A charming seaside area, Fort Kochi is known for its Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial architecture, and elaborate bamboo fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve Keralan specialties, and quaint shops sell cotton clothing and handmade souvenirs. Heritage buildings house contemporary art galleries.
The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, also known as Kotta Palli or Kottepalli, is located in Fort Kochi, Kochi. It is one of the thirty-four basilicas in India and one of nine in Kerala. This heritage edifice of Kerala is renowned for its Indo-European
Marine Drive is a buzzing waterfront district known for the Marine Walkway, popular for evening strolls, and leafy Subhash Bose Park. The modern Rainbow and Kettuvallam bridges offer backwater views, and cruises leave from jetties by the water. Affluent homes and offices fill the area, and shops along Broadway sell jewelry, spices, and local fabrics. Dining ranges from upscale hotel restaurants to no-frills cafes.
Hill Palace is an archaeological museum and palace located in the Tripunithura neighbourhood of Kochi, Kerala. It is the largest archeological museum in the state and was the imperial administrative office and official residence of the Cochin Maharaja. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings spreading across 54 acres (220,000 m2) and built in the traditional architectural style. The complex has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children’s park.
Cherai Beach is located in Cherai on the northern side of Vypin Island, a suburb of the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India. One of the most visited beaches in the state, it is situated around 25 km (15 mi) from downtown Kochi and 20 km (12 mi) from Cochin International Airport. The beach is around 10 km long and is ideal for swimming as the tide is mostly low and the waves are gentle. It is known for frequent dolphin sightings.
