'''Cochin''' ('''''Kochi''''') is a cosmopolitan city in Kerala with a bustling commercial port.
Understand
The city of Kochi is separated into numerous distinct areas particularly close to each other. These include the mainland areas of Ernakulam City (where the train stations to the rest of India leave and arrive), Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi (the primary tourist enclave), Mattancherry, Kumbalangi and outlying islands. These distinct neighbourhoods arose as the result of a mixed past.
Kochi merchants began trading in spices such as black pepper and cardamom with the Arabs, the Dutch, Phoenicians, Portuguese, Chinese more than 600 years ago.
Kochi has a lot of remnants from the past still clinging on. The famous landmark of Cochin is a row of Chinese fishing nets at the mouth of the harbor leading to the Arabian sea in Fort Kochi, the oldest part of the city. In Ernakulam, the latest in skyscrapers and modern shopping can be found, while the old quarter -- the Fort Kochi area and Mattancherry area -- maintains a colonial air. This makes Cochin one of the best places to travel [http://www.keralaholidaypackages.in/Cochin.html].
Kochi is comparatively cleaner and quieter than many other Indian tourist places. Having said that, Cochin is still a health and sanitation problem. Trash and rubbish litter most public areas. The infrastructure of proper sidewalks and grey water control remains a problem. Be careful walking especially at night as poorly lit areas and multi-level sidewalks are common. Often gaping holes could land you in a puddle.
This area boasts of hundreds of islands, some even uninhabited, and is part of the Backwaters of Kerala. A famous island is that of Bolghatty (local name Mulavukad) where the Dutch built a palace. This palace was later used as house of the British Resident administrator. Right now the Dutch Palace is a tourist hotel, and you are welcome to live there as guest.
Rainy season is from June to September. Temperature 22-34__ C depending on season. Use mosquito repellent cream while traveling during night, and consider a mosquito net for sleeping.
Get in
By Air
'''Kochi International Airport''' [http://www.cochin-airport.com/]
is located in Nedumbassery approximately 29 km from the city. There are flights to and from Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Sharjah, Jeddah, Muscat, Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Take a pre-paid taxi to your destination.
'''Trivandrum International Airport''', which is around 220 km from Kochi, and travel to Kochi by road/rail. It is 4-5 hour journey.
By train
You can reach Cochin from other cities Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Coimbatore, Kozhikode (Calicut), Chennai, Bangalore, Bombay, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata by train.
There are two major Rail station in Cochin( Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction, locally known as North and South railway stations). The Indian Railways [http://www.indianrail.gov.in] serves Cochin with a number of train services connecting it to other parts of the state and the country. One of the best ways to get to Cochin is to take the Konkan Railway train from Mumbai that passes through the Konkan coast. The train ride is renowned for the breathtaking scenery and the natural beauty of the terrain that the train passes through.
By bus
Cochin (Kochi) is accessible from all parts of the state of Kerala, through the extensive state run Kerala Road Transport Corporation (K.S.R.T.C.) bus service. These buses are generally cheap and reliable, but the drivers are notoriously reckless, although they have excellent control over their vehicles. There buses are classified as Ordinary Passenger, Limited Stop, Fast Passenger, Super Fast Passenger, Lightning Express and Garuda. The last is an air-conditioned service operating on the Thiruvananthapuram-Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram-Calicut routes, both passing through Kochi. These are modern buses and compare with buses in Europe, with well-maintained interiors and comfortable seats.
There are also numerous private buses or 'route buses' that connect pretty much every single district in Kerala to Cochin. Both the K.S.R.T.C and the private buses offer very basic comforts and are rarely air conditioned.
There also exists daily services to and from other major cities in South India including Mumbai, Bangalore(12 hrs), Mangalore (12 hrs), Coimbatore (4.5 hrs) and Chennai (14 hrs). These are run by both private operators and by the respective State Transport Authorities. The private buses offer better comfort, are cleaner and more modern, and are more expensive. A ticket on a private operator-run bus, especially an A/C Volvo bus, is costlier than a 3-AC train ticket.
