Fort Kochi is a delight to wander: Portuguese, Dutch and British buildings, Jew Town’s synagogue and antique shops, and the giant cantilevered fishing nets at sunset.
Highlights
- Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi
- Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue
- Jew Town antique shops
- Kathakali performance
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale (when held)
What to eat
- Kerala fish curry
- Appam and stew
- Karimeen pollichathu
- Banana chips
Where to stay
Fort Kochi for atmosphere; Ernakulam for transport.
Getting there
Cochin International Airport (COK) has flights from the Gulf, Asia and India; it’s about 1 hour to Fort Kochi.
Tips
- Combine with Munnar and Alleppey for a classic Kerala loop.
- Evening Kathakali shows include make-up demonstrations.
- Cochin is also a cruise and e-Visa seaport.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar. See what else is good in October and our best time to visit India guide.
Temples and shrines near Kochi
- Guruvayur Krishna as Guruvayurappan
Places to see in and around Kochi
143 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Kerala backwaters Lake, 17 km
- Vembanad Lake, 17 km
- Cheraman Juma Masjid Mosque, 28 km
- St. Francis Church Church, 1 km
- Santa Cruz Basilica Temple, 1 km
- Muziris Ancient site, 22 km
- Willingdon Island Island, 4 km
- Mattancherry Palace Palace, 2 km
- Fort Emmanuel Fort, 1 km
- Pallipuram Fort Fort, 24 km
- Perumbalam Island, 18 km
- Vypin Island, 16 km
- Aluva Mahadeva Temple Temple, 21 km
- Chottanikkara Temple Temple, 17 km
- Vallarpadam Church Church, 4 km
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Basilica Temple, 5 km
- Vaikom Temple Temple, 28 km
- Central Mahallu Jama'ath Mosque, 38 km
- Hill Palace Museum, 14 km
- Veeranpuzha Lake, 12 km
- Fortaleza da São Tomé Fort, 26 km
- Cherai Beach Beach, 21 km
- Fort Kochi beach Beach, 1 km
- Gundu Island Island, 2 km
And 119 more on our Kerala map.
Food to try in and around Kochi
Kerala favourites to look out for.
- Sadhya
- Appam
- Puttu
- Idiyappam
- Avial
- Thalassery biryani
- Kerala parotta
- Fish curry
- Kadala curry
- Ada pradhaman
- Unnakkai
- Navara Rice GI: rice or grain
The full food passport, state by state.
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Questions from readers
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