All You Need Is 12 Hours To Make The Most Of Cochin And Fort Kochi

Start the day early and take a morning walk in Fort Kochi and experience the hustle-bustle of local life. You will see local butchers at work, hens being tended to, and old couples sitting on their porches reading the day’s news. Dotted with old European architecture, Fort Kochi exhibits its colonial charm and eases you into the medieval comforts of South India. Stroll through the colourful flower-lined lanes along the parade ground or pop in to join a quick game of cricket. You will feel like you are in Sussex until the tropical weather gives it away. Take a break at Fort House Restaurant and breakfast on some seafood with a view of the blue sea.

Continue your walk until you see the coastline where the Chinese fishing nets are being cast out into the sea. Used for over 500 years, these nets are something that the fisher folk love to tell you stories about. The fishermen give credit to Kubla Khan and Zhang He, the Chinese explorer, for bringing in these nets, while historians claim the Portuguese were the source. Irrespective of where they come from, it is an experience worth having to help the fisherman lower these nets into the waters.

Speed up and find yourself a spot on a car ferry with the locals, and get off at any of the numerous islands Kochi has to boast of. Vypeen or Willingdon Islands shouldn’t cost you more than Rs 5 to get there, where you can enjoy a view in the morning sun and the gorgeous beauty that Fort Kochi is.

Take off your shoes and walk along the flag-stoned floor, while enjoying the whitewashed walls and elegant woodwork of the 500-year-old St Francis Church. Known as the oldest European church in the country, it is also popular for being the initial burial place of Vasco de Gama.

Although known for its tea, the country’s Malabar Coast is also popular for its coffee. None of the restaurants serve it because we Indians drink our coffee weak, which is why the coffee is exported. Sharpen your nose and head to the South bus junction of Ernakulam, where you will smell the sweet yet thick scent of roasted coffee inside a cave-like store with a large wooden counter. Pack the beans or buy the fine powder at Leela Coffee, located on Chittoor Road in Valanjambalam District.

If you don’t like fish dishes, tasting Kochi’s fish curry will instantly change your preferences! The fish are caught fresh every morning and cooked in a flawless blend of spices and herbs, which produces a palatable aroma. Step into any of the restaurants or homestays Cochin and expect the best service along with soul-touching food. A culinary experience you will always treasure!