Kochi – The Queen of the Arabian Sea

Kochi, formerly Cochin is a major port city on West coast of India. It ranks first in the number of international and domestic visitors to Kerala and has been named as the sixth best tourist destination in India. Due to its prominence as a trading center for Spices, Kochi was well known to Jews, Arabs and Chinese since the 14th century which has contributed to its multi cultural atmosphere. In fact it was earlier thought that fishing nets might have been introduced by the

Chinese explorer Zheng He (although recent research shows that these were introduced by Portuguese Casado settlers from Macau). The best time to visit Kochi is from September to early February when the weather is fine, marked with cool winds and light showers. Temperatures typically range from 30 to 35 degree C during the day time and 24 degrees C during the night. The tourist enclave at Fort Kochi and presence of several historical monuments and museums, as well as natural attractions like the Vembanad lake and the backwaters attract a large number of tourists to the city.

There are many tourist attractions at Kochi such as Bolgatty Island – home to one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, Vallarpadam Island - a major Catholic pilgrim center, Aluva - famous for the Sivarathri festival celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva, Vypin Island – popular for the Cherai beach. Also the month of December is marked by heavy influx of tourists who come to enjoy the Cochin Carnival and Christmas celebrations.

Being a coastal city, Kochi abounds with eateries which specialize in fresh seafood. The city offers variety to suit every palate and to every budget. Those who wish to sample the local cuisine must certainly try Pollichathu (fish in banana leaf) and Roast Crab.

Kochi Hotels have a lot to offer from great natural views and amazing facilities like spa, Kerala Ayurvedic massages as well as great local and international cuisines. Kochi even has guest houses for the budget conscious. The city offers something to suit all budgets. Rooms can fill up quickly from November to mid-February (especially December and January), so plan well and book ahead. Hotels which are more European and American in style can be found in Fort Kochi. Willingdon Island (the largest manmade island in India and home to the Kochi Port) links Kochi with other seaports of the world and hosts some of best Luxury Hotels in Cochin. Ernakulam city caters for all travelers. There are a large number of boutique hotels in Fort Kochi. The city also has home stays (B&B) in Fort Kochi for backpackers and budget travelers. While tariffs for the home stays could range between Rs 350-800, price for staying in premium hotels could vary between Rs 9,000-20,000.

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