Visiting Kerala
– Kochi the commercial hub of Kerala
The famed Chinese fishing nets in Kochi
We started our journey from Munnar and the distance
between Munnar to Kochi is about 110 Kms. and the road traverses back from
Munnar to Annachal and therefrom the route takes these small and big
settlements i.e. Ambhazachal – Irrutukanam
– Koompanpara – Adimalai – Neriamangalam – Kothamangalam – Muvattupuzha –
Thiruvankulam and one finally reaches Kochi
via NH-85. En-route from Munnar one
can view a few waterfalls like Attukad Waterfalls, Pallivasal, which is a bit off
the road and one has to traverse some distance both by road as well as by
hiking that has multiple waterfalls amid rolling hills, surrounded by hiking
trails and panoramic views. Thereafter,
on can visit Valara Waterfalls, Chillithodu, which is situated right alongthe road side and can be viewed from the
road as well that is tall cascading waterfall surrounded by dense
vegetation, and is a popular trekking and picnicking destination. However, being on a very short time schedule,
as the flight from Kochi was scheduled the next morning coupled with the fact
that we had to do local Kochi sightseeing, we skipped all those destinations
that were not directly on the road. However,
if one has time, he/she can visit these destinations enroute albeit that they
have to veer off course from the NH-85 to visit them – a) Cheeyappara
Waterfalls, Chillithodu that is
said to be a popular trekking spot with cascading waterfalls among the
hills; b) Martha Mariyam Cathedral Valiyapally, Kothamangala that is home to an Orthodox
church said to have