Kochi. No,
not the one in Japan, but the one in the land of rich culture and history,
India. Kochi, formerly Cochin and also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, is a
small city in the state of Kerala, with beautiful waters that makes for great
aqua tourism.
A place that
you must go to is Fort Kochi. There, you will able to see the famous Chinese
fishing nets (Cheena vala) and Mattancherry Palace.
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| Photo credit: Tim Moffatt on Flickr, used under Creative Commons |
These Chinese fishing nets are popular because of its unique ways of capturing fishes and some crustaceans. Passers-by can also buy the catch and find street vendors within a short distance to cook it for them. The construction of these nets also makes them very picturesque.
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| The Kerela Dutch Palace. Photo credit: Wikipedia |
Mattancherry
Palace, otherwise known as the Dutch palace, is also another popular site.
Although on the outside, it is seemingly unlike a palace, it holds its glory
inside with ornate ceiling decoration, traditional Kerala flooring and most
importantly, the murals. Some of these exquisite paintings date back to the 16th
century and they depict stories of the Hindu gods.
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| The Periyar National Park. Photo credit: Wikipedia |
From arts to
nature, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (sometimes referred to as Thekkady) lets
you experience seeing animals such as elephants, tigers, gaurs, monkeys and
bears in their natural habitat. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is in Idukki
district, about six hours’ bus drive away from Kochi.
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| Photo credit: Sangeeth VS on Flickr, used under Creative Commons. |
Marine
Drive, a common hangout spot for the locals, is a great place to relax. It
faces the Kerala backwaters, so you can hop on the boat rides operated there.
Alternatively, you can take a stroll down the Marine Walkway as the sun sets,
and see the notable Rainbow Bridge.
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| Photo credit: mtkopone on Flickr, used under Creative Commons |
To shop,
head over to the hub of shopping in Kochi — Broadway market. Here, you can find anything from clothing to electronic goods and of course,
what is a trip to India without getting some of their spices. Prices here are
generally lower than other shopping places in the city too.
SilkAir and
Tiger Airways operate 22 flights per week from Changi Airport to Kochi.