Kerala is popular for its breath-taking and unspoiled natural beauty. Kochi which is famous as ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ is situated on the South West Coast facing the Arabian Sea. Spread over a series of islands and interweaved by the sea and backwaters, Kochi has become one of the best places to visit in Kerala. The various cultural and historical experiences of beautiful places of Kochi would surely make your trip memorable.
There are many unique and interesting places in Kochi, a single city with so many options to visit on a vacation. The tourists are amused with the backwaters from beaches to hill stations of Kochi. The seaport city is blessed with countless tourists places to visit related to history, nature, luxury, or adventure. Kerala tourism mostly starts with a Kochi trip and the best time to visit Kochi is from September to March.
Let us explore the top places to visit in Kochi:
- Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is one of the must place to visit in Kochi. The Chinese fishing nets can be found only in Fort Kochi, credit goes to the traders from the court of Chinese emperor Kubla Khan. Presently, there are 11 Chinese fishing nets at the Fort Kochi shoreline. Tourists can also enjoy walking along Fort Kochi Beach which has Chinese fishing nets; this beach is also famous for the Kochi carnival, conducted every New Year’s eve.
Also check out: Travel Char Dham!
- Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
The sanctuary is also known as the ‘Green Lung of Kochi’, located in the Mangrove forests, is one of the best places to visit in Kochi.
Also check out: 12 most sacred Jyotirlingas in India
- Mattancherry
Mattancherry is one of the liveliest tourist places to visit in Kochi. An extensive combination of food, spices, handicrafts, and culture can be found here. In Mattancherry, a tourist spot, the Dutch Palace is one of the finest attractions in Kochi showing the Kerala style of architecture combined with colonial influences. Few more tourist attractions of Mattancherry are Jew Town, Mattancherry Palace Museum which hosts different weapons, Mattacherry Pazhayannur Royal temple, and Palliarakkavvu temple, Ram Mandir, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin temples, etc
Also check out: Top places to visit in Kerala
- Bolghatty & Vypeen Islands
Bolghatty Island is a popular place to visit in Kochi, a short boat ride away from mainland Kochi. It has Bolghatty Palace which is one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland but it is now converted into a hotel with many attractions. Vypeen Island is known for its long sandy beaches and is one of the best tourist places in Kochi for local ferry tours.
- Lulu Shopping Mall, Edappally
Kochi also has India’s largest shopping mall in Edappally – Lulu Shopping Mall owned and operated by EMKE Group. Lulu Mall is a fully air-conditioned place with 300+ food outlets, stores and restaurants. You can find both international brands as well as local specialities in this complex and to your surprise; there is also a premium five-star, 20-storey, 300 room hotel managed by JW Marriott Hotels, adjacent to the mall on the same campus.
- Cherai & Vypeen beach
Cherai beach is a fantastic combination of both backwaters and the sea. Cherai Beach is one of the must-visit Kochi tourist places. Cherai beach is very shallow and calm, also known as Princess of Arabian Sea and it is perfect for swimming & sunbathing.
Vypeen Island is another popular island in Kochi. It is also famous for Pallipuram Fort which is the oldest surviving fort in India built by European settlers, constructed in 1503.
- Kodanand Elephant Training Centre
Kodanad Elephant Training Centre is a riverside village located near Periyar river is another must place to visit in Kochi. Watching elephants at a close distance is a wonderful experience, kids enjoy the most. Kodanad is currently an Elephant rescue centre for captured Elephants from the forests in the nearby mountains.
- Andhakaranazhi Beach
Andhakaranazhi is still an untouched, quiet & lovely beach, located at a distance of 30 km from Kochi towards Alleppey located near Ezhupunna. Many fishing boats from the neighbouring fishing villages come on this beach & fishing is the main activity of the village people here. It is one of the serene places to visit in Kochi that is a must-visit.
- Marine Drive
Marine Drive is not a driveway for vehicles, but a picturesque walkway in Ernakulam which has the rainbow bridge. The unique beauty of this place makes it one of the best places to visit in Kochi. Private Boat operators offer hourly cruises starting from Marine Drive that goes through Cochin Harbour, Bolgatty and other places around. The GCDA Shopping Complex near Marine drive is the first mall in Kochi.
- Hill Palace Museum
The residence of a past Maharaja of Kochi was converted to a Museum in 1986, known as Hill Palace Museum now. The museum displays crowns and ornaments of the old Kochi royal family, paintings, sculptures in stone and marble, weapons, inscriptions, coins, etc. It also has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, and a deer park.
The weapon gallery & horse cart gallery are just amazing. The largest archaeological museum of Kerala and the official residence of Kochi Maharaja make this place one of the best tourist places to visit in Kochi.
- Museum of Kerala history, Edappally
The Museum of Kerala history is a quiet building surrounded by huge trees and gives you glimpses of the glorious history and rich cultural heritage of Kerala. A big statue of Parasurama is placed at the entry, the sage who is believed to have created Kerala. This is a monument to the history of Kerala and is one of the best tourist places to visit in Kochi.
There are many more places to visit in Kochi to appreciate and experience the natural beauty of Kerala in abundance.
Also check out: Interview with a digital entrepreneur: Mr Ramakrishna Chiniarlapalla and Interview with CEO of Digital Vaidya.