Kochi has been our particular Chiang Mai India. Why? Well, because here we have returned up to 4 times in our passage through southern India! The first to catch the flight to Maldives, the second returning from Sri Lanka, the third to rent the motorcycle and the fourth to return it and leave there by train to Hyderabad.
The first time we arrived was at 5 in the morning at a bus station where life began and with no idea where we were. It was Ernakulam, the "continental" part of Kochi (to call it somehow). It is a more chaotic area, say more Indian. Really everything the charm of this place is concentrated in the part of Fort Kochi, where we are headed with a sleepy face.
We had not yet been to Galle (Sri Lanka), but now that if we know it we can make a quick comparison: Fort Kochi It is one of the cities with the greatest European memories of India. The Portuguese, Dutch and British styles coexist. The buildings, the quiet streets where you can even walk! (miracle!), the tiny cafes with their old decoration ... and of course the huge amount of churches!
It is true that it may be a tad more expensive than other sites, but the visit is worth it. It was also our first stop in the lush state of Kerala.
One day we dedicate it to visit the Jewish quarter of Matancherriwith his Synagogue that generated our debate (Lety liked it, Rober didn't) and the dutch palace (Here there is no doubt, a crap, although it was cheap). The days here pass slowly, a walk, some pictures, a visit to the chinese fishing nets, an ice cream on the seafront, a cool beer ...
But we will definitely remember Kochi because it was the starting point of our motorcycle trip through southern India and the door to the famous Kerala Backwaters.
USEFUL INFO
How to get?
- We arrive by bus from Mysore. We leave at 6 from the bus station and arrive at 5 to Ernakulam. From here, urban bus services to Fort Kochi begin at 6.00. You can tell the driver in which hotel you are staying and let you know when it is near.
- To go to Kochi airport from Fort Kochi there are direct buses (also in the opposite direction). It takes 1 hour 45 minutes and costs less than 50 rupees. You can approach the bus stand where the schedules are hung.
- To go to the train station It is best to catch a ferry to Vypeen for 3 rupees and from there a tuctuc to the station for about 80 rupees. To catch a bus to Alleppey you don't have to get to Ernakulam, you can catch a tuctuc that will take you to Topambaran Junction, where all buses from Ernakulam and direction Alleppey stop.
Where to sleep?
We did it at the Raintree Lodge, at the XXL Homestay and at the San Mike guesthouse.
What to see
The promenade It gets crowded at sunset. Also here you can contemplate the chinese fishing nets, one of the biggest tourist claims of Kochi
There's also churches very beautiful scattered throughout the historic center as well as cafes and shops and art Galeries, the dutch cemetery, and below the area of Matancherri with the synagogue and the palaceDutch.
Although for us the most beautiful are their colonial buildings, many of them rehabilitated as coffee shops and small restaurants. And of course, street art!
