38 min from Cochin.
Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam and Cochin.
'''Vaikom Road''' via Kottayam (15 kilometres)
Via Cochin International Airport (60km)
Vaikom has an excellent local bus service system and it is cheap.
This is cheap way of transportation between attractions.
Local taxis are also available at cheap rates. There are many car rental companies offering cars with drivers or self drive. Rates are around Rs 7 per km but there are all sorts of extras.
When you are visiting places like Kumarakom, it's better to opt for boats, as many places in Kuttanad are inaccessible by road.
There are also good ferry services between places that are widely used by the locals, a cheap and scenic way of getting around.
Many attractions are near by one another so you could walk between them
Another fun thing to do in Vaikom is to wander through Mahadeva Temple ? the central area of the town. By the year end, the yearly Vaikom temple festival, Vaikothashtamy a lot of crowds and the roads are flooded with people. It is worth checking out the local gold and silver stores there. The silver anklets with bells are very pretty and cheap. There are also road side spice shops.
Sambhaaram (buttermilk), especially on hot summer days
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
Alappuzha, famous for House Boats, is 30 km away.
Munnar, a hill resort in Idukki District, is 130 km east. And on the way to Munnar are
Kallil Temple - an old Jain temple but now a Hindu temple is 53 km from Perumbavoor.
Kodanadu - Elephant training centre.
Bhoothathankettu - A Dam, 8 km north east of Kothamangalam.
Thattekkad - Bird sanctuary near Bhoothathankettu.
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
Thekkady and other places in Idukki
Guruvayoor and Thrissur
Ooty, Kodaikanal, Yercaud in Tamil Nadu
Lakshadweep is 5 day (seasonal) cruise from the Cochin port.
Cherai Beach is some 25 km away from Cochin city near North Paravur and its beautiful with a nice beach and local cousine.