By taxi
Trivandrum to Kochi around 220 km
By boat
Cochin can be reached by sea in yachts or by occasional cruise ship from Goa or Bombay.
Get around
By bus
Cochin has an excellent and cheap local bus service system, operated by private bus operators. The numbering system is rarely used although it appears to exist. The buses are red in color, and though they may vary in appearance, they still can be distinguished as city bus services.
Destination boards display signs prominently in Malayalam and in small letters the English version. Using the local bus service is not that difficult as most bus conductors would be able to provide assistance with basic knowledge of English or Hindi or even Tamil. Remember however that peak hours on weekdays can lead to overcrowded buses. That is not the best time to use these buses, like in any busy city.
Travellers must remember that a certain number of seats are allocated for ladies in the forward portion of each bus. Unless these seats are empty, gentlemen are not expected to occupy them, and they must be vacated when a lady wishes to sit there. The standard precautions of being wary of pickpockets and other anti-social elements must be maintained.
Several important points serviced by Cochin's city bus service include Fort Kochi, Thoppumpady, Edakochi, Mattancherry, Island (Willingdon Island), Thevara, Kaloor, Palarivattom, Kakkanad, Kalamassery, Edapalli,North Paravur, Alwaye, Tripunithura, and Vytilla Jn.
Many key routes that pass through the city (from Alwaye/Kakkanad etc to Fort Kochi/Thevara Jn etc) will have the following route/stops
# Kaloor (interchange for Long Distance Private Bus Services for Kottayam, Palai, Changanacheri, Mundakayam, Erumeli, Pathanamthitha etc.& night services towads Calicut, Kannur, Wayanad)
# Lissie Jn (Some Private Long Distance Luxury Bus Operators)
# Town Hall (Closest point to Ernakulam Town (North) Station)
# Kacheripady Jn (KSRTC State Transport Bus Stand - 1 km away & MG Road Start)
# High Court (KSINC Boat Jetty for Ferry to Vypeen, Mulavukad, Panambukadu, Ochanthurth, Murikkumpadam & Bolgatty, Long Distance Private Bus Services to Guruvayoor,Thrissur, Calicut,Irinjalakuda,Kodungaloor,North Paravur )Private ordinary Bus Services to Vypeen,Cherai Beach,Munabam,North Paravur,Kodungaloor via Goshree Bridges
# Marine Drive (GCDA Complex)
# Main Boat Jetty (Boat Jetty for Ferry to Vypeen, Fort Kochi, Mattencherry, Willingdon Island, Vallarpadam, Varapuzha, Perubalam, Karthedom, Mulavukad) Also KSRTC's ordinary limited stop buses to North Paravur, Kodungaloor,Guruvayoor,Thrissur, Calicut starts from here.
# Shenoys/YMCA (Some services only & services towards Kaloor) - (Closest point to KSRTC State Transport Stand - 0.5 km)
# Jos Junction - Virtual Centre of Ernakulam (Alighting Point for Ernakulam Jn (South) - 0.5 km, Private Bus Operators to Thekaddy/Kumili, Munnar, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Idukki and Private Long Distance Luxury Bus Operators - To Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Mangalore Coimbatore etc.)
# Ravipuram - Main Business & Commercial Area. Buses for Thevara, Edakochi, Fort Kochi, Mattancherri, Thoppumpady & W. Island Pass through here.
# Thevara Jn
# Island (Old Airport)
# Thoppumpady
# Mattancheri
# Fort Kochi
Buses from/to Tripunithura/Vytilla Jn will deviate after Jos Junction to pass through:
# Kadavanthara
# Vytilla Jn.
# Tripunithura
Buses from/to Alwaye follow the following broad route
Kaloor Jn., Edapally, Kalamassery, Alwaye
Buses from/to North Paravur follow the following broad route
Kaloor Jn., Edapally,Varapuzha,North Paravur
Buses from/to Kakkanad follow the following broad route
Kaloor Jn., Palarivattom Jn., Palarivattom Bye Pass, Chembukmukku, Padamugal, Kakkanad
Some services may operate directly between Alwaye, Edapally, Kakkanad and Vytilla Jn using the Byepass Road via Palarivattom Bye Pass.
