An all time tourist favorite, Kochi is the commercial capital of Kerala. It has to offer palaces, forts, beaches, backwaters, old churches, snakes boat races, Kathakali, museums and the convenience of the big city.

Kochi is just about the center of Kerala. It is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas. Ernakulam is the commercial center and forms the mainland. The two main railway stations and the bus stands are located here. Fort Kochi & Mattachery, form an elongated island west of Ernakulam. Willingdon island which houses the Airport, Port & Naval base lies between Ernakulam & FortKochi. Jos junction in Ernakulam is considered as the nerve center of the city.

Fort Cochin
Fort Cochin is home to a unique community of Eurasians, commonly known as "Anglo-Indians", who have developed a distinct and lively culture. The architecture of the quiet streets in this enclave is very definitely European, with fine houses built by wealthy British traders, and Dutch cottages with split farmhouse doors.

Matancherry Palace
Locally known as the Dutch Palace, the two storey building was actually erected by the Portuguese, as a gift to the Cochin Raja. The murals that adorn some of its rooms are among the finest examples of Kerala's much underrated school of painting, freizes illustrating stories from the Ramayana, on the first floor, date from the sixteenth century.

St. Francis Church
It is the first church to have been built in the new European influenced style and tradition. St. Francis Church, allegedly India's oldest church constructed in 1503 by Portuguese and the original wooden structure was rebuilt in stone around the mid-16th century.

Hill Palace Museum
13 kms. from Cochin, this museum displays the erstwhile wealth and prosperity of the royal family of Cochin, including the king's throne and crown. Also on display are other trapping of royalty like majestic beds, paintings , carving and samples of epigraphy.

The items are of immense beauty for the simple reason that Keralities are gifted artisans. Among Kochi's best buy are metal-ware, camel-bone carvings, wood carvings, articles made of coconut shell, bamboo, cane, embroidered screwpine mats; grass mats; and several other types of handicrafts. Kochi also has several antique dealers, jewellery stores, readymade garments and ethnic hand-woven textiles worth adding to your shopping basket. The major shopping centres are on M.G. Road which cuts across the heart of the city, and the Marine Drive including Broadway.

Shops open at 10 a.m. and close around 8 p.m. Generally all shops remain close on Sundays.
▪ Shopping Centres
The Kerala State Handicrafts Development Corporation's showroom Kairali and State Handicrsfts Society's emporium Saurabhi, are situated opposite each other at Palimukku, M.G Road. Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, a showroom of Khadi village industries, is also situated here. The showroom of the Bombay Handloom House is located at the north end of M.G. Road and the showrooms of the various states are located opposite Maharaja's College Ground, M.G. Road.

BOOK SHOPS:

1. D.C.Books, Kurian Towers, Banerji Road, Ernakulam. Kochi - 682 018 Tel.
2. Current Books, Press club Road, Kochi - 682 011
3. Higginbothems, Iyyattil Jn. Chittor Road
 

Air : Cochin Airport is linked by direct services of Indian airlines and East-West Airlines to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, Bangalore and Trivandrum.

Road : Cochin is well connected to several important destinations. Bus services-both government and private-are available to Alleppey, Quilon, Trivandrum, Thekkady, Munnar, Palaghat, Calicut, Bangalore.

Rail : Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town Station are connected to most important cities.

Being situated very close to the sea, Cochin has a moderate climate. Heavy showers are experienced during the months of June, July and August due to the south-west monsoon. The north-east monsoon brings light rainfall during the months of September to December. December to February is pretty cool.