Cochin Tourism

Cochin Tourism

An online guide for any traveller planning to visit the Gods own Cosmopolitan - cochin / kochi, Kerala. Experience cochin before even stepping foot there. Enter

cochin-tourism Train Reservations - You can book your Train Tickets from Here : IRCTC

cochin-tourism Flight Booking - You can book your Flight Tickets from Here : Make My Trip

cochin-tourism Cab Booking - You can book tourist Cabs from Here : Kumar Travels

cochin-tourism Tourist Bus Booking - You can book tourist Bus from Here : Princy tours

 

Cochin - Gods own cosmopolitan

Kochi , formerly known as Cochin, is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city is one of the principal seaports of the country and is located in the district of Ernakulam, about 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It has an estimated population of 600,000, with an extended metropolitan population of about 1.5 million, making it the largest urban agglomeration and the second largest city in Kerala after the capital.

Popularly known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin is located in Kerala, on the south west coast of India. Regarded as the industrial capital of Kerala, Cochin is the commercial hub of this thriving state. Traveling to Kochi is a great experience and there are many tourist attractions that can be visited.

Cochin is popularly referred to as the Gateway of South India. It is an important trade center and many countries prefer this place to export and import their materials. In fact, Cochin has been an important link to the rest of the world since ancient times. Cochin has been ruled over by many empires over centuries. Thus, one can find a cultural amalgamation in this place. Despite being ruled by so many different domains, Cochin still maintains its cultural identity and is fiercely proud of it. The Dutch, British and also the Portuguese have ruled Cochin for many years. This resulted in a unique mix and match of traditional as well Western architecture and lifestyle.


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Kochi is a growing centre of information technology, tourism and international trade, Kochi is the commercial hub of Kerala, and one of the fastest growing second-tier metros in India. Like other large cities in the developing world, Kochi continues to struggle with urbanisation problems such as traffic congestion and environmental degradation. Successive waves of migration over the course of several millennia have made Kochi a cultural melting pot. Despite the risk of overdevelopment, the city retains its distinct colonial heritage and a blend of tradition and modernity.

The Infrastructure development of Kochi is happening at an unbelievable pace and within a few years it will be one of the most important cities of India.Various new Infrastructure projects like Smart City, Infra Park, Vallarpadom Terminal, various Bio Tech Parks etc are on the development stages, and after completion these will add new feathers to the already feather studded cap of Kochi.

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Cochin Information contd...

Major Exports of Cochin : Tea, cashew kernels, rubber, spices, coir products, betelnuts, copra, lemongrass oil, coffee, fish and prawns.

Tourist Information centers in Cochin : Government of India Tourist Office, Willingdon Island; KTDC Tourist Reception centers, Shanmugham Road & Ernakulam Junction railway station; Tourist Information Office, Old Collectorate.

Find more details on history, hotels, eateries, shopping, tourist attractions and culture of cochin navigate through our menu. For other queries contact us at neowebarts@gmail.com

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Information about Cochin

Area of Cochin : 87.341 sq. kms. Comprising of mainland Ernakulam; Old Cochin including Mattancherry, Fort Cochin, Palluruthy, and Thoppumpady; Willingdon Island; the suburb of Edappally and the exurbia of Kalamassery, Thrikkakara and Kakkanad to the northeast, and Tripunithura to the southeast.

Population of Cochin : 16.6 lakhs, Greater Cochin (1991 census).

Location of Cochin : Latitude, 957' N; Longitude, 7615' E. The city lies between Tripunithura, the seat of the erstwhile Cochin royalty to its southeast and the Eloor-Kalamassery industrial belt to its north. To the west lies the Arabian Sea.

Time Standard in Cochin : Indian Standard Time +5.30 hours GMT.

Altitude of Cochin : Sea Level.

Language used in Cochin : Malayalam is the official language of the state of Kerala. English is widely used in business circles.

Religions in Cochin: Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Jews, and Sikhs.

