Ernakulam

When you arrive in Ernakulam, you reach the busy mainland heart of Kochi in Kerala. This is the modern face of the old spice city. Wide roads, big shops and the calm Marine Drive walkway sit beside the quiet backwaters. From here you can cross by ferry to old Fort Kochi and enjoy the sea breeze in the evening. Ernakulam is well connected and comfortable, so it makes a very good base for your whole Kerala trip. If you are visiting from abroad, you will find travel here simple and friendly.

Ernakulam is the mainland part of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala. It is the commercial and shopping centre of the region and gives its name to Ernakulam district. The city sits on the shore of the Vembanad backwaters, which open into the Arabian Sea. Ferries and bridges link Ernakulam with Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Willingdon Island. It is one of the busiest and most modern cities of Kerala, yet the calm water is always close by.

September to March

Marine Drive is the favourite evening spot, a long walkway by the water where you can watch boats and the sunset. From the nearby jetty you can take a ferry across to Fort Kochi and see the old Chinese fishing nets. The Hill Palace Museum at Tripunithura, once the home of the Kochi royal family, has a large collection of old items and a quiet garden. These three together give you the modern city, the old town and the royal past.

Kochi has been a trading port for hundreds of years. Traders from Arabia, China, Portugal, Holland and Britain all came here for spices. This long history has given the city a friendly mix of temples, churches, mosques and an old synagogue, all close together. Ernakulam today keeps this open and warm spirit while growing into a busy modern city. The people are helpful and used to guests from all over the world.

Ernakulam is a wonderful place to enjoy Kerala food. Try a traditional sadya, a full vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf. Appam with vegetable stew, puttu with kadala, and fresh coconut based curries are easy to find. The city has many pure vegetarian restaurants as well as simple tea shops for a hot cup of Kerala chai. If you eat non vegetarian food, the fresh seafood here is very good.

Ernakulam is a shopper's city. Broadway market is famous for spices, tea, coffee, cashew nuts and cotton clothes. You can buy Kerala handloom sarees, coir products and small brass lamps as gifts. The big malls near MG Road are good for branded shopping in cool comfort. Buy your spices and tea here, as the prices are fair and the quality is fresh.

Ernakulam is very well connected. Cochin International Airport is about 30 km. away. The city has two main railway stations, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town. Inside the city you can use auto rickshaws, taxis, city buses and the clean Kochi Metro. Ferries are a pleasant and cheap way to cross to the islands and to Fort Kochi. Getting around here is easy for families and for first time visitors.

In the city you can visit the Ernakulathappan temple, a much loved old temple, and the busy Broadway market for spices and clothes. Lulu Mall, one of the largest malls in India, is good for families and for a cool break from the heat. A short boat ride takes you to quiet backwater villages near the city, where life moves at a slow and gentle pace.

Fort Kochi (about 12 km.): The old town with Chinese fishing nets, churches and art cafes. Cherai Beach (about 25 km.): A calm beach where the sea and backwaters meet. Alleppey (about 55 km.): The famous backwater town for houseboat stays. Munnar (about 130 km.): Green tea hills in the cool mountains. Many trips begin in Ernakulam and spread out to these lovely places.

Ernakulam is warm and humid for most of the year, so light cotton clothes are best. Carry an umbrella in the monsoon months. The people speak Malayalam, but English and Hindi are widely understood, which makes travel easy for NRI and foreign guests. Use the ferries at least once, as they are a lovely and simple way to see the water city.