This is the place where you can see the longest railway bridge of the country, where the biggest shopping mall of Kerala, the largest International Container Transhipment Terminal of India and quite lately the only city in the state where Metro trains ply. What more reasons are required for any random travellers to not to skip Kochi from your bucket list visit to Kerala? The following can be listed under the most relevant reasons for stoping over once after you’re vacationing in either the hills of Munnar, seashores of Kovalam or mystic peaks of Wayanad. Below given are the reasons that we were pointing about.
Adore the Dutch Palace
Without walking much from the ferry station of Mattanchery in Kochi, you will reach your destination of Dutch Palace. Although popularly known as Dutch Palace, these ancient structures were initially built by the Portuguese but were annexed and renovated by the Dutch. At present, the heritage site is under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India and is functioning as a major museum of Kochi. You could very elaborately learn a lot about the historical facts behind the spice city of Kerala. You would inevitably be in love with the Palace and its exhibits if you are interested in History. Moreover, the tourists interested in Architecture of age-old buildings can adore at the artistic collaboration of Colonial and Kerala styles of construction.
Relishing at Cherai Beach
Situated from around 25km from the mainland in the Vypin Island, the popular beach of Cherai is equally preferred by both foreign and domestic tourists alike. You may stay in the adjacent resorts to experience the real beauty of Cherai. However, it would be crowded during the peak season. So you will be advised to reserve them from early bookings. To reach the shores of the golden beach, you have to either hire a taxi or a rickshaw, as they are at a distance from the main road of the island. Moreover, the picturesque water bodies that are a part of the Cochin backwaters on either side of the path that leads to the beach makes them all the way unique and more beautiful, especially during the late evenings.
Shop for the Most Cheapest at Broadway
Merely from the name of the place, you would never have to anticipate that they are indeed broad. It would be challenging enough to stroll over the intricate paths of Broadway during the onset of any major festivals in the state. However, once you are sure with the routes and is comfortable with the raw essence of any such Indian market places, you may readily choose Broadway for having the best shopping experience. Things are always cheaper and of diverse kinds in Broadway. Furthermore, the sellers in the place may not be the richest ones, selling only fancy pieces of stuff. But you could find various small shops selling Indian Spices, traditional clothes, earthenware, Indian confectioneries and what not.
Cherishing the history of Jewish Synagogue
This is yet another historic site located in the old town of Mattancherry, which has the footprints of all the cultures ranging from Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and Gujarati. However, the path the leads you to the 16th-century Synagogue will inevitably take you another world. For a moment, you would feel that you are indeed strolling in a Jew Town of any Portuguese origin. Numerous antique shops line these paths beautifully on both the sides. Furthermore, the indoors of the Synagogue are floored in a beautiful combination of blue and off white tiles, which were imported from China. The most fascinating thing about them is that each of the pictographs inscribed in it is different and unique.
Check out the Kochi Muziris Biennale
The artistic venture that had international acclaim lately is comparatively a new crowd puller to the city of Kochi. For the same, artists from all across the world fly up to Kochi and display their installations in the Biennale extending for up to 3 months starting from December to March. You can experience the large cluster of World art in every alternate year. These installations are set in different locations centred in the premises of Fort Kochi.
Ferrying in the Cochin Backwaters
Even the backwaters of Kochi would be very much different from what you saw in Alappuzha. This would be the urban version of the Lake. Likewise, the urban side of everything that can be seen anywhere else in Kerala can be experienced here, besides the intriguing remains of its colonial past. Exclusive packages with the inclusion of ferrying across the backwaters, targeting the tourists are made available all through the day. You may hire these fancy boats at any rate. If you are groping for a more economical option of sailing through the backwaters, you do not have to wait for these taxis. There are very cheaper public water transport plying from Ernakulam to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
Strolling across Fort Kochi Beach
The post-colonial structures and its adjoining places of Fort Kochi are like no other in the entire state of Kerala. You can drop into the Aspin Wall House, Steam Boiler in the beach, Church of St. Francis, David Cafe, Pierce Leslie Bungalow, and Kashi Art Gallery, which are all in a reach of 3km square stretch. Besides all these, tourists spend hours in the walkway adjacent to the beach that are aligned with numerous Chinese Fishing Nets. Even the trees that can be found in the area too are worth to watch with concerning its age and distinct shape.
While touring a complicated city like that of Kochi, relying on the confusing public transports could turn out to be an arduous task. Therefore, you must be compelled to hire the services of any reputed online taxi services such as Dreams Cabs. Moreover, for any outsiders of the city, travelling in any public mode of transport in a highly populated region can be exhaustive. The expert drivers of the taxi services are equipped with the latest technologies to take to your preferred destinations on the specified time at an affordable price.