A tour to Cochin is all about revelling in the grandeur of Mother Nature and basking in the glory of bygone era! The charismatic city overwhelms holiday makers with a great deal of captivating attractions for sightseeing. Find the top holiday attractions in Cochin popular among travellers.
The port city of Kochi or Cochin on the west coast of India in southern state of Kerala continues to be a hot destination for Britons. Flanked by aqua blue Arabian Sea on the west and soaring Western Ghats on the east, the city flaunts inimitable natural grandeur. The enthralling city spellbinds all and sundry with its awe-inspiring colonial past that seeps out of its 16-th century synagogues, fascinating, old mosques, ancient Portuguese houses and other remnants of past. A tour to Cochin is all about revelling in the grandeur of Mother Nature and basking in the glory of bygone era!
Impressed by the splendour of this ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’, as Kochi is pompously called, hordes of holiday-makers look for airlines and travel agents for cheap flights tickets and holiday deals to set on a captivating tour of the city.
Attractions in Cochin
Cochin greets its guests with rejuvenating ambience and elates them with flurry of exhilarating activities. The charismatic city overwhelms holiday makers with a great deal of captivating attractions for sightseeing. Cochin caters to all sorts of holidaymakers and provides something for everyone. It has enchanting historical edifices for historical aficionados, wealth of natural splendours for nature lovers, cultural attractions for cultural buffs and thrilling delights for adventure freaks taking flights to India.
Fort Kochi or Cochin
Fort Kochi is one attraction that shows on the itineraries of almost all the travellers booking tickets on cheap flights to India. The historic enclave oozes the charming ambience and amazes one with European architecture galore. The place makes for an ideal place to relive the colonial days and reminisce over the past. Chinese fishing nets, Santacruz Basilica, St. Francis CSI Church, VOC Gate and Bastion Bungalow are among the distinctive attractions to see when in Fort Kochi.
Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village
The Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village is located in Kumbalangi Island (about 15 km from city centre). The mind-blowing tourist village is decidedly an apt place for immersing into the authentic, rural culture and beholding the multihued lifestyle. In addition, one can also amble along the local paddy cultivation; try hands at canoeing in a country boat and relish the scrumptious food of the village. It is the first eco-tourist village in India and a sure delight for holidaymakers taking flights to India.
Hill Palace Museum in Cochin
Hill Palace Museum, the erstwhile Kochi Maharaja’s palace, now turned into attractive museum is an interesting place for historical buffs. It is the largest, archaeological palace in South India that features more than 500 artefacts. Out of the ordinary paintings and attractive epigraphy from the collections of Travancore & Kochi royal families add grace to the exhibits of the museum. The display of Cochin Royal Crown and Crown Jewels are other glinting attention-grabbers in the museum.
Apart from these, Museum of Kerala History, Indian Naval Maritime Museum, Mastyafed Milky-way Aqua-Tourist Village, Thrikkakara Temple and Malayattoor Mount are some other entrancing places to behold to make those tickets on cheap flights to India well worth the money and time spent.
Shopping Scene
Cochin is highly popular for its animated day-shopping scene. The oldest shopping corner in Kochi, Broadway Market is the main hub in Kochi where one can shop for almost every conceivable item. Fort Kochi is another fitting place to try retail therapy and grab from a unique array of souvenirs that perfect memento to keep as a reminder of your Kochi trip. The place is brimming with antique and craft stores that sell assortment of heritage pieces, Indian sculptures, interior artefacts and striking souvenirs. In addition, the city is inundated with number of shopping complexes like Oberon Mall, Bay Pride Mall, Grande Gold Souk and many more.
The Onam Festival (mid of Aug-Sept), Christmas and Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (15 Dec-30 Jan) make for best shopping seasons in Kochi.
Food
The scrumptious, South Indian Food is widely known and acclaimed. The experience of sampling the delectable south Indian food in-situ remains etched in the minds of most travellers. The port city regales the guests with a platter of diverse delicacies and luscious deserts. Seafood is the undoubtedly the local speciality. Cooked in the most authentic ingredients and spices grown in Kerala, the lip-smacking delicacies made from freshwater fish, prawns and shrimps leave even the most discerning seafood buff speechless.
Be it the street side food hawkers (Thattukadas) or the upscale restaurants, Kochi never fails to delight those with a weakness for good food.
How to Get to Kochi
Cochin International Airport conveniently connects Kochi to many international destinations and most domestic cities. The largest Airport in Kerala is located about 29 km from the city centre and is a key international gateway to South India. British Airways, Jet Airways and Air India are among the popular airlines that offer flights to Cochin International Airport from Heathrow. In addition, many domestic low cost carriers offer cheap flights to the city.
