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Sightseeing in Cochin and Ernakulam

Available in English Hotel Pick up included

Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    Daily except Friday & Saturday

  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Start time

    Strat time: 0900h (09:00am)
    Duration: 4 hours

  • Meeting Point
    Pick up from your hotel. (Please mention your hotel name and address at the time of booking. If you do not have this information now, our customer service executives will get in touch and confirm the details)
  • Ending Point

    Your hotel in Cochin

Key Highlights

  • Easy to book – easy to cancel – easy to change
  • Book early and receive discounts
  • Price same or lower than local rates
  • Best hand-picked operators

Overview

India’s oldest church, old-fashioned cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, winding streets and five hundred year old Portuguese houses together create the Cochin experience. An unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village exist in perfect harmony with the local tropical Malabar culture of this city.

The neon lights and upmarket chain stores of Ernakulam make way for the quaint and quiet Cochin beaches and classical kathakali dances. A must visit on a trip to India, Cochin is a historical and beautiful city.

Itinerary

You will be picked up from your hotel and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle accompanied by an English-speaking local guide for a sightseeing tour of Cochin and Ernakulam. Among the major attractions, you will visit:

The Dutch Palace: The Mattancherry palace was built by the Portuguese in the middle of the 16th century. Later the Dutch took over, made some additions to it (hence the alternate name – Dutch Palace) before presenting it to the Rajas (kings) of Cochin. The palace is famous for its fine mythological murals in the tradition of Hindu temple art. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring, which looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites.

The Jewish Synagogue: Built in the 16th century, it features an ornate gold pulpit and hand-painted willow-pattern floor tiles brought from China. Don’t miss the stunningly-beautiful chandeliers and coloured-glass lamps.

St. Francis Church: Considered India’s oldest church, it was built in 1503. Vasco da Gama, who died in Cochin in 1524 lay buried here for 14 years before his remains were taken to Lisbon. You can see his tombstone in the church.

The Santa Cruz Basilica: It was built in 1902 and its interiors are painted in soothing pastel colours.

Later, drive along the coast and at the harbour’s mouth and see the fixed, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets introduced by the Chinese traders in the 14th Century. The tour ends in the Fort Kochi area where you can walk through the historical Dutch and Portuguese buildings. Some parts of this nearly 500-year-old Fort are still amazingly well preserved.

You will then be dropped back to your hotel where the tour ends.

Inclusions

  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • English-speaking local guide for sightseeing
  • Entrance fees to monuments

Exclusions

  • Expenses of personal nature such as table drinks, telephone calls, laundry, camera fee for still or video camera, tips to drivers and local guides

Additional info

You will travel in an air-conditioned medium-sized car if there are 1-2 passengers, Toyota Innova if there are 3 passengers and a Tempo Traveller if there are 4 - 7 passengers. The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator’s contact details and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you may have.

Customer Reviews

  • TONJE FALLAN ISAKSEN
    Nice tour

    We had a very nice tour of fort cochin. it is nice to go on a tour like this to get a nice overview of the place. The guide was very good and explained very well about the...

    Norway 10/05/2010

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