Explore the best tourist places near Kochi ( Cochin ). Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Mangalavanam, Kodanad, Malayattoor,Cherai, Kuzhuppilly Beach, Puthuvype Beach, Thattekad, Bhoothathankettu
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is one of the most beautiful places in Ernakulam. Being the platform for Muziris Biennale has increased the glamour of Fort Kochi. The beauty of Fort Kochi, with Chinese fishing nets, French street and beach, is something that stands apart. St. Francis Church which holds the remains of Vasco da Gama, Dutch cemetery that is near to the seashore, Portuguese built Santa Cruz Basilica which has a history of five centuries to tell, Bastion Bungalow facing the sea, Indo-Portuguese Museum in the Cochin diocese headquarters – the sights in this heritage land is limitless. There are more heritage buildings here that provides an amazing visual treat for the tourists.
How to reach Fort Kochi – If you travel 13 kilometers by road from the city of Cochin, you will reach Fort Kochi. After Thevara, pass through Venduruthy Bridge, Willingdon Island and reach Mattancherry BOT Bridge. From there turn right and you will reach Thoppumpady. You can reach Fort Kochi and Mattancherry easily from here.
You can also reach Fort Kochi via Vypin crossing the Goshree bridges from Ernakulam city. There are jankar services and ferry services from Vypin to Fort Kochi.
Mattancherry
You should not leave Cochin without visiting Mattancherry. The Jewish synagogue will whisper the great heritage of our land in your ears. The Jewish community who lives here still hold close to their heart thegreat foreign heritage. Along with them, Mattancherry is a place where twenty different races of people live harmoniously.
The Paradesi Synagogue that is situated in one end of the Jew Street has a history of about four centuries to tell. You can go on a shopping spree at the handicraft shops in the Jew Street. The Mattancherry Palace which is situated nearby is one of the best museums of the Archaeological department of India. The palace was built by Portuguese in 1555. The Synagogue is closed during Friday and Saturday. It allows visitors on other days from 10 -12 in the morning and from 3-5 in the afternoon. Friday is a holiday for Mattancherry Palace. On other days visitors are allowed from 10 -5. There are places to buy a lot of curios in Mattancherry. There are also places here to relish delicious food.
Mangalavanam
It is a small bird sanctuary situated behind the High Court in the center of the Ernakulam city. There are hundreds of birds in the mangrove forests situated here. We can describe this place as the rare gift of nature. To make arrangements for the tourists, there is an office of the Forest department. We can arrange small meetings and conventions here.
Kodanad
A journey on the top of an elephant, Watching and enjoying the bathing of Elephant – Kodanad gifts you with surprises like this. If you are an ardent elephant lover then this is the place to see and enjoy the naughtiness of elephants. The Elephant training centre of the Forest department is situated here. Now there are about eight elephants here. You can spend the day enjoying the sights of the small zoo near the elephant training center. You can see the bathing of elephants from 8 to 9 in the morning. You can take an elephant ride from 8.30 to 11.30 in the morning.
How to reach there: Kodanad is situated at a distance of 40 kilometer from Cochin City. It is situated in Perumbavoor – Kalady route, 8 km off Vallam junction. The distance from Perumbavoor to Kodanad is 11km. There are private and government bus services to Kodanad. Visitors are allowed in the elephant training center only till 5 in the evening.
Malayattoor
Malayattoor Church and hill are the favorite pilgrim centres. It is situated at a distance of 47 km from the city. On the valley of the hill in Manappattu chira, arrangements for boating are done often. The nearby Illithode and Mahaganithottam are places of tourist importance. A helicopter ride is provided during the holiday season to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the Western Ghats and Malayattoor.
Cherai
The sea tempts everyone. Like the sea, Cherai also tempts you. We can enjoy the festival of sea here. The beauty of the sea on one side and the charm of the backwaters on the other side. Traditional Kerala delicacies from nearby shops add flavor to the festival of sea here. Cherai is the most favorite beach of Ernakulam district. You can fly kites here. If you are lucky, you can see dolphins here. Puthuvype, Munambam beaches are situated near the Cherai beach. The distance from Marine Drive to Cherai is exactly 25 kilometers. The distance from Paravur to Cherai beach is 6km. There are bus services from Ernakulam and Paravur to Cherai beach. We can reach Cherai also by jankar service from Azhikode.
Kuzhuppilly Beach
It is situated near to Cherai beach. It is abeautiful beach. The road to the beach and the nearby places are extremely beautiful. It is situated to the south of Cherai beach. Cross the Goshree Bridge to the Vypin Munambam road. After Veliyathamparambu turn left you will pass through some beautiful roads and reach Vypin coastal road. The road is parallel to the seashore. You can reach Kuzhuppilly beach through this road.
Munambam Muziris beach is older than Cherai beach. There is a mesmerizing walk way in this beach. There are places to spend your lazy holiday here. During holidays, this beach iscrowded.
Puthuvype Beach
It is situated in southernmost part of the Vypin Island. This beach is lively during evenings. Cross the Goshree bridges and turn left and walk a little forward. You will see the Puthuvype light house road. After passing through the Puthuvype light house, you will reach the Puthuvype beach. This is the perfect place to spend your holidays with your family.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Welcome to Thattekad if you wish to embrace nature and birds. Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary is one of the places where you can come up close and personal with the environment. Thattekad is one of the greatest attractions of Kochi. Malayattoor Reserve forest is situated on one side of Thattekad. The border of Kuttampuzha village is on the eastern side of Thattekad. The blend of Periyar and Idamalayar adds to the charm of this area. Visitors are allowed in the Thattekad bird sanctuary from morning till 5 in the evening. Entry fee is Rs.10 for natives and Rs.100 for foreigners. Homestay outside the bird sanctuary are apt to spend your night, if you wish to stay here.
Bhoothathankettu
If you love to spend the day enjoying the beauty of the forest and listening to the music of Periyar, then you are welcome to Bhoothathankettu. The mesmerizing view from the dam and the rocks that are spread in the Periyar – there are a lot of sights to see here. We will feel the ambience of an island here. There are many water birds here. We can go for a boating in Bhoothathankettu dam for about 10 kilometers. District Tourism Promotion Council has started an information centre here.
How to reach there : Reach Kothamangalam from Ernakulam. Bhoothathankettu is at a distance of ten kilometer from here. Board on the bus to Vadaattupara – Idamalayar Dam and alight at Bhoothathankettu junction.
Tripunithura Hill Palace
Hill Palace, Tripunithura is an archaeological museum and palace located in the Tripunithura neighborhood of Kochi city in the Indian state of Kerala. We can see visuals of a forgotten royal rule here. Hill Palace museum is situated at a distance of 12 kilometer from the city of Kochi. There is a small park near the museum. The towering statue of dinosaur in the park is attractive.
Marine Drive
We can spend the whole day lazily sitting here enjoying the swaying breeze that gently touches us. Walk way and Rainbow bridge will make a room in our heart. Boating and shopping from the near Broadway willmake our day happy. Passing through the marine drive walkway if we reach the boat jetty we can reach Willingdon Island, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi by boat.
Historical Museum Edappally
It is situated on the way to Aluva in Edappally junction. The Kerala History museum is owned by the Madhavan Nair foundation. Historical memorials and paintings are there in the museum. There is also a beautiful doll museum near to it.
