Kochi Budget Travel Guide is written for the benefit of people who are interested to make a trip to this city in Kerala, India. In this guide I want to provide you with useful information for visiting the city. The major tourist attractions of Kochi are also listed and described.
Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is the second biggest city in the state of Kerala in southern India. A major seaport for India, Kochi has a metropolitan population of 1.5 million people. It is the biggest city in India without a Hindu majority.
The history of Kochi goes back at least to AD 1102, when it was the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin. Since then it has been an important spice trading port on the Arabian Sea. In 1503, Kochi fell to the Portuguese, becoming the first European colonial settlement in India. It was later occupied by other forces, including the Dutch, the Mysore and the British.
The city is located on the northern end of a 19-kilometer peninsula that juts into the Arabian Sea. Kochi experiences a tropical monsoon climate. It has a uniform temperature with little seasonal variation, hovering around 26-30°C. The wettest months are between June and September, during the southwest monsoon.
The Cochin International Airport (COK) is the main gateway to Kochi. It is a major gateway to southern India, receiving most of its flights from Asia and the Middle East. Budget travelers can fly AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur.
You can take the bus or taxi from the airport to downtown Kochi. The Orange Bus goes to downtown Kochi as well as to Fort Cochin. The fare is Rs 60 and Rs 80 respectively. The bus stop is located near the departure gate of the international terminal.
Alternative to buses, you can also take the regular taxis and prepaid taxis. For the regular taxis, go to the taxi stand to the right of the departure gate of the international terminal. For the prepaid taxis, go to the taxi counter at the arrival hall of both the international or domestic terminal. A trip to downtown Kochi will cost you Rs 510 using the non-air-conditioned taxis and Rs 650 for the air-conditioned ones.
Budget Travel within Kochi
As with most other Indian cities, Kochi has plentiful of auto rickshaws. There is a fixed starting rate of Rs 10 for the first 1.25 km and then Rs 6 for every subsequent kilometer, with a surcharge of 15% between 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Aluva Manalpuram Temple Located by the banks of the Periyar River, this is the venue of the annual Shivarathri Festival.
Chendamangalam Palace Fort Formerly the seat of the Paliath Achan, the prime minister of the Cochin kingdom.
Chinese fishing nets This icon of Kochi is said to be a gift of the Chinese Emperor Kubalagi to a Kochi king in the 14th century.
Chottanikara Devi Temple Temple famous as a centre for the treatment of various psychic disorders and split personality syndrome.
Dharmanath Desar Jain Mandir One of the oldest Jain temples in India.
Dutch Palace Originally built by the Portuguese as a gift to the Maharaja of Kochi, it was taken over by the Dutch and renamed the Dutch Palace.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha The only Sikh gurdwara in Kochi.
Hill Palace Museum Former palace of the Maharaja of Kochi, now a museum with a small zoo.
Holy Koonan Cross Church Church for the Malayalee Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church, site of a 17th century revolt against Portuguese attempt to convert them to Roman Catholicism.
Indian Naval Maritime Museum Museum chronicling the history of the Indian Navy, with exhibits recreating battle scenes the life-size models.
Indo-Portuguese Museum Museum documenting the European colonization of the Orient beginning in the 16th century.
Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village Award winning eco-tourist village where visitors can experience the authentic rural lifestyle.
Mastyafed Milky-Way Aqua Tourist Village A tourist resort built on a large shrimp farm where tourists can enjoy recreational activities such as canoeing and swimming.
Museum of Dolls Museum displaying some 1,000 dolls from various countries.
Museum of Kerala History A well-maintained museum showcasing the history of Kerala.
Pallipuram Fort The oldest European fortification in India, built by the Portuguese in 1503.
Paradesi Synagogue Jewish place of worship built by Jewish refugees in 1568, making this the oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth.
Poornathresya Temple Temple dedicated to Vishnu, once the royal temple of the maharajas of Kochi.
Santa Cruz Basilica Erected in 1502, this is first European church to be built in Asia. Today it is the primary seat of the Latin church of Kerala.
St Francis Church Church built in 1503 by the Portuguese and is the original burial place of Vasco da Gama.
Thirumala Devaswom Temple Temple dedicated to the deity Venkateswara, housing the second largest brass bell in Asia.
Thrikkakara Temple The only temple in India dedicated to the Hindu deity Vamana. Venue of the annual Onam festival.
VOC Gate The only remaining Dutch ruin in Kochi with the monogram of the Dutch East India Company.
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