By autorickshaw
This is a cheap way of transport between attractions. You can find an auto stand at almost every bus stop. This is the ideal way to cover short distances. Make sure you agree on a fare with the driver before the journey because almost none of the autorickshaws have working meters. Beware of autorickshaw drivers who charge extra if they know you are tourists. One easy solution is to approach pre-paid auto stands (they are available only in railway station) if you are coming through the rail.
By taxi
The taxis in Cochin are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Tata Indica cars or Ambassador cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an auto.
Unlike most Western countries, taxis are not usually marked with 'TAXI' signs on the top. In fact, you must call for a taxi, as it is nearly impossible to hail one unless you are at a major point like the airport. When you call, you should negotiate a fare (or agree on using the meter) and get the taxi's 'number'. The taxi will come pick you up, and call you when they are close. When you go out on the street, look at the license plate for the number they gave you -- it will be the last four digits of the license plate. Taxis are generally white in color and have yellow license plates with black letters.
Although it can be hard for Westerners to realise at first, this process is very effective. If in doubt, ask a member of your hotel staff to help you, and when your taxi comes be sure to tip the helpful staff member Rs. 10 or 15 for the assistance.
By private car
Most taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers will be more than happy to offer you either a daily rate or an hourly rate, and take you around wherever you need to go. Alternately, your hotel or a travel company can arrange a private car.
If you find a good taxi or auto driver, this can be a great way to go for a foreigner. You'll certainly pay a lot more than if you bought individual rides, but you'll always have a driver waiting for you, and he can help with recommending local tourist sites, finding a good restaurant to eat at, and otherwise coping with day-to-day life. This can take a lot of the stress out of traveling.
Rates are generally something like Rs. 50 to 100 per hour for an auto-rickshaw, and Rs 150 to 250 per hour for a taxi. Rates for a private car booked via the hotel will probably be more. Like everything else in India, rates are very fluid.
By ferry
There are also good ferry services between islands.
A useful service is the 'Junkar' between Fort Kochi and Vypeen. There are regular boat services, every 20-30 minutes, from Ernakulam to Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Vypeen and Willingdon Island which are much cheaper than the buses. This ferry service is also faster also in many cases because a bus or taxi has to travel longer & through crowded routes. E.g. if you are somewhere near M.G. Road and travelling to Willingdon Island or Mattancherry, it will be cheaper & faster to catch the ferry from Ernakulam Main boat jetty.
See
'''Hill Palace Museum''' - The erstwhile Cochin Raja's palace, now converted to a museum along with a small zoo, is 12 Km south-east of Ernakulam at Tripunithura. Has paintings and epigraphy from the collections of the Travancore & Cochin royal families.
'''Museum of Kerala History''' - at Edappally, 10km. north of the city
'''Pareekshith Thampuran Museum''' contains oil paintings, old coins, sculptures and Mughal paintings, and models of interesting temples and traditional Kerala buildings.
'''Fort Kochi'''
'''Mattancherry''' There is a beautiful Jain temple here. It is great to visit at about 12:15hrs when the pigeons are feed by Jain mandir people, which they have been doing for the past 17 years. A huge number of pigeons first take three circles of the temple and listen to mantra before eating.
'''Willingdon Island''' - An large artificial island made out of sand dredged from the backwaters to deepen the Kochi Port.
'''Vypeen and Gundu''' Islands - The Island boasts a lighthouse at Ochenthuruthu, beaches and the early 16th century
'''Bolgatty''' - built in 1744 as Dutch Palace; one of the KTDC Hotels with green lawns and Golf Course.
'''Chinese fishing Nets''' - at Fort Kochi.
