| Cochin-
District Ernakulam |
|
| Area |
83.52
Sq. km. |
| Altitude |
Sea
level. |
| Temperature |
Summer
Max. 35 Deg.C. Min. 22 Deg.C.
Winter Max. 32 Deg.C.
Min. 20 Deg.C. |
| Rainfall |
254
Cms. (June-Oct.) |
| Season |
October
- March. |
| Area
code |
0484 |
| State |
Kerala |
| GETTING
THERE |
|
| By
Air |
Indian
Airlines connects Cochin with regular flights from Bangalore,
Bombay, Delhi, Goa, Thiruvananthapuram, Madras. Jet Airways
also connect Cochin and Bombay. |
| By
Road |
Bus
services of KSRTC and other companies link the city to
all major centres in the region. The Central Bus Station
is located close to Ernakulam Junction. KSRTC Enquiry
Tel: 372033. |
| By
Rail |
Cochin
is connected to all parts of the country. Cochin
has two stations, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town.
The former is the main terminal, while certain Trivandrum
trains halt at the latter. Enquiries: Town Tel: 353620,
Junction Tel: 132, 131, 133, Terminus Tel: 6050. |
| Local
Transport |
Taxis
are available from the agencies and hotels easily. KTDC
operates sightseeing tours in the city including boat
and coach tours. Autorickshaws and private buses are also
available. Details about the coach tour can be had from
KTDC Tel: 353234, 362799. |
| ACCOMMODATION |
Bolghatty
Palace Hotel (KTDC),
Hotel Malabar, Willingdon Island,
Hotel Casino, Willingdon Island,
Quality Inn Presidency, Ernakulam
The Avenue Regent, 39/1796ABC, M.G. Road.
Taj Residency, Marine Drive, Ernakulam. |
| SHOPPING |
The
Kerala State Handicrafts Development Corporation's showroom
Kairali and State Handicrafts Society's emporium Saurabhi,
are situated at Palimukku, M.G. Road. Khadi Gramodyog
Bhavan, a showroom of khadi village industries, is also
situated here.
Bombay Handloom House showroom is located at the north
end of' M.G. Road. Showrooms of' the various states are
located Opposite Maharaja's College Ground, M.G. Road. |
| Coach
Tours |
Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary ,a two-day trip, every Saturday. The
tour starts at 7.30 am and returns at 8 pm on Sunday.
Price : Rs. 250. Accommodation will be provided at KTDC
hotels on request. Boat rides also available.
Boat
Cruise cum Sightseeing Tour (Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue,
St.Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets and Bolghatty
Island) Timings 0900 hrs to 1230 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1730
hrs. Fare Rs. 50/-.
Sunset
Tour (Boat cruise) Timings 1730 hrs to 1900 hrs daily
Fare Rs. 30/-.
Athirapally-Vazhachal Tours: This is a day's tour on Sunday.
It starts at 8am and returns at 6 pm. It covers the Athirampally
and Vazhachal waterfalls. The fare is Rs. 100 per head.
The
District Tourism Promotion Council, Ernakulam, arranges
a day's trip on Sunday to Bhoothathankettu. The fare includes
food. The office of the Council is situated at the Old
Collectorate Building.
The
Department of Tourism conducts backwater cruises in their
luxury boats Mainakom and Sagara Rani. The reservation
authority is the Deputy Director, Tourism, Govt. Guest
House Tel: 360502, 360257.
Mermaid
Boat Club, Vytilla hires boats for a cruise through the
backwaters and provides watersports facilities. Reservations
at Silver Sand Island, Satgamaya, M.G. Road. |
| Post
and Telegraph |
Central
Telegraph Office, Jose Junction, M.G. Road Tel: 355601.
General Head Post Office, Hospital Road, Tel: 355467. |
| SIGHTSEEING |
|
| The
Jewish Synangogue |
Constructed
in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the British Commonwealth.
The original building was destroyed by shelling during
the Portuguese raid in 1662 and was rebuilt two years
later when the Dutch took over Cochin. It's an interesting
little place with hand-painted, willow-patterned floor
tiles brought from Canton in China in the mid-18th century
by one Ezekial Rahabi. He was also responsible for the
Clock tower which tops the building.
The
original synagogue built at Kochangadi in 1344 has since
disappeared, although a stone slab from this building,
inscribed in Hebrew, can be found on the inner surface
of the wall which surrounds the Matencherry synagogue.
