subject: Breathtakingly Beautiful Vibrant City Kochi [print this page] Formerly known as Cochin, is a vibrant city of Kerala which is situated on the south-west coast of Indian peninsula in a breathtakingly beautiful and prosperous state of Kerala. It is also referred as Gateway to Kerala is one of historically rich places in India as the city has been under the rule of, multitudinous dynasties like Arabs, British, Dutch, and Chinese and Portuguese who has left indelible marks on the history and development of city. Over the years Cochin has emerged as a commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and has been ranked sixth best tourist destination in India according to a survey conducted by Outlook Traveller Magazine. So plan a trip to most beautiful cities of Gods own country and book cheap flights to Kochi to get the glimpses of its beauty.
Although Kochi itself is small towns but know the area has expanded vastly and today it resembles a large metropolis that includes Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Ernakulum and many others nearby towns and villages. Popularly known as Queen of Arabia Cochin is growing as a center of Information technology, tourism and international trade. Successive waves of migration over the course of several millennia have made Kochi a cultural melting pot that retains its distinct colonial heritage and represents a blend of traditions and modernity. It is decked with various tourist spots, pilgrimage sites and wildlife sanctuaries that make it a great tourist hub. Some of the must see attractions of Kochi include:-
Guruvayoor:- Dedicated to Lord Krishna , Guruvayoor Temple of Cochin is among major pilgrimage sites of Kerala attracting close to ten million pilgrims every year. This is regarded as a first Hindu temple to open gates to all Hindus, irrespective of their caste. Only Hindus are permitted to enter the temple.
Cherai Beach:- Cherai Beach is one of the best naturally gifted beaches of Kerala which is situated at a distance of 35 km from Cochin is a must visit destination.This 10 km long beach is also referred as Princesses of Arabia is becoming hot favorite among visitors with each passing day. Guests here can indulge in various fun filled recreational activities like swimming, boat rides, dolphin watching etc. The beach is also quite famous for its delicious sea food watered down with the country liquor called toddy.
Mattancherry Synagogue:- The synagogue in Mattancherry was built by Yehudan community in 1568 on a piece of land gifted to them by the Raja of Kochi is the oldest in commonwealth . This is also called as the Pardeshi Synagogue which is still in use. The area around the synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops. The Synagogue can be visited from Sunday to Thursday as Friday -Saturday is Sabbath days and the Synagogue remains closed on these days.
St. Francis Church:- Fort Cochin or Fort Kochi is the oldest European settlements in India and St. Francis Church is one of the first European Church that was built in India is a landmark building of Cochin which was founded by Portuguese. The edifice is built on the site where the body of late explorer Vasco De Gama was originally buried is a must see on Cochin visits.
Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica:- It is not only the oldest churches in Cochin but also in whole India. It is one of the eight Basilicas in the country is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located at K B Jacob Road in Fort Koch I is one of the finest and impressive churches of Kerala.
So to visit all these sites that represent rich cultural heritage of city and its great traditions just book cheap flights to Kochi from London and visit them. Since Kochi is situated on the coast and there is no dramatic seasonal change. But the best time to visit it is during winters between the months of October to March when the weather is cool and conducive for enjoying sightseeing of city.