'''Dutch Palace''' - constructed by the Portuguese in 1568 for Maharaja of Kochi '''Veera Kerala Varma'''. Later rebuilt by the Dutch.
'''St. Francis Church''', Fort Kochi - constructed by the Portuguese[1503]. Vasco da Gama was buried here [1524] and later his remains were transferred to Lisbon, Portugal. His tombstone can be seen inside the church.
'''Jew Street and Synagogue''' - at Mattancherry, the synagogue was constructed in 1568 and rebuilt in 1662.
'''Santacruz Cathedral'''- at Fort Kochi
'''Art Complex''' - Madhavan Nayar Foundation - Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures at Edappally, 10 km. north of city. (There is the Kerala History Museum, history students take note!)
'''Thrikkakara Temple''' - at Thrikkakara, is a temple devoted to the Hindu deity Vamana. Thrikkakara temple is a major centre for celebration of the festival Onam, that is celebrated in great pomp and colour throughout Kerala. Get here during Onam time and you can catch the famous 10-day festival at the temple, peppered with performances of Kerala's traditional arts and ending with a Onam feast on the last day.
'''Thirumala Devaswom Temple''' - at Mattancherry. A temple built by the Gowda Sarawatha Brahmins, Lord Venkateswara the main deity, famous for second-largest brass bell in Asia. The North Gopuram is fully roofed with copper.
'''Ernakulam Siva Temple''' - situated at the centre of the town, near the Durbar Hall Ground.
'''Durbar Hall Ground''' - venue of many fairs during festivals
'''Kalady''' - Birth place of Sri Shankaracharya (Adi Shankara) [786-820], the great Indian philosopher and founder of the Advaita philosophy. Shrines of Shankaracharya here are open to all pilgrims, irrespective of religion or caste. 48km north of the city.
'''Kanjiramattam Mosque''' - Muslim pilgrim center, venue of Kudikkuthu Festival, 30km east of the city
'''Chendamangalam''' - Historically the seat of '''Paliath Achan''', the Prime Minister of Kochi Kingdom, old Oriental Jewish synagogue and colony. Now a centre for handloom weaving and coir manufacturing, view of annual fair "Mattachanda" (Barter Systems). It is 42km north-west of city near North Paravur .
'''Pallipuram Fort''' - built by the Portuguese in 1503, one of the oldest existing European monuments in India. Situated in Vypeen island at Pallipuram.
'''Aluva''' - called "Alwaye" till a few years ago, town on the way from the international airport to Kochi, has some places of interest - Sree Narayana Guru's Advaita Ashram and the erstwhile Travancore king's palace.
'''Aluva Manalpuram''' - is famous for the Shivarathri festival on the sandy banks of the Periyar river. A Siva temple is located along the banks too.
'''Malayattoor''' Mount - A Christian pilgrimage centre, supposed to be a place visited by St. Thomas. (St. Thomas visited Kerala in AD 52. Don't forget Christianity reached India much before it reached Europe!)
'''Cherai Beach''' - near North Paravur is a new-generation tourist hot-spot with golden beaches (with big sand grains, like those of river sand used in construction, probably deposited by the Periyar river at some point in time), coconut palm corridors, backwaters, and historical monuments. You can reach Cherai Beach by bus, auto rickshaw, etc., from Ernakulam town though bus is a lot cheaper. Frequent buses are available from High Court that go through Goshree bridges and Vypeen Island.
Do
Elephant Training Centre. n Kodanad. A rewarding experience. Wild elephants caught from the forest are trained here.
Boating on the Kochi backwaters. t Marine Drive. Get a feel of the backwaters at Kochi
Fort Ayurveda. /6A Calvathy Road. ext to Coast Guard. Experience rejuvenating Ayurvedic treatments at Fort Ayurveda, an undertaking of Fort HouseHotel in association with Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Group. Authentic, clean and in a fine setting.
Buy
Jewtown has numerous antique and craft stores. Bargains are available but be warned that many 'antiques' were probably made in the owners backyard! Shop with care and bargain hard.
