Kochi Map
Introduction
Kochi is just about the center of Kerala. It is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas. Kochi is a cluster of islands on the Vembanad backwaters. The commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Kochi has one of the finest natural harbours in the world and has long been referred to as the queen of the Arabian Sea. 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.
| Area | 94.88sq km |
| Altitude | 0 metres above sea level |
| Temperature | Summer-21.0 C-35.0 C Winter-15.0 C-25.0 C |
| Language | English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil |
| STD Code | 0484 |
| Rainfall | 350cm average yearly |
| Best Time to Visit | December to May |
How to get there
- Air :- Cochin/Kochi (Airport Code: COK) has a world-class modern international airport, located 30kms north-east of the city, with regular flights to major cities in India. Cochin is also connected to Singapore, Colombo and all major cities in the middle-east (Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah, Muscat, and Riyadh) by direct international flights.
- Rail:-Ernakulam is a main railhead of the Southern Railway .
- Road:-An extensive network of national/state highways and local roads link Kochi to rest of the country. Three important National Highways(NH) pass through/start from Kochi, apart from many state roads. NH 47 from Kanyakumari to Salem pass right through the heart of Kochi while NH 17 to Mumbai and NH 49 to Madurai (in Tamil Nadu) starts from Kochi.
- Backwaters/Sea:-Kochi has a magnificent all weather natural port that is used regulary by large cargo ships. Regular boat service to places like Kottayam, Kumarakom and Alleppey are available through the scenic backwaters of Kerala.
Places to Visit
| Fort Cochin | Mattancherry Palace | St. Francis Church | Jewish Synagogue |
| Bolghatty Island | Hill Palace Museum |
Excursion
| Cherai Beach | Thripunitra | Thrissur | Guruvayur |
Shopping
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.
Accommodation
| Taj Malabar | Hotel Abad Atrium | Hotel Abad Airport | Best Western Avenue | Hotel Casino |
| Gokulam Park Inn | Hotel Le Meridien | Hotel Presidency | Hotel Renaissance | Hotel Hilton |
| Hotel Abad Plaza | Hotel Abad Fort | Hotel Abad Metro | Mermaid Days Inn | Hotel White Fort |
| Brunton Boatyard | Malabar House Residency |