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Kochi is a neat, beautiful and modern city, ideal
for both business and leisure traveller. It is the largest city of Kerala
also know as Cochin. Cohin is a natural harbour and the primary seaport of
India and t was the centre of Indian spice trade. Kochi is taken from
Malyalam language, it means a small lagoon. The town has a distinct european
feel, due to the fact that it was controled by the Portugese, Dutch and
English who each left buildings and foot prints in the culture. Also known
as "Queen of the Arabian Sea", Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam,
about 220 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Old Kochi
loosely refers to a group of islands which comprise Willingdon Island, Fort
Kochi, Mattancherry, etc. Today Kochi includes Ernakulam city, old parts of
Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands.
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HOW
TO REACH
By Air - Cochin has an International airport, so well connected to major
Indian and International cities. There are frequent flights by Indian
Airlines & Jet Airways to the major cities like Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Goa,
Bangalore, and Trivandrum from Cochin.
By Rail - Kochi Railways station is well connected to all the major cities
like Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and etc. with regular & express trains.
By Road - Cochin is connected by road with several tourist centers in India.
It is 565 km from Bangalore, 223 km from Coimbatore, 848 km from Goa, 694 km
from Madras, 470 km from Mysore, and 312 km form Ootacamund.
WHEN TO GO
Best time to travel Kochi is between October and mid April.
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WHAT TO SEE |
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Fort Cochin - This is India’s oldest European
built church constructed in 1503. its main attractions are its European
heritage, its air of genteel decay, and stubborn self-absorption. The
most enduring impression of Fort Cochin is the enigma of the Chinese
fishing nets, perching along the backwaters. The Chinese fishing nets
are the most efficient means of backwater fishing and Fort Cochin is
full of them.
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St. Francis' Church - This chief landmark was
built in the early 16th century. is the oldest existing European church
in India. The church began life as a wooden structure built by the five
friars who accompanied the Portuguese to Cochin in 1503. The most
magnificent pageant enacted here was the burial of Vasco da Gama in
1526.
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The Dutch Palace at Matancherry - This place was
built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin ruler Vira Kerala
Varma in 1555 as an act of expiation. The extensions of the east and
south and the wooden ceilings of the Coronation Hall were incorporated
by the Dutch and hence the name. The real glory of the palace however
lies in its wall murals, depicting stories from the Hindu epics of
Ramayana and Mahabharata and other legends. |
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WHERE TO EAT
Kochi so many good restaurants, serving a variety delicious food from all
over, like Continental, India, Chinese, Thai, South Indian and regional
dishes.
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