Kerala
Ernakulam
Fort Kochi and the Periyar
The Portuguese came first, then the Dutch, then the British, and all three built here. What is left is a few square kilometres of warehouses, churches and merchants' houses on the headland at Fort Kochi, with the container port working across the water. It is a place to walk, which in India is rarer than it sounds.
Most journeys begin or end at Kochi because the airport is close, which makes it easy to treat as an arrival hall. It is worth two nights of its own.
- When to go
- Any month. December to February is the most comfortable.
- How long to stay
- Two nights.
- Getting there
- Cochin airport to Fort Kochi is 40 km, about an hour and a quarter.
Places to see
In Ernakulam
04 places
01
Fort Kochi
The Chinese fishing nets on the seafront, Portuguese houses with the paint coming off, and coffee in the afternoon while the cargo ships wait offshore.
02
Mattancherry and Jew Town
A walk south of Fort Kochi. The Paradesi synagogue at the end of Jew Street dates from 1568 and is still in use, with Belgian chandeliers and a floor of hand-painted Chinese tiles. The street to it is spice warehouses and antique shops, and the Dutch Palace is at the other end.
03
Kathakali
The classical dance drama of Kerala, performed in Kochi in the evenings. If you have never seen it, see it.
04
Up the Periyar river
Inland, the district follows the Periyar towards the forest, past the site of Muziris, the old port that traded with Rome, to the bird country at Thattekad.
Tell us about your journey
Since 1997
Our team has been in tourism since 1997. Scenic Escapes India Private Limited is a private company registered in Kerala and based in Karunagappally, Kollam. Its registration details are published for anyone to check.
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