Places To Visit In Kochi
1. Mattancherry Palace
A place is well known as the Dutch Palace in spite of having been built in 1557 by the Portuguese. It resembles a traditional home of Kerala with four distinct wings and a central patio.
2. Willingdon Island
A human-made island and a brainchild of Lord Willingdon, the British Viceroy to India. The island took shape by an accumulation of the sand dredged from the backwaters for facilitating the navigation at the port of Kochi.
3. Paradesi Synagogue
This is the oldest synagogue across all Commonwealth countries today and constructed in 1568 by the local Jews know as Malabar Yehudan. Now it has gradually become one of the tourist attraction over time.
4. Chinese Fishing Nets
The large net made out of bamboo and teak poles are used by fishermen to this day. These are Chinese in origin and said to have been a gift from the Great Emperor Kublai Khan. A must visit attraction of Kerala.
5. Santa Cruz Basilica
One of the eight Basilicas in India, this is the oldest church in India that is 500 years old. It has been declared as a heritage site with the diocese of Kochi regularly attending mass here.
6. Folklore Museum
This is a unique museum, and a must visit for people interested in history and arts. The spacious galleries depict every kind of artifice connected with the folk art and display the tribal heritage aptly.
7. Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
This is a biosphere reserve located in the centre of the city known as the green lungs of Kochi. There are numerous endangered species of flora and fauna protected here and is reckoned to be a paradise for nature lovers.
8. Cherai Beach
No wonder one of the excellent beaches it is voted as the best beach in the State of Kerala. Lies at a distance of 30 KM from the city and is dotted with green coconut groves. The water is an enticing mix of backwaters and the sea.
9. Ernakulam Mahadeva Temple
One of the most ancient temples of Kochi and situated right at the heart of the city. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also known as the Ernakulathappan temple. There are two temples in the vicinity constructed in Tamil style.
10. Indo Portuguese Museum
A museum that houses a number of artefacts dating back to the Portuguese era also contains a number of religious relics collected from the diocese of Kochi. An epitome of history and culture is well preserved in Indo- Portuguese Museum.
11. Kochi Backwaters
The state of Kerala is popular for its backwaters. However, it is Kochi that is the best place to take a trip down the backwaters. Two of the most famous cruises take the passengers up to Alleppey and Kollam respectively and is always in great demand.
12. St Francis Church
One of the oldest churches in Kochi that had been constructed by the Portuguese traders. It is well known for its serene surroundings and simplicity of the wooden fittings makes it apt as a place of worship in an alluring architecture.
13. Kerala Kathakali Centre
This school of traditional arts is the leading centre of its kind across Kerala. Tourists prefer to see the riveting performances of classical dance and music, martial arts, and Kathakali shows, etc., here for its sense of style and authenticity.
14. Delicious Food of Kochi
Quality overpowers quantity when it comes to Kochi cuisine. The city stood on a natural harbour making the seafood there a must have. However, it is the banana chips and Appams that delight the tourists making it mandatory to taste while touring Kochi.
15. Shopping in Kochi
The passion for shopping in on the rise in Kochi lately and there are malls and big stores cropping up in the city on a regular basis. The city can be a paradise for visitors who know the art of bargaining though
