Top Things to Do in the Kochi | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Kochi

Places To Visit In Kochi

Veeranpuzha Beach

Veeranpuzha Beach is one of the popular beaches in Kochi. With beautiful blue waters and golden sandy shores, the beach is lined with green vegetation. The proximity of fishing villages from the beach ensures the activity of fisherfolks at work all day long at the shores. You can visit Veeranpuzha to watch the fishermen at work, or to have a glimpse of the laid back rural vibe, or to witness the beautiful sunset and sunrise, or just to soak in the natural environment. Read More

Located at a distance of 30 kms from Kochi, Andhakaranazhi Beach is an extension of the tiny village of Andhakaranazhi. The virgin beach is still noncommercialized and unexploited from tourism and a well-kept secret of the city. It is an azhy or a shoal which is a naturally formed ridge formed underwater and rises to the surface and is mostly used to regulate the inflow or outflow of water via two motor-operated shutters installed to the north and the south of the beach. Also, its distance from the city makes it a perfect serene spot from the pell-mell of the city. You can find fishers at work, and their vast nets strewed all over the shores. Visit this to experience nature in its raw form with immaculate sands, clean waters and beautiful coastline. Water levels are erratic in the region and tourists are advised to be careful while exploring. Read More

Areekkal Waterfalls is situated in Kochi and is one of the very few falls situated in the region. Boasting of immaculate surroundings, verdant green woods and a picturesque setting, the silvery cascading water atop rocky cliffs is a visual delight and a popular tourist spot of the city.

Discovered over 5,000 years ago in India, Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest systems of healing in the world. Widely known as holistic and natural, the science of Ayurveda aims at restoring the perfect balance to one’s body and mind. There are innumerable Ayurvedic centres that provide massages in Kochi, which do much more than merely relax you; they allow you to have a sense of wholeness and rejuvenation and give you some much-needed inner peace. Ayurvedic massages are a must-try for everyone in today’s fast-paced world – regardless of whether they are suffering from stress or any physical or mental illness. Pampering yourself with a massage is a great way to just kick back, relax and de-stress. However, it is essential to consult with an Ayurvedic expert or therapist before undergoing any massage. It is also important to reveal relevant details about your medical history and current health problems if any. Read More

Bishop's House

Bishop's House was a residence to the Portuguese governor built in the year 1506. It houses an Indo-Portuguese museum that has a collection of valuable artefacts from various churches under the Cochin diocese. Now it is famous for its house-facade made up of large Gothic arches with a circular path that ends at the main entrance.

Bolgatty Palace is located in Bolgatty Island of Kochi and is one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces that is situated outside Holland. It is an exquisite example of the Kochi style of architecture. Built-in 1744 by Dutch traders, it was later extended, and gardens were landscaped around it. Green gardens, azure skies and the virgin charms of Kerela are aplenty at the Bolgatty Palace. Owing to its picturesque surroundings and rich history, the building has also served as the Governor's palace for the commander of Dutch Malabar and was the home of the British. Today, it has re-established itself as a luxury hotel and is a favourite among couples. True to its name, the Bolgatty Palace is palatial in every sense of the word. The edifice is surrounded by carefully manicured gardens that make for a delightful spot for an evening walk. Inside, the palace is divided into three distinct sections, the Main Block, the Marina Block and the Mansion Block.The most popular section of the Bolgatty Palace is the Marina Block which overlooks Kochi's, International Marina. Four luxury rooms are fitted with plush amenities which warrant a comfortable stay. In addition to this, you can also enjoy provisions such as Lake Front Cottage, swimming pool, in-house restaurants and conference hall. Visit Bolgatty Palace for a luxurious stay that will rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Read More

Cherai Beach, which is one of the best-voted beaches of the state, is situated at a distance of 30 km from Kochi city. Its strategic location on the northern end of the Vypin Island in Kochi makes it a perfect merging point of the sea and backwaters. The surrounding greenery and the seashells present in different shapes and Chinese fishing nets add to the beauty of the sea. Its coastline alone runs for about 15 km and plays a distinguishing factor from all the other beaches. Adventure lovers are bound to have a great time at the entrancing beach indulging in the various water sports activities including scooters, speed boats, canoe ride and snorkelling. Be careful of swimming as it might be unsafe due to the undercurrents. You can also get massages by the beach to relax. People who are merely nature lovers can go for watching dolphins diving in the sea. You also have the option of going for cycling and exploring the scenic beauty of the place. The locals of Cherai love flying kites, and that is one activity you sure can indulge in. It is such a popular activity amongst everyone there that a kite flying festival is organised with sheer joy annually.Also known as the 'Princess of the Arabian Sea' it is a perfect spot for relaxation having a picturesque view and beachfront combined. There is a park for the kids as well alongside the beach where kids can play and spend a lovely time with their families and friends. Visitors can hire speedboats as well as water-scooters on rent which double the fun. One can also find accommodation easily since there are several hotels and resorts around the area at a reasonable cost. Read More

Popularly known as Cheenavala, the Chinese Fishing Nets are the most iconic and popular attractions of Kerala peculiar to Kochi located next to Fort Kochi. One of the significant cultural symbols of Kerala, the spot is also one of the most photographed places in all of the town, attracting hordes of tourists and photographers on an everyday basis. The Chinese Fishing Nets are basically vast fishing nets which are fixed on bamboo and teak poles. They are then let down into the sea through unique mechanisms and by weighing them down with large stones tied to ropes. These nets are left in the sea before they are pulled back again by tugging the ropes after collecting a significant amount of catch. Considered to be the ingenious way of fishing, these majestic Chinese fishing nets are operated by four to six fishermen and watching this spectacular process is in itself a spellbinding experience. Read More

The Ernakulam Shiva temple is one of the major temples in Kerala. It is also called as Ernankulathapan temple, located in the heart of the city of Kochi. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity who is in the form of Gourisankara and is considered a rare one as the deity faces the Arabian sea towards west. The main sanctum is home to a Lingam that's considered to be Swayambhoo. There are sanctums on either side of the Lingam. The temple festival (Uthsavom) of Shiva is celebrated with great pomp every year in the month of Makaram (January - February). Various programmes like Kathakali, classical dances and music with colourful fireworks and procession are held with thousands of people to witness. The Pakalpooram and Arattu processions are the major highlights of the festival. The temple belonged to the Chera dynasty and was mentioned in the Sangam literature. The Cheras were ardent followers of Lord Shiva hence the temple was named Rishnagakulam (based on a legend). As their rule ended, the place was taken over by few Nair nobles and was renamed as Ernakulam. It is now managed by the Cochin Devasom Board. Read More

The Kerala Folklore Museum near Thevara in Cochin, portrays a variety of gallery art, sales, live dance forms which vary from ritualistic to martial arts, and souvenirs. Some of the pieces at this gallery are priceless. One can also sell his/her fine arts and antiques here which might be put up on display later. It is a family-run private museum curated by Annie George and started in 2009. It houses around 5000 artefacts. One can find glimpses of ancient temples and traditional houses of Kerala. The collection is divided into three floors - Ground, first and second. The ground floor represents artefacts from Malabar, the first floor have collection from the epoch of Portuguese in Kochi and the second-floor houses the artefacts collection from Travancore. The collection includes jewellery, manuscripts, musical instruments, Theyyam and costumes of other folk art form. The top floor also has intricate` wood carvings on the ceiling. Read More