Timings : 1000-1200 hrs, 1500-1700 hrs. Closed on Saturdays
and Jewish holidays. |
| The
Jewish Synanagogue-Jewtown |
The
first Jewish settlement was at Cranganore (Kodungullur),
north of Cochin. Like the Syrian Orthodox Christians,
the Jews became involved in the trade and commerce of
the Malabar coast. The area around the synagogue is known
as Jewtown and is one of the centers of the Cochin Spice
trade. Many jewish names are visible on the business
premises and houses, but the community has diminished
rapidly since 1947 and the creation of Israel. |
| Bolgatty
Island |
This
is a beautiful island lying close to Ernakulam. The Bolgatty
Palace was built by the Dutch in 1774 and was former residence
of the British Resident of Kochi. Today it is hotel run
by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation with small golf
course and special honeymoon cottages. The island is connected
by frequent ferry service with mainland Ernakulam. Boats
to the island start from the High Court jetty; country
boats (Machuvas) can also be hired near the jetty and
charge Rs. 5. |
| EXCURSIONS |
|
| Ambalamugal |
A
fresh water lake, it has become an abode of migrant birds.
There is a Guest House. |
| Chinese
Fishing Nets |
At
the entrance of Kochi Harbour, these nets were erected
between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from court of Kulbai
Khan and were built of teak wood and bamboo poles.
They can be seen all along the backwaters of Kerala. |
| Cherai
Beach |
On
Vypeen island, 18 km from Vypeen, it is a very beautiful
and calm beach. Dolphins are ocassionally seen here. |
| Chottanikara
Bhavathy Temple |
It
is an important pilgrim centre. The Navarathri festival
is celebrated here during October and many prominent classical
performances held. |
| Dutch
Cemetry |
It
is at a short distance from St. Francis Church near the
entrance to the beach. The cemetry was consecrated in
1724 and is today managed by Church of South India. |
| Dutch
Palace |
Built
by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Cochin
in 1555, it was renovated by the Dutch during their short
lived regime here. |
| Fort
Cochin |
It
is 12 km from Ernakulam and there are frequent buses and
ferry services from here. |
| Gundu
Island |
The
smallest island around Kochi, Gundu Island has a coir
factory where coir is made into rope manually and carpets
are manufactured by looms operated by hand. This island
can be reached from Vypeen only by boat. |
| Hill
Palace Museum |
On
the Ernakulam-Chot-tanikkara route, the largest archaeological
museum of Kerala. Sculpture, rare coins, old weapons,
manuscripts, and memorabilia from the Kochi royal family
are exhibited here. There are frequent private buses from
Ernakulam. Timings:0900 hrs to 1700 hrs. Closed on Monday. |
| Kaladi |
The
birth place of Shankaracharya, the great 8th century philosopher,
is situated on the banks of river Periyar and there are
two shrines dedicated to his memory. The nearest airport
is Kochi, 48 km from Kalady, and the nearest railway stations
are Angamaly (10km) and Always (23 km). |
| KanjiramattomMosque |
It
is believed that the mosque was erected over the mortal
remains of Sheikh Parid. It was here that the great Muslim
saint, Bavar is supposed to have prayed and attained eternal
bliss. The Kodikuthtt festival which falls in December-January
attracts thousands of devotees. The mosque is situated
at Kanjiramattom, 30 km from Cochin. |
| Koonan
Kurishu Shrine |
This
small chapel in which the Koonal Cross stands is situated
in the heart of the busy commercial centre of Mattancherry. |
| Museum
Of Kerala History |
Located
at Edappally, 10 km from Ernakulam city, it is the only
one of its kind in Kerala. The history of Kerala is exhibited
and narrated with the help of light and sound There are
frequent private buses passing through Edappally (Pathadipalam
bus stop) where the museum is located. Timings : 1000
hrs to 1700 hrs. Closed on Monday. Entry Fee Rs. 5/-.
. |
| Pallipuram
Fort |
Built
by the Portuguese in 1503, it is one of the oldest existing
European monuments in India. The Dutch captured the fort
in 1661 and sold it to the state of Travancore in 1789.
From Vypeen there are frequent buses to Pallipuram; Vypeen
is connected by ferry with Fort Kochi and Ernakulam. |
| Santa
Cruz Basilica |
This
Roman Catholic church was built by Portuguese and elevated
to Cathderal by Pope Paul IV in 1558. Bishop Dom Gomez
Ferreira commissioned a new building at same site
in 1887. The curch was proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by
Pope John Paul II. |
| Shiva
Temple |
It
is situated in the centre of the Ernakulam city, close
to the Kochi Cultural Centre, very near the Durbar Hall
Ground. The annual festival in the temple is conducted
for eight days during the month of January. A cultural
festival is also held with a variety of music, concerts,
Kathakali etc. as part of the celebrations. |
| St.
Francis Church |
The
oldest church constructed by the Europeans in India, this
Protestant church was originally built by the Portuguese
in 1503. Vasco da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here. |
| Willingdon
Island |
This
is a man made island created from the materials dredged
up while deepening Kochi Port. There are frequent ferry
and bus services from Ernakulam. The harbour, airport
and railway terminus are located on this island. |
| TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTRES |
Govt.
of India Tourist Office, Willingdon Island,
Tel: 668352.
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, Tel: 353234, 362799.
Information Counter, Old Collectorate Building; and at
Hotel Woodlands. |
