Places to visit in Kochi

• Fort Kochi and Mattancherry: There are lots of things to do and places to visit in Kochi. For history buffs, nothing beats Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Pick up Kerala Tourism’s free walking-tour maps to help make sense of the maze of alleys in Fort Kochi. Start your heritage walk from Vasco da Gama Square down the narrow walkway parallel to the Chinese fishing nets and retrace the role of the Dutch, Portuguese and British through beautiful architectural relics.
• Ancient structures and old churches: Popular Kochi tourist attractions include Fort Immanuel and Gunnery, the Dutch and European cemeteries, colonial homes, charming hotels and historic churches like Santa Cruz Basilica, one of the two oldest churches built by the Portuguese in India and St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in the country. Drop into museums like the Kerala Folklore Museum and Indo-Portuguese Museum and enjoy sunset views on a boat ride or from the beach.
• Bolghatty Island and Cherai Beach: Despite eye-popping prices, shoppers and collectors cannot resist trawling the atmospheric Jew’s Town for antiques and crafts. Locals love to picnic at the pretty Bolghatty Island, north of Ernakulam or Cherai Beach on Vypin Island, while Ernakulam district on the east, connected by bridges and ferries, wears all the sheen of modernity.
• Chinese Fishing Nets: Bearing witness to Chinese's entry into Kerala long ago, legends tell that these nets were a gift of the famous Chinese King, Kublai Khan. Even today, fishers use these elaborate conventional fishing nets, making it the only other destination other than China to use these fishing nets.

High-end shopping/luxury shopping/shopping malls in Kochi

• Abad Nucleus Mall
• Lulu Mall
• Centre Square Mall
• Bay Pride Mall
• Oberon Mall
• Kennees Shopping Mall
• Siso Mall
• The Great Marina Mall
• Gold Souk Grande Mall

Wowing you with big labels and massive shopping space, discover why masses converge for fashion, footwear, electronics, perfumes, watches, books or meals at the food court – under one roof.

Street shopping in Kochi

• Local markets and stores: Souvenir shoppers go crazy in Kochi seeing the array of handcrafted items made of bamboo, wood, coir, shell and beads. Visit the spice markets for fresh spices and put on your best bargaining hat before venturing into antique shops to buy carved figurines, masks, lamps and exquisite metalware. Besides institutions like Crafters which is home to the world's largest brass vessel, boutiques like Indian Industries on Princess Street and Heritage Arts in Jew's Town hold a treasure of traditional trinkets, crafts, silver jewellery and artefacts.
• Kairali: Located on MG Road, Kairali is the Government Handicraft Emporium that stocks the best of Kerala's famous handicrafts like Kathakali masks, boats and the Aranmula mirror. Everything from recycled paper made of elephant poo to eco-friendly clothing to swank up your wardrobe is available here.

Nightlife/party places in Kochi

• Ava Lounge: Ava Lounge at Radisson Blue Kochi is a rare exception; it has some terrific cocktails and stays open until 3 am.
• Café Papaya: For music, movies and mocha (in that order), head to Café Papaya at Palarivattom in Ernakulam to catch live music and DJs.
• Kashi Art Gallery and Café: While most people will describe Kashi Art Gallery and Café in Fort Kochi as relaxed and arty, it's a great hangout for coffee, conversation and people watching. The art on display adds to its charm.

Forget the highway, take the national waterway between Kochi and Ernakulam on a ferry as the locals do. Hang out at one of the many cafés dotting Fort Kochi. The ivy-covered Teapot Café is one such place creating a happy storm in a teacup. It's a quirky place with a kaleidoscope of suspended kettles and teapots and tea chest tables, different posters, and décor inspired by all things related to tea! Savour 15 kinds of brew, nibble on Indian and European snacks, while coffee plays second fiddle.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Since 2012, every two years, Kochi experiences a massive art attack called the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, a great platform and a confluence of artists from across the world at various informal public spaces exploring a chosen theme. The city transforms into an open-air gallery and canvas ready for the explosion of art across several events and venues as varied as warehouses, old factories and seaside boulders in Kochi.

Cycle tours

If you don't have a yen for walking, try pedalling around Kochi on a bicycle. Kerala Bicycle Trips and Art of Bicycle Trips offer various options from 3-hour long guided tours around the city, canoe ride across the backwaters to great bicycle tours providing a slice of Kerala.

Rickshaw Run

Another option is to enrol for the Rickshaw Run, a 3000-km offbeat adventure across the country covered over a fortnight in customised autorickshaws. Organised by The Adventurists, there are many takers for this costly madcap adventure. Kochi is the parking spot for these autos that are anything but black and yellow. Pimped up with neon shades by artists, they even have funny names such as Bananas in Pyjamas, Curry on Tukkin' and Naan Point Five on the Rickshaw Scale!

Marine Drive

Ask any local to name their favourite hangout, and Marine Drive will be the answer. There is no place to 'drive' here as it's a pedestrian zone, and perhaps Kochi's most talked about promenade where everyone loves to linger, shop and dine.

David Hall Gallery Café

Another great place with a dollop of Dutch history going back to 1695. Once the Dutch Governor's residence, Hendrick Drakenstein, (who initiated the research for the Hortus Malabaricus, a tome on the region's flora) it has been reimagined into an art gallery with a cosy café by CGH Earth. People love its garden ambience and hop by to satiate their craving for wood-fired pizzas – apparently the best in town.

Places to visit near Kochi

Allepey and Kumarakom

Just an hour's drive takes you to Allepey and Kumarakom (2hr) for lazy houseboat rides on Vembanad lake, capturing riverine lifestyle through a network of canals and waterways. Detox and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul with an authentic Ayurvedic treatment or a traditional massage.

Munnar

If time isn't a constraint, you can also plan an extended trip from Kochi to Munnar, one of the most popular hill stations in the region.

Athachamayam

A grand celebration that brings together the folk art forms of Kerala, Athachamayam marks the beginning of the ten-day festival of Onam. Athachamayam commemorates the king of Kochi's victory and is usually celebrated in August/September when a spectacular procession representing the king and his entourage are taken out. Various floats depicting scenes from epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, caparisoned elephants, folk art forms and musical ensembles accompany this procession. The ceremony begins by lighting a lamp, a symbolic gesture performed by a priest. The participants are usually dressed in silk ensembles that include a yellow kurta and pyjama for men, and pevada davani or sarees for women. People also don colourful and elaborate masks to complement their attire.

Chandanakkudam Festival

Held at the Kanjiramattom Mosque, in Ernakulam District of Kerala, the ritual of chandanakkudam is one of the key festivals held in the region. Generally organised during January at the mosque, a memorial to Sheikh Fariduddin, a revered Muslim mystic, the festival is a must-attend. It involves hundreds of pilgrims carrying earthen pots, smeared with sandal paste and filled with coins. The procession is held at night when caparisoned elephants walk alongside colourfully dressed people. This festival offers a rare opportunity for spectators to witness Muslim art forms such as duffmuttu, oppana, mappilappattu and kolkali during the procession. These dance and song performances are a part of Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu and make for a fascinating sight.