| Tourist
Season
- August to March |
Tourist
information offices
District Tourism Promotion Council, Tel: 091 - 477 -
2251796,
2253308
Tourist Information Office, Tel: 091 - 477 - 2260722
The Administrative Office, (DTPC) Tel: 091 - 477 - 2253308
Tourist Reception Centre (DTPC) Tel: 091 - 477 - 2251796 |
Other
Information
Hotels & Resorts, Hospitals, Ayurveda Centres, Yoga
Centres, Festivals |
Kochi (Cochin)
- Queen of the Arabian 
SeaKochi is group of islands on Lake
Vemabanad, which opens out into the
Arabian Sea. Some of the islands are Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and
Vallarpadam. The main tourist attraction of Kochi is visiting these
islands on the local ferries. Kochi is well known for one of the finest
natural harbours in the world. The ancestral rulers of cochin with their
cosmopolitan outlook, traded goods as well as knowledge with visitors
from far off lands and latter Chinese, Arabs, Dutch, British and
Portuguese followed the sea route to cochin.
Bolgatty Island
The beautiful Bolgatty Place built by the Dutch in 1774, is situated on
this island with a golf course on its grounds and palm trees all around.
The KTDC now runs a hotel there and it is easily accessible from the
mainland.
Willingdon Island
This wonderful man made island named after Lord Willindgon, the
erstwhile British Viceroy of India, is surrounded by backwaters and is a
very important part of Cochin. It sites the city's best hotel, the
government of India tourist office, the southern naval command head
quarters, the Cochin port trust and the customs house. Also on this
island are the offices of several major trading and industrial houses.
Lakshadweep Island
About 300 kms from Kerala, Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands located
in the Arabian Sea. Only few of these islands are inhabited and are
famous tourism destination.
Hill palace
Hill palace, built in 1865 was the official residence of the erstwhile
Kochi royal family. It is 10kms from the main city and is surrounded by
52 acres of terraced l and with a deer park and horse riding facilities.
The palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional
architectural style and has a full-fledged ethno archaeological museum.
Displayed inside are thirteen galleries of oil paintings, murals,
sculpture in stone and plaster of Paris, manuscripts, inscriptions and
coins belongings to royal family.
Mattancherry Palace
Also known as Dutch Palace, it is open from 10.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs and
closed on Fridays. It was built by the Portuguese in 1555 and presented
to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi and in 1663; Dutch renovated the
palace. There are beautiful 17th century murals depicting scenes from
the Indian epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and some of the Puranic Hindu
legends. There are also Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal palanquins and
coronation robes of the former Maharaja's of Kochi.
Chinese fishing nets
They are called 'Chena Vala' in Malayalam and are used by the local
fisherman in For Cochin to catch fish, attracted by the lights suspended
over the net. These fishing nets dot the entrance of Cochin harbour,
which was brought to Kerala by traders from the court of Kublai Khan.
Cherai Beach
This cool and calm beach bordering Vypeen Island is ideal for swimming,
and dolphins, which are occasionally seen here, attract tourists. Paddy
fields and coconut groves nearby, makes this place more beautiful.
Athachamayam
It is a procession that marks the beginning of the Onam festival. It is
conducted at Thripunithara and Piravam. This procession displays a rare
treasure house of folk and temple performed by skill artists, decorated
elephants and variety of floats.
Chennamangalam
It is located 5kms.north-west of Ernakulam and has a rare geographical
combination of rivers on all 3 sides, seven inlets, a hillock and green
plains. Kovilakem, the hillock presents an unusual sight of Hindu
Temple, a church and a Jewish synagogue, all closely located next to
each other. Another attraction of the place Malanappara made of boulder
lying one over the other, resembling an elephant from a distance.
Cochin carnival
This wonderful and enjoyable feast, originated by the Portuguese, during
the colonial days, is celebrated till date, during the last week of Dec.
it gathers together youth from all over the place, who take part in the
various games and competitions, and really enjoy their hearts out. The
highlight of the carnival is the massive procession on New Year's Day,
which includes spectacular floats, music bands, and people in fancy
dress and masks, who wait all year long, for this day.
Fort Kochi
Once upon a time, it was a simple fishing village, which later became
the first European
township in Indian. Fort Kochi has an eventful and colourful
history to tell about its reputation as a seafaring commercial town. An
Italian traveler once remarked, 'if china is where one can make money,
then surely Kochi is the place to spend it.' The Portuguese, Dutch, and
British shaped the beautiful town; therefore we can see the
remains of the Indo-European architecture even today in Fort Kochi
Indira Gandhi Boat
Race
For tourist entertainment, Kerala Government organizes some special
programs and one of them is the Indira Gandhi boat race, which is
conducted during the last week of Dec. Several snake boats race each
other to win the trophy and it is a great sight for the thousands of
spectator who come to watch it.
Mulamkuzhi (Wild
life)
This is a tiny village nearly 15kms from Malayattur. The crystal
clear medicated water of the River Mulamkuzhi and the waterfalls of
Venanbravady near Malayattur is an enchanting sight. There is also a
confluence of the rivers Periyar and Perumthode.
Kodungalloor
Formerly known as Muziris, 32 kms away from the city, this was the
premiere seaport of India's west coast in olden times. It is believed
that St. Thomas had landed here in 52AD. There are many sight seeing
places here like Cheramanparambu, the place of the king of Kerala, the
ancient Thiruvanchikulam temple, the Bhagavathi Temple, the Portuguese
forty and an old mosque very similar in appearance to a Hindu temple.
All these historic buildings attract foreigners who come here from
different parts of the world.
Museum of Kerala
History and its Makers (Museum)
8 kms from Ernakulam, is a beautiful museum, which depicts historical
episodes from the neothilic to the modern era through life size figures.
At the entrance of the museum is a statute of Parasurama, mythological
sage, who welcomes the visitors to the museum. There are also sound and
light shows with commentaries in English and Malayalam.
Parikshith Thampuram Museum
This is an archaeological museum adjacent to the Shiva Temple on Durbar
Hall Road, Ernakulam. It has a wonderful collection of the 19th century
oil paintings, prehistoric monuments, and old coins in a numismatic
gallery, sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris, copies of mural
paintings etc and the collection from Cochin Royal family.
Pazhassiraja Museum and Art
Gallery
This museum houses a collection of coins, bronze, copies of murals and
stone megalithic remains of Kerala.
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