TravelEscapades
BY MOUNTAIN TRAIL HOLIDAYS PVT LTD
Fort Kochi-Queen of the Arabian Sea
South India
A charming seaside township, just 12 Kms from Ernakulam, with a rich historical lineage. Fort Kochi, the first European township of Kerala, is popular amongst travelers to Southern India for its Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial architecture and the still functioning bamboo fishing nets also known as the Chinese Fishing Nets, mounted on the Fort Kochi Water Front. The first landing port and the burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Replete with upscale eateries, chic cafes serving both international and local Kerala cuisine and quaint shops selling cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs and a neighborhood full of colonial-era homes. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries. Visit Historical Churches and shop for local spices, clothes, dry fruits, souveniers at the Mattancherry Market. Fort Kochi is truly a walk down the colonial past of India.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Enjoy a guided Heritage Walk at Fort Kochi visiting colonial houses, dated buildings, historical churches, the water front with it’s Chinese fishing nets and the fish market. Take a tuk tuk ride to the Mattancherry and Jew Town. Enjoy the narrow but charming streets filled with shops selling spices, handicrafts, souveniers, local eats and more. Visit the Mattancherry palace also known as the Dutch Palace. At Jew Town experience the 16th-century Paradesi Synagogue. Enjoy Kalaripayattu the ancient Kerala martial art and the Kathakali shows. Visit the Jain Temple at Mattancherry. Visit the St. Francis Church, built in 1503 and the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, also built in the 1500s. Enjoy a sunset cruise. Explore the Princess street with its artsy eateries, art galleries, boutique shops, colonial buildings and more.
ITINERARY DETAILS
Day 1- Stay at Fort Kochi. Meal included - Dinner
Arrival at Kochi International Airport and transfer to a boutique / heritage hotel at Fort Kochi. Day to relax and explore the neighbourhood on foot. Walk around the Princess street, one of the oldest streets of the town, with its artsy eateries / cafes, art galleries, boutique shops, colonial buildings and more.
Day2 – Stay at Fort Kochi. Meal included - Breakfast & Dinner
Post breakfast we take you for a guided walking tour. This is a 2Hrs walk which starts with the guide introducing you to Fort Kochi’s history and then walking you around the fish market at the water front where you also see the Chinese fishing nets and some street shops followed by the Dutch cemetery, St Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica. Feel free to ask questions as the guide will be happy to oblige. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day3- Stay at Fort Kochi – Meal included – Breakfast and Dinner
After breakfast you have a guided tour of the Jew town Street, famous for antique shops and old Jew houses, the spice street, the Jews Synagogue, the Mattancherry palace also known as the Dutch Palace. Return back to hotel for lunch and there’s time for some relaxation before we leave for a sunset cruise on the Arabian waters at about 5pm. Back to hotel after the cruise, just post sunset.
Day4- Stay at Fort Kochi – Meal included – Breakfast and Dinner
The first half is relaxed. You may like to walk around the colonial streets of Fort Kochi. Post lunch we take you to the Jain Temple and after that to enjoy Kalaripayattu – The Kerala Martial Arts and the Kathakali dance shows. Return to hotel around sunset. Evening at leisure.
Day5- Post breakfast departure for onward journey. Fort Kochi tour ends.
Weather: Winters stretch from November to February with a temperature range of 20 – 32 Deg C. Summers start in March and go up till June with a high of 33 DegC. Monsoons which are quite heavy come in July and stay until September.
Closest Airport: Kochi international airport (42Kms)
Railway Station: Nearest Ernakulam South which is approx. 12 Kms away but you can also use the Ernakulam Town station which is 16 Kms away.
Best time to visit: November to February
Language: Malayalam and basic English as the literacy rate is very high and it’s a tourism destination.
Population: Although Kochi city has a population of approx.. 3 million but the For Kochi area is not very densely populated.
Altitude: Sea level