Kochi – the ancient spice trade hub and ancient port is my favorite among all the cities in India . It is situated 199 km from the kerala capital tiruvananthapuram . Kochi is devided into two parts one fort kochi which was the fort of the colonial power and rest of the Ancient port in Kochi . There is high density of Chriastians in Kochi . For that reason there is the head church of catholic christinity in India . Rather than christinity there were jews, parsi , jains community lives here as minority . Your kochi travel is incomplete without seeing the chines fishing nets in the fort kochi and the sea of solar panels in the Kochi Airport . Kochi is the first international airport fully functional by the solar energy .
My experience as a traveler in Kochi :
Kochi is my favorite city in India . Just after coming in this place you can observe lots of difference from the rest of India . I come to this city by train and when I visited the washroom I was totally astonished as it was super clean . We know , how the toilets are in indian railway station but it was like the toilets of malls not in terms of luxury but in terms of cleanliness . Normal middle class who travels in bus and train , they want cleanliness not luxuary as our homes are not luxuary but simple and clean . This was my first shock in Kochi .
The next story is associated with the metro rail . When we de board the metro and goes toward the automatic ticket checking machine . Everybody want to go out first and on that process some people shoving each other . But here people are such a disciplined that they wait 5 minutes in the queue and go out . It is very astonishing as well as pleasing to travel in Kochi.
People are warm , welcoming and friendly in this city . As the other cities of kerala there is presence of some nature also . Specially the fort kochi area is wonderful. Here you can amazed by the fish catchinig technique of chines net . They will allow you to feel the process by pulling the rope with them . You will be amazed that this fisherman can communicate with you in clear english . In exchange they will expect some small tips only .
kochi sightseeing :
The Malankara orthodox Syrian Church :
The Malankara orthodox Syrian Church is a church belived to be build by saint Thomas in the year 52 AD . It is believed that he arrived in kerala by the way of sea and build seven churches in the coast of kerala . This is one among them .
The believe used to contradict that vasco – da – gama was the first man who come from europe to india by the sea route .
Hill Palace Museum :
The name of the museum suggested that it was a palace of former ruler of Kochi build in 1865 . Now it is a archeological museum and showcase for the royal family .
You can see lots of portraits of the formal ruler , paintings , murals , artifacts , different weapons and many more of the former ruler .
Entry fees of this museum is 30 INR per adult .
Kerala Folkllore Museum :
This museum is famous for the ethenic art collection . The building was totally made of wood and there are all together 6000 artifacts in this museum .
In this museum you can see the oldest bible of the world . There is different models showing traditional dances of Kerala like Mohiniattam and theyyam . you can see lots of sculpture of different ages from Kerala .
Kerala Museum :
It is one of the oldest Historical Museum in Kerala . In this museum there gallery doll museum , kerala art and kerala History .
in the museum of Kerala history there is life story of 87 people who shaped the history of Kerala .
Ernakulam Shiva Temple :
This is one of the famous shiva temple in the city of Kochin which was build by the kochi maharajas at that time .
This temple was one of the famous temple controlled by the royal family
St George Forane church :
St George forane church is the oldest in india (build in 593 AD) and biggest in India . This is one of the popular church in India and 5 million people visited this church every year .
People come this church as a pilgrimage and though the water of the well inside the church has a healing power . Lots of people donate chicken , egg and Gold in this church .
Lulu International Shopping Mall :
Lulu mall is the biggest shopping mall in India . It was opened in the year 2013 and since then it is one of the major shopping and recreational destination of the kochin city .
The property is owned by the Abu Dhabi based Lulu Group of companies . On this property there was almost 300 shops .
Cochin international Airport:
I would say , if you are not traveling with airlines , still you should visited the Cochin International Airport . It is world’s first airport which is fully functional with the solar power . When you are driving towards the international terminal , on both the side of the road you can see lots of soar panel producing 15 MW of electricity . In the photo you can see cars are parked under the solar panel . The airport has 46150 solar panels spreading across 18 acres of Land . This airport receives highest honorary award from UN in terms of environment impact .
Not only this airport is famous for it’s achivement . It is the fourth busiest airport of india , in terms of international passengers and also one of the busiest airport in india which having all togeather 4 terminal .
Foods to try in Kochi :
Kochi food or Kerala food have some unique style of cooking in the coconut oil . Coconut oil is belief to be one of the healthiest oil for cooking . Kerala layered Parota is made of this oil and this used to be very soft and yummy .
Puttu , appam , idiyappam , spicy chicken fry , banana chips , karala chips , coconut toddy are some of the unique drink made in kerala where coconut water is fermented . If you go to the fort kochi near to the bay where chines nets were fitted . Here you buy a fish and and tell them to cook . They will cook in the spot and served you .
Kerala thali are served with lots of items and they served hot water with some herbal with it . In all kerela this types of treatment water is served with the food .
Spice Market in Kochi :
Cochin or Kochi is famous for spices for years . From long time Europeans and Arabs comes here for the best spices in cochin . Spices shops are spread all around the city where you can get ginger , clove , turmeric , cinnamon , cardamon , black paper , saffron , black salt , nutmeg and many more . Most of the spices were grown in the tropical high rain weather or imported from some other places . Royal spice market , organic spice market and village spice market are some of the famous spice market inside kochi .
Summary :
Cochin is one of the greenest city in the state of kerala . It is famous for some of the finest churches in India . This churches are also the oldest in India . This city is filled with immigrants from jews , syrian , parsi , jain , chines community . Fort kochi is the most popular touristy destination in Kerala and fishing by the chines net is really impressive . Lots of museum and theater showcasing dance performances in the theater showcasing the Kerala culture . You must go to the Cochin international airport which is a fully solar airport .