Isidore Art Palace. ewtown, Cochin 662002. ext to the Synagogue. 0484) 222 8049 email="isidore@vsnl.com. Will reliably ship stuff outside India. Bargain hard!
Galleria Synagogue Art Gallery. ewtown, Cochin 6820002. 84 - 2222544. alk down from the synagogue. Showcases art work from many different local artists. Prices are reasonable, and they very often have exhibitions showing some amazing art work from the region.
</buy>
Depending on what you are looking for, many clothing and jewelery shops along MG road and Marine Drive are available. Prices are reasonable for western budgets. Shopping Malls are a new concept for Cochin and the new Bay Pride Mall on Marine drive and Oberon Mall at Edapally offers air conditioned comfort with a small food court and a nice coffee shop.One of the latest additions to the city's lifestyle shopping needs is "My Kingdom" on MG Road, a one of its kind store spread across 4 levels catering to different generations of the family.
Kalyan Silks
Seematti
Jayalakshmi Silks
Dew Drops
Lady Bug (closed for Renovation)
Graffitti - cheap summer clothing
There are stores of all major brands including Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Levis, Wrangler etc
These may be found on MG Road, Marine Drive, or the strip that connects them called Broadway, which is a street shoppers paradise.
Malls :
Bay Pride Mall, Marine Drive
Oberon Mall, Edapally Bypass
Bookshops
Bookport (English Bookshop),Ground Floor,Kurian Towers,Banerjee Road Phone: 0484-2397129,9746401310 http://www.bookport.in/
Hamlet, Kurien Towers, Banerjee Road
DC, Kurien Towers, Banerjee Road
DeeCee, Island Castle, Chitoor Road
Shankar, M.G rd,Padma Road
Alphabet, Kadavanthara Road
Bay Pride Mall, Marine Drive
H & C, it has its stores just off m.g. road
GCDA Shopping complex, Marine Drive
Oberon Mall, Edapally
Pai and Co, M.G Road and Broadway
Eat
Fort House Restaurant and Hotel. /6A Calvathy Road. ext to Coast Guard. 484 2217103. ww.hotelforthouse.com. Located at the water front and offers the finest Kerala food in town.
Great view n food!</eat>
Fort Kochi
Plenty of great, fresh seafood is available all over Fort Kochi. Visit Fort Kochi beach where you can buy fresh fish near the Chinese fishing nets and get it cooked in the nearby food stalls for a small fee. Fish mongers will sell you a kilo of tiger prawns for around $6USD and a kilo of squid for around $5USD. For a fillet of fish you may have to do a little bargaining. Try and find out what the locals are paying and work for that. The food stalls will charge you between 40 and 50 Rupee per person to cook your fish (grilled, curry, whatever...) and provide you with a serve of chips and salad! It is done reasonably hygienic so you shouldn't worry to much about the salad.
Fish fry, fish molly, fish curry and fish peera are the favorites, usually taken with rice or steamed tapioca (cassava). Also worth trying are the traditional rice based breakfast snacks - puttu and kadala, appam and stew. Try the "thattukadas" where you get hot, fresh-cooked, foods, where they don't have refrigerators to preserve the balance food.
Cochin/Ernakulam
'''Dawat - E - Khas''' - Jos Junction, MG Road.
'''Pizza Hut''' - M.G Road - Pretty close to the Railway station
'''Chic King''' - M.G Road - It looks, smells and tastes pretty much like KFC
'''Hot Plate''' - Avenue Center, Panampilly Nagar
'''K.R BAKES''' - Cheap hygienic food. Both the bakery and restaurant offer pretty good food. Can be found at several places, including Palarivattom junction.
