10 Best Places To Visit In Kochi, From Synagogue To Serene Beaches & More!

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With backwaters, beaches, and extravagant boat rides, Kochi is the 'queen of the Arabian Sea', and a must-visit for anyone looking for a spellbinding experience. Kochi is a beautiful city that harbours culture, spectacular architecture, and history, making it a perfect location to visit with your friends and family. So, if you are planning to visit the place, here are the top places that definitely should be a part of your itinerary to explore the wonder it offers.

Best Time To Visit Kochi: October to March is the best time to visit Kochi, since the weather is pleasant and there are lots of activities one can enjoy in the city at this time.

How To Reach: The best way to reach Kochi, is via Cochin International Airport. The airport is not only modern, and stunning looking, it is highly advanced, and also the only airport that runs completely on solar power.

Chinese Fishing Nets

An experience that has come to represent Kochi, Chinese fishing nets are the oldest and the most traditional fish-catching technique gear used. They are made of large teak woods and bamboo poles and look magnificent adjacent to the bay area, where the fishermen will have you help them set up the whole. It's not only a cool experience, as you understand and gain insights into this particular mechanism, but it also helps you experience the best views.

Best Time To Visit: These can be witnessed any time, throughout the week.

Fort Kochi Streets

European-style houses, bungalows, and great ancient architecture all around, Fort Kochi Streets are as pretty as some streets in Budapest. There is Princess Street, Napier Street, and Peter Cell Street all packed with antique shops, small cosy cafes, galleries, and kiosks where you can do cafe hopping and take in all the cool architecture and its history in its full glory.

Mattancherry Palace

Also known as the Dutch Palace with a ticket price of INR 2, this palace contains many murals, artwork, and portraits of 'Rajas of Kochi', while also being the home of the sacred for the Royal family. You can spend a good couple of hours here, immersing in history, and heritage, and we'll recommend visiting this place bright and early, as it closes around 5.

Timings: 9:45 am–1 pm, 2–4:45 pm

Closed On: Fridays and Saturdays

Jew Town

This neighborhood of Kochi is not the one to miss. It was a thriving space for the Jewish community in Cochin, and still carries that old world charm, and is home to the famous synagogue, 'Paradesi'. You can find small eateries, artsy cafes, vintage shops, and so much more on the streets, along with breathtaking architecture. A must-visit for all the shoppers out there, especially for some cool, antique home decor.

Cherai Beach

Located near the industrial district of Ernakulam, this beach is meant for all the swimmers out there. Beaches in Cochin are well-maintained and clean, and this one is no exception. It is surrounded by humongous coconut trees, offering a magnificent view of the Chinese fishnet as well. Relax on the beach, take a good swim, and soak in the mesmerising views, this one should be on everyone's itinerary.

Santa Cruz Cathedral

One of the eight Bacsialia in the country, this cathedral is among the finest and the most renowned churches in India. It has great architecture, with a history that dates back to 16th century, standing as the perfect amalgamation of religion, devotion, history, and artistry, a definite visit in Fort Cochin.

Paradesi Synagogue

A crown of the Jew town is this century-old Synagogue that is home to many many valuable antiques and continues to hold the old-world charm with its quaint architecture. If you want to understand the geographical divide, in context with the heritage, mixed with culture, identity, and history, one should definitely check this one out.

Timings: 10 AM to 12 PM, 3 PM to 5 PM

Closed On: Fridays and Saturdays.

St. Francis CSI Church

Known to be the oldest church built by Europeans, the place has withstood revolutions, invasions, wars, and seizes, and embodies the history of Cochin in every pillar. With impressive architecture and the unmatched peace it offers from the inside, St. Francis Church is a great spot to visit with family.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM from Monday to Friday and 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays

Closed On: Sundays

Fort Kochi Beach

Cochin does not disappoint when it comes to beaches, and Fort Kochi is the main tourist attraction that gathers the attention of many many visitors from around the world. It's a clean, tranquil space to spend a good amount of family time building sand castles and absorbing breathtaking views, and the seafood you'll find around this place is the definition of deliciousness.

Kuzhupilly Beach

Another one of our favourites, Kuzhupily Beach is the ultimate fun activities beach and a great place for all the swimmers. It is surrounded by lush tall coconut trees, and also hosts many cultural festivals throughout the year, like the Kite Festival. The white shore and crashing waves are perfect for any beach vacation, and you would be going back to this again and again, we can guarantee.

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