5 Delightful Things to Do in Kochi

Kochi is for the foodie as much as it is for the laidback. This tiny gateway to Kerala is for those who hope to lounge through the serene backwaters or peek into the remains of a colonial heritage. It’s for the art lover, as it is for the dream chaser. Kochi is an enthralling medley of exuberance. And here are five of the most delightful things you can do while you’re here.

Go Beach-Hopping

Being situated on the coast has its advantages—the beaches, for one. Located about 30 km from the heart of Kochi is the palm-fringed Cherai Beach, with a 15 km shoreline. Swim in its gentle slopes, lie around taking in the sun, or go snorkelling. Cherai also offers speedboat, water-scooter, and canoe ride options. But if solitude is all you crave, go to the north end of the beach where the Periyar River and Arabian Sea meet. The sunsets there are priceless.
Then head to the Fort Kochi Beach for an entirely different experience. The Mahatma Gandhi Walkway offers silhouettes—the Chinese nets against a setting sun and fishmongers selling their fresh catch—that will seep into your being.

Read more: Value Hotels Near The Kochi Airport

Take a Heritage-Walk around Fort Kochi and Mattancherry

Peek into the city’s thriving history, with remnants of Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. Start at the Vasco Da Gama Square parallel to the Chinese fishing nets and walk past Fort Immanuel along the Dutch Cemetery Road to the old European Cemetery. Visit the Indo-Portuguese Museum inside the Bishop’s House campus, before treating yourself to the splendour inside the Santa Cruz Basilica. When you’re done with your share of churches, visit the 1567-built Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town, Mattancherry—the oldest synagogue in India and the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth Nations. Then head to the Mattancherry Palace—built by the Portuguese in 1557 and renovated by the Dutch in 1663 before they presented it to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi—to admire the architecture and the murals within.

Read more: The Kochi Cultural Festival

Stay at an Ecotourism Village near the Backwaters in Kumbalangi

Checkout the homestays at Kumbalangi, a virgin tourist spot 14 km from Kochi’s city centre (It beats the mosquito-infested, outrageously expensive houseboat cruises any day!). This tiny fishing hamlet facing the Kochi backwaters is designated India’s first ecotourism village and the first rural tourism village of the state. Enjoy authentic, home-cooked Malayalee cuisine, and watch the fishermen in action as they ride into the backwaters on their canoes. Head to Kalagramam—the artisans’ village nearby—for some beautiful handicrafts, take a boat ride along the mangroves, indulge in bait fishing, or put your feet up in the air and do nothing!

Learn about Cultural Art Forms of Kerala

Experience the dance, drama, and cultural history of the land through performances of Kathakali and Mohiniaattom, the classical dance forms of Kerala, and Kalaripayattu, the martial art of the state. Greenix Village, a cultural art centre located in Fort Kochi with a tiny café in it, allows for watching performances, while ENS Kalari in Nettoor also offers one-on-one classes in Kalari.

Indulge in the Varied Gastronomic Pleasures

Kochi is a foodie retreat, and for cheap! Treat yourself to some of the best Malabari Biryani – Kayee’s Biryani at Kayees Rahmathulla Café in Mattancherry, or choose to eat some fantastic Malayalee (and other) delicacies from the many stalls on the Vasco Da Gama Square.
On the other side of the city, on Shanmugam Road (near Jose Junction), check out idiyappams and paalappams at Ceylon Bake House, and team them with their Chicken Chilly.
Also sample at least some of the 108 varieties of dosas at Pai’s Thattukada on MG Road, and later, if you can, the dinner at Mappila Kada on the Edappally bypass towards Vennala. You get to devour authentic Malabari cuisine for less than ₹1,000—and that’s for a company of four. Up for something offbeat? Bargain with a fishmonger near the Chinese nets at Fort Kochi, and pick your choice of fish for a quick barbecue at one of the nearby stalls. At ₹600–₹1,000 for a kilo of tiger prawns or sear fish, it might seem a hard bargain, but remember you’re also paying for the whole experience!

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