'''BIMBIS''' - A self-service joint offering north indian, south Indian veg food & variety of sweets
'''WYTE FORT''' - Bypass road
'''Brindavan''' - Palarivattom ,reasonably priced good vegetarian food
'''Varkeys''' - Supermarket & Bakery
'''KFC''' - Mall'O', Edappally
'''Cafe Coffee Day''' - Shenoy's Cinema, Oberon Mall and Ravipuram junction- your standard coffee hangout
'''Barista Cafe''' - Bay Pride Mall, Marine Drive - the place to cool down with coffee after a walk at Marine Drive
'''Coffee Beanz''' - Marine Drive road - another place to get your cold coffee and snacks
'''Kadaloram''' - At Abad Plaza...good buffet at about rs 150 per head.
'''The Oven''' - Next to Sreedhar theatre on Marine Drive
'''Canopy''' - Below Abad Plaza
Drink
'''Karikku / ilaneer''' (tender coconut)
'''Sambhaaram (buttermilk)''', especially on hot summer days
'''Shakes''', get them cold, like a '''Sharjah Shake''' for example - a good cooldown option
'''Fresh toddy''' from the coconut tree, especially around the Kumarakom area. Take caution as adulteration of the brew is very common. Your best bet would be to get it from a local who has given over his coconut trees for extraction.
.
Alcoholic drinks may be bought from one of several 'Bar's or Pubs located in the city. 'Velocity' located near Padma junction, 'Chandni Park' near Kalamassery, are a few. You may also buy from the Kerala State beverages outlets, located near North Bridge.
Sleep
The Royal Kerala Boats. 04 - Lalan Towers, Marine Drive Cochin
Kerala 682022India" phone="+91 9 989 489 294" url="http://www.theroyalkerala.com" Book yopur House Boat Online: url="http://www.theroyalkerala.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=27">If you are traveling to Kerala and are looking for a place to stay, there is nothing better than a One night stay on a House Boat. The boats are build on traditional transport boats and have now been modified into luxury house boats with all modern amenities.</sleep>
Best Western Marickar Hotels & Suites. IP Road, Nedumbassery, Cochin, 683589, India . istance from City Center: 2.03m / 3.27km . 91 484 2477411. ttp://www.bestwesternindia.com/region-south-india/bwindia-cochin/best-western-marickar-home.aspx. We welcome you to the God's own country (Kerala), through the Cochin International Airport just two kilometers from our property. Rejuvenate yourself in the in-house Ayurvedic spa and then start exploring the beauty of this state. We organize customized tours to near attractions such as places of historic value, beaches, back waters and the hill stations. Our hotel drivers will safely drive you through Kerala. We now look forward in welcoming you to our hotel and spoil you with our overwhelming Kerala hospitality.
Leelu Home, Fort Cochin. heerans Ebenezer, Behind Fort Cochin Post Office, Quirose Street, '''Fort Cochin''' 682 001.. ardly a 2 minute walk from the famous Santa Cruz Basilica. 091-484-2215377. ttp://leeluhomestay.com. A recently renovated Victorian building that makes you feel at Home. Situated in the heart of Fort Cochin the ambience of the Home Stay and the serene and calm place its situated is worth a mention. A 10 minute walk is all that seperates the Home Stay from the famed Chineese Fishing nets, the Vasco Da Gama Square, the Potugeese built St. Francis Xavier church and the famous Santa Cruz Basilica. Cooking classes are also conducted at the kitchen of the Home Stay every day from 11a.m. - 1p.m. and from 6p.m. - 8p.m.What's more? The Home Stay features in "The lonely Planet" as well as "The Rough Guides", two premier travel guide books of the tourism world. The Home Stay is well known for being Customer friendly, clean and a place worth staying while in Fort Cochin.
Ambady's Pamlgrove Club. hilavanoor Road Kochi 682020 Kerala. ochin. 910484-2311186. ttp://www.ambady-resorts.com. Waterfront Apartment Cochin. Looking for a serene place far away from the mad rush of the city? Somewhere you can forget the nitty-gritty'_?s of the daily grind after a busy day of work and just UNWIND? Where you are one with nature, yet fully fitted with modern amenities and comforts?Ambady'_?s Palmgrove Club is the place for you.
</sleep>
Fort Kochi
It is quieter and more scenic than the rest of the city. There are quite a lot of
tourists so prices are relatively high, but that_fs still very cheap by western standards. Some of the heritage hotels are located here. Home stays are common.
'''Fort House'''[http://www.hotelforthouse.com/]
'''Brunton Boatyard'''[http://www.cghearth.com/brunton_boatyard/index.htm]
'''Malabar House Hotel''' Good through pricey food, usually with live background Kerelanesque music [http://www.malabarhouse.com/]
'''Ballard bungalow'''
'''Hotel Fort Queen'''
'''Koder House'''
'''Old Harbour'''
'''Dream Catcher Home Stay''', Vasavan Lane Road near Thamaraparambu School. Res: 0484 2217550. Mob: 9746017881. Email: dreamcatcheronita@vsnl.net- Good home-cooked food, clean rooms, but host quite unpleasant. RS.600-1200. Will pick up from Bus/Railway station free of charge (Airport additional charge).
'''Green House Home Stay''', H:N:1/1040, Kunnumpuram Road.njaliparambu, fort kochi-1 Mob: 0091-9895262296. Email: greenhousehomestay@yahoo.com / kumarkochin@yahoo.co.in. Very nice and friendly home stay in a good location close to Princess Street (where Kumar has a shop, so try to track him down there if you can't reach him otherwise), which also offers a TV and a fridge in the common room/living room. In high season doubles are around Rs500 (or more if you want A/C), whereas we paid Rs250 during the low season (May 2008).
'''The Bungalow Heritage Homestay''',Fort Vypeen Cell:9846302347. Email:info@thebungalow-kerala.com
Heritage homestay at the Vypeen side of the harbour mouth of Port of Cochin with Fort Kochi on the other side.
This is a place where you will surely feel at home.
'''Lazynest - Furnished apartment''', K.K.Padmanabhan Road, Ernakulam North. email: anilkumargopalan@gmail.com.Ph: +91 98475 11000 Lazynest is a fully furnished self catering apartment.
Willingdon Island
'''Taj Malabar''', [http://www.tajhotels.com] on the tip of Willingdon Island, without exception, is the best located property in Cochin. Perhaps the best as well. In its heritage wing, built in 1935, graceful Victorian interiors aptly reflect the inherent beauty of Cochin. Its tower wing houses newly renovated guestroom suites, each a delicate mix of the classic with the contemporary.
Attractive Holiday packages are available with worthfull rates.
'''Trident Hilton'''
'''Casino Hotel'''
Ernakulam City
'''Maple Regency Hotel & Restaurant''' (Cannon Shed Road, tel: +91-484-2371711, E-mail mapleregency@airtelmail.in) near main boat jetty is well located, friendly place. Rooms are from USD 6.50 to 10.00. Also restaurant is good. On same building there is reasonable Rajasthani restaurant.
'''Saphire Tourist Home''' opposite Maple Regency.
'''Cherai Beach Resort'''[http://www.spiceresort.com/sealine.htm] the resort for Honeymoon Couples, Families and Corporates.
'''Hotel Presidency''' [http://www.spiceresort.com] This 4 Star hotel is conveniently located near city centre and Cochin's busy commercial hub. A haven of modern comforts and style, Hotel presidency offers stunning views of the sea, the sunset, and Cochin_fs harbour. Attractive Holiday packages are available with worthfull rates.
'''ADI Service Apartments and Home Stay'''
'''ADI Service apartment and Home Stay''', TD Road, Behind Kavitha theater, Phone +919902542657, Email:madhu.ravindran@gmail.com, Promise to give you an excellent holiday in God's own country,http://adiappts.hotels.officelive.com
'''Abad Plaza'''
'''Abad Fort'''
'''Gokulam Park Inn''', A very nice hotel with good food, clean rooms and excellent service.
'''Abad Metro'''
'''Hotel Mermaid'''
'''White House'''
'''Abad Airport'''
'''Abad Atrium'''
'''Best Western Avenue'''
'''The Grand Hotel''', Don't miss the Ammachi Kozhi curry.
'''Hotel Ceylon Bakehouse'''
'''Casino'''
'''Le Meridien Presidency''', Five star hotel with a quiet location yet not far from the city centre.
'''Renaissance'''
'''Vedic village resorts'''[http://www.vedicvillageresorts.com]
'''The Gateway Hotel''' [http://www.thegatewayhotels.com/] Formerly Taj Residency, this hotel is owned and operated by the Taj group of Hotels and is conveniently located on Marine Drive, just minutes from the city centre and Cochin's busy commercial hub. A haven of modern comforts and style, The Gatway Hotel offers stunning views of the sea, the sunset, and Cochin_fs harbour. Attractive Holiday packages are available with worthfull rates.
Thomas Inn. ttp://www.thomasinn.com/. Clean, safe and spacious rooms, great hospitality, reasonable rates.
Airport
'''Cochin Durbar Hotel''' [http://www.spiceresort.com/durbar.htm ], The luxury hotel for Honeymoon Couples, Families And Corporates.
'''Abad Airport Hotel Cochin''', The hotel has 56 guestrooms, each equipped with industry-standard amenities for guests' comfort.
'''Hotel Ned Tower''' [http://www.NedTower.com], AC/Non AC rooms - Multi cuisine Restaurant - Ample car parking.
Ernakulam Budget hotels
'''Madaparambil Tourist Home''', Chittoor Road, near S.R.V. L.P.School, Ernakulum, Cochin. 682 011 Ph: 0484-2367533.
Stay safe
Kochi is infamous for mosquitoes.[http://news.karmakerala.com/2008/02/25/mosquito-menace-in-kochi-the-blame-game-continues%E2%80%A6/] Stay safe from the mosquitoes by buying mosquito pesticides. And make sure any room you book has mosquito repellants or atleast a mosquito net.
Be wary of Private Line bus and KSRTC bus drivers on the roads. Pedestrians live a hard life especially during peak hours in Kochi.
Internet
Wireless internet through Tata Indacom is available at the Avenue Regent (approximately 110 RS/2Hr) on MG road. Internet Cafes are available throughout the city.
Get out
In Ernakulam District
* '''Kallil Temple''' - an old Jain temple but now a Hindu temple is 13 Km from Perumbavoor.
* Kodanadu - Elephant training centre.
* '''Bhoothathankettu''' - A Dam, 8 Kms north east of '''Kothamangalam'''.
* Thattekkad - Bird sanctuary near Bhoothathankettu.
* Paniyeli Poru - The sight of river Periyar through the forests and rocks is an amazing sight. 60 Km from Cochin and 15 km from Perumbavoor. Its a stunning scnenic spot.
* Iringol Kavu - a kavu - protected small vegetation area near a temple - of around 50 acres! 15 km from Perumbavoor
Idukki District is a hilly region with lots of hill resorts.on the way to '''Idukki''' are
* '''Thommankutthu''' waterfalls in Idukki District via Muvattupuzha
'''Athirappilly''' waterfalls near '''Chalakudy''',Thrissur
Munnar a hill resort in '''Idukki''' District is 130 km east.
Thekkady and other places in Idukki
Alappuzha is famous for House Boats, is 70 km away.
Kumarakom in Kottayam
Kodungallur , Guruvayoor and Thrissur
Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud in Tamil Nadu
For Detailed report and photos of route to Palani from Kochi thru '''Valpara''' goto Kochi-Valpara-Palani
For Detailed report and photos of '''Munnar to Kodaikanal''' Route goto Munnar-Kodaikanal
Lakshadweep is 5 day (seasonal) cruise from the Cochin port.
Cherai is some 25 kms away from Cochin city, near North Paravur and its beautiful with a nice beach and local cousine.
Alwaye is about 40 mins away from Ernakulam. See the Aluva Palace, Shivrathri Manappuram