airlines are the national carriers. Foreign carriers operating from here are Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Oman Airways and Silk Air.
Cochin By Train
Cochin is connected to various parts of the country by the Indian Railways, the largest railway system in Asia. Trains are accessible from Ernakulam Junction (General Enquiry - Tel: 131, Reservation Confirmation / Availability - Tel: 1361 / 1362 / 1363, Reservation Office: Enquiry - Tel: 132; Timings : 8 am to 8 pm, Sundays till 2 pm), Ernakulam Town (Tel: 2395198), and Cochin Harbour Terminus (Tel: 2666050) railway stations.
Cochin By Bus
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operates shuttle, long-distance, and interstate express and super fast services from the KSRTC bus station (Tel: 2372033). Also available from here are interstate services of the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations. Cochin is well connected by national highways with the rest of the country. These are NH 17 (Ernakulam - Mumbai), NH 47 (Kanyakumari - Salem), and NH 49 ( Cochin - Madurai).
The Myriad Attractions of Cochin
Backwaters of Cochin
More popular as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is a cluster of islands on the vast expanse of the Vembanad Lake. Some of these picturesque islands are Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. The lake opens out into the Arabian Sea here to form one of the finest natural harbours in the world. It is this natural advantage that has made Lochi a fascinating blend of the cultures and influences of explorers and traders who visited this wealthy land. Boat cruises from Kochi harbor to Willingdon Island, Mattancherry Place, the Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi and Bolgatty Island. Sunset cruise. 3 hour backwater village cruises which include visits to coir villages and coconut plantations.
Cochin Boat Rides
The Cochin Boat rides allow you to soak in the real beauty of Cochin which lies in its backwaters extending east and south from the harbour dotted with tiny islands formed naturally by alluvial deposits from the rivers. The most beautiful of all the islands is Bolghatty built by the Dutch. The sunset with the Chinese fishing nets in the background can be seen while you enjoy your boat-ride.
St Francis Church
It is the oldest church built by European in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portugese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that the exact place where he was buried has been marked out inside the church.
The Jewish synagogue
At the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town lies the synagogue of the white Jews near Mattancherry palace. The synagogue is now a fascinating mixture of shops, warehouses and spice auction rooms. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament and the Copper Plates recording the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community are displayed here.
Willingdon Island
Willingdon Island, in the middle of Cochin harbour, is a British legacy, created by Lord Bristow when he dredged the seabed to secure the city’s future as an international port.
Santa Cruz Basilica
The Santa Cruz Basilica was built by the Portuguese and was later elevated to a Cathedral by the Pope Paul IV in 1558. It escaped the destruction by the Dutch conqueror in 1663 but was later demolished by the British when they took over Cochin in 1795. There was no church on the site for almost 100 years until Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. It was consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984.
Shopping in Cochin
The items are of immense beauty for the simple reason that Keralities are gifted artisans. Among Kochi's best buy are metalware, camel-bone carvings, wood carvings, articles made of coconut shels, baboo cane, embroidered screwpine mats; grass mats; and several other types of handicrafts. Kochi also has several antique dealers. Jewellery, readymade garments, and ethnic hand-woven textiles follow closely. The major shopping centres are on M.G.Road which cuts across the heart of the city, and the Marine Drive including Broadway. Shops open at 10 a.m. and close around 8 p.m. Generally all shops remain close on Sundays.
Cherai (Beach)
This lovely beach bordering Vypeen island is ideal for swimming. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. A typical Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added attraction of this beach.
Vypeen island (21 km from the city) is a major centre for commerce. The island which is connected to the main land by a bridge is more easily accessible by boat. The ferry ride over the backwaters takes just 30 minutes.
Koder House
Koder House, this magnificent building is a supreme example of the transition from colonial to Indo-European architecture. Features like verandah seats at the entrance, floor tiles set in a chess board pattern, red coloured brick like facade, carved wood furniture and a wooden bridge connecting to a separate structure across the street are all unique to this bungalow.
Chinese fishing Nets
These huge cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first visitors to the malabar coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 ad by Traders from the court of kublai khan, these nets are st up on teak wood and bamboo poles. The best place to watch the nets being lowered into the sea and catch being brought in is the vasco da gama square, a narrow promenade that runs along the beach.
Dutch Palace
The Dutch palace at Mattancherry was actually built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in AD 1555. The palace acquired its present name in 1663 when the Dutch carried out some extensions and repairs in it. The main attractions of the palace lie in its wall murals that depict the scenes from the Ramayana.
Periyar Wildlife Santuary
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady in Kerala, is one of the 16 Project Tiger Reserves in India. About a century ago, a British engineer, Col. J. Pennycuick, chalked out a plan to dam the Periyar River, subsequently, a dam was constructed in 1895. This resulted in the adjoining forests being granted protection, by the Maharaja of Travancore. The 55 sq km reservoir and the surrounding forests, provide protection to the animals within. Today, Periyar is undeniably, one of the most impressive wildlife sanctuaries in the world.
The terrain is basically hilly, and the only flat areas of the sanctuary are the grasslands, at the edges of the lakes. Impregnable forests and open grasslands make for a sustaining environment, for both the carnivore and herbivore population of the reserve.
Fairs and Festivals
The Kodikuthu festival takes place at the mosque in December-January. For the fun seekers Cochin the beautiful Cherai Beach is an ideal retreat. Swimming is the best thing to do and there are chances of you spotting dolphins here too. Near by is a classic village of Kerala with paddy fields and coconut groves.