Climate of Cochin : Summers are hot, winters mild. The summer temperatures (March to May) vary from a high of 35C to a low of 22.5C, with winter months from December to February having a mean minimum of 20C. Cochin experiences both, the southwest monsoons from June to September and the northeast from October to December. The average annual rainfall is 3099.1 mm, with 132 average annual rainy days.

Seasons in Cochin : The best time to visit is between October and March.

Clothing preferrable in Cochin : The warm tropical climate recommends light cotton clothes. Waterproofing is essential during monsoons.

Water in Cochin : Drink only boiled or bottled water.

Electricity in Cochin : 220 volts. Sockets are of three round-pin variety. You'll require plug adaptors. Voltage stabilizers are essential for electronic equipments of a sensitive nature.

Radio stations in Cochin : Cochin FM 102.3 MHz, Club FM 94.3, Radio Mango

Newspapers in Cochin : Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, and Deshabhimani in Malayalam; the Hindu, the New Indian Express, and the Pioneer in English are the major dailies from Cochin.

Banking Hours in Cochin : (Weekdays) 10 am-3 pm, some banks from 9 am-1 pm; (Sat) 10 am-1 pm. Many banks have extended their working hours upto 3.30 pm, weekdays, and upto 12.30 pm, Saturdays, with a few open 8 to 8. Some banks have evening counters. Banks remain closed on Sundays (with a few exceptions), and specified bank holidays. Internet banking and 24-hour ATM service are also available.

Credit Cards in Cochin : All cards are widely accepted in all major Shops and Malls, if you are planning for small purchases enquire the minimum amount required for accepting credit card.

Accommodation in Cochin : Hotels range from 5 and 4-star properties, fully air-conditioned with all luxury features, to 3-star hotels with air-conditioned rooms, and 2-and 1 star hotels which offer basic amenities. Tourist lodges and hostels provide a convenient and cheap base. Furnished apartments and homestays provide all the facilities and services of luxury hotels, with a homely environment.

Smoking in Cochin : Smoking in public places including on roads, bus stands (and buses), railway stations (and trains), restaurants and specific bars is prohibited by law.

Shopping in Cochin : You have a wide range of good buys to choose from. Among Cochin's best buys are metalware; camel-bone carvings; wood carvings; articles made of coconut shells, bamboo cane, and rattan; embroidered screwpine mats; grass mats; and several other kinds of handicrafts. Cochin also has several good antique dealers. The major shopping centers are M G Road (textiles, jewellery, consumer durables), Convent Road (fashion boutiques), and the Marine Drive including Broadway (readymades, electronics, spices). Jew Town in Mattancherry is famous for its curio shops and spices. Shops open at 10 am and close around 8 pm. Generally all shops remain closed on Sundays. For inbound and outbound passengers, premium brands of liquor, tobacco, and perfumes are available in the duty free shop at the international airport.

Dining in Cochin : Cochin and its suburbs have a wide range to offer, from cheap street-side eateries to gourmet restaurants. In upmarket restaurants it's a good idea to book in advance, particularly on weekends. There's also a booming fastfood and caf life. Bars and restaurants open at 8 am, closing at 11 pm.

Entertainment in Cochin : Cinema houses have daily shows in Malayalam, Hindi, English, and Tamil. Daily Kathakali shows at select cultural centers like Art Kerala (Tel: 91 484 2375238, Timings: 6 PM to 8 PM) and Cochin Cultural Centre (Tel: 91 484 2356366, Timings: 6.30 PM to 7.30 PM), classical dance forms and Carnatic music recitals at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall at Foreshore Road; and a range of art galleries such as the Chitram Art Gallery (Tel: 91 484 2357012) are increasingly popular venues. Disney-style amusement centers, kiddies fun parks, and pool clubs for yuppies are catching on as the in thing. There're also hundreds of places where you could surf the Net, a very popular pastime nowadays. Annual events like the Tourism Week (Dec-Jan) featuring boat races, food festivals, shopping festivals, etc. are all well worth seeing.