God’s Own Country, Kerala, never fails to amaze us. With scores of enchanting places, such as the tea gardens of Munnar, the backwaters of Alleppey, the meadows of Vagamon and the lush greens of Wayanad, Kerala is a tourist’s paradise. However, one of the gems of Kerala doesn’t often get the attention it deserves, and that’s the port city of Kochi. One of the most modern cities of India, Kochi has a lot to offer to tourists. And the most beautiful part of Kochi is the old town known as Fort Kochi. We have collated the top 5 fun things to do in Kochi. Take a look at the most unique experiences that one can get in the best Kochi tours:
1. Take a Water Metro Ride
Not known to many, Kochi is home to India’s first water metro route. If you’re travelling to Fort Kochi from major bus stops in Kochi such as Vytilla Jn., your best bet is the water metro. For instance, you can board a metro from Vytilla metro station to MG Road and then an auto to the High Court water metro station. The AC water metro ride from High Court station to Fort Kochi is scenic and takes around 45 minutes.
All public transport options in Kochi are extremely affordable and hassle-free. However, in case you’re travelling on festivals such as Christmas, the rush can be chaotic. Nonetheless, there are a lot of photo ops on the way to Fort Kochi.
2. Walk Through Princess Street and Burgher Street
Kochi offers a lot of walking tours that let you immerse yourself in its rich heritage. Two of the most iconic streets of Kochi that ooze its Portuguese legacy are Princess Street and Burgher Street. Don’t miss the legendary eatery Kashi Art Cafe on Burgher Street. Relishing their Stuffed Turkey is one of the best things to do in Kochi.
The flea markets of Princess Street are great for a solo walk and some souvenir-shopping. Do buy local magnets and miniature Kerala snake boats. You get to savour delectable seafood from the road-side eateries around this area, while you’ll also come across some of the traditional buildings that have been transformed into heritage-themed cafes, such as the Tamara Cafe. A short walk away is the famous Indian Naval Maritime Museum.
3. Visit the Churches of Kochi
Two of the top tourist attractions of Fort Kochi are its iconic churches: the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica and the St. Francis Church. While the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is one of the 34 basilicas in the country, the St. Francis Church is where Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama (who discovered the sea route from Europe to India) remained buried for a while before his remains were shipped to Portugal.
4. Check Out the Chinese Fishing Nets
Your Kochi visit is incomplete without a photo of the city’s iconic skyline, featuring the Chinese fishing nets. You can catch a glimpse of these fishing nets from the Fort Kochi Beach. Reach Fort Kochi Beach by 5:45 PM to witness a magical sunset against the backdrop of the mighty Arabian Sea. The beach can get crowded during major festivals but is a must-visit site on your trip to Kochi. A note of caution: This isn’t a beach ideal for bathing.
5. Explore Jew Town
Approximately 3 km away from Fort Kochi lies the famous Jew Town of Kochi. The distance can be covered by a short auto or cab ride. One of the most popular sightseeing spots in the area is the Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace. The palace was apparently gifted to the Maharajas of Kochi by the Portuguese rulers. The walls of the palace will allure you with their eye-catching murals and portraits of the ancient royal family of Kochi.
One of the most exciting things to do in Kochi is to take a quick walk around Jew Town. This will take you to the legendary Jewish synagogue, better known as the Paradesi Synagogue. Built by the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1568, this is one of the 35 Jewish synagogues in India and is one of the oldest too.
One of the hallmarks of this place is an antique store called Crafters, which has the world’s largest “varpu” or cooking vessel on display. A few steps away is a perfume store with the world’s largest agarbatti and perfume bottle (with the perfume bottle being operated by a remote), where you can actually take a perfume bath. Another store nearby displays a huge canoe (or the traditional Kerala snake boat) that’s over 100 years old.
How to Reach Kochi
By Train:
Kochi (or its twin city, Ernakulam) is connected by rail to all major cities of India. The Ernakulam Jn. (or Ernakulam South) and Ernakulam Town (or Ernakulam North) stations are the two main stations of Kochi.
By Air:
The Kochi International Airport, or the Nedumbassery Airport, is about 45 km away from Fort Kochi. It is well-connected to all prime cities of India and the Middle East.
By Land:
Kochi is connected to major Indian cities by well-maintained State and National Highways. A lot of overnight buses ply from nearby cities such as Bengaluru. There are regular buses from Ernakulam to Fort Kochi (which are about 15 km apart).
By Water
You can easily travel from Ernakulam, Willingdon Island and Vypin Island to Fort Kochi by boat. The ferry service is operational from early morning to late evening.
Fort Kochi is about 20 mins away from the Ernakulam Boat Jetty and 10 mins away from both Willingdon Island and Vypin Boat Jetty.
Best Places to Visit Near Kochi
- Cherai Beach: A 15 km long beach known for its dolphin sightings
- Athirapally Falls: Kerala’s largest waterfall, which has water crashing from a height of over 80 feet
- Kottayam: A backwater paradise nestled between the Western Ghats and the Vembanad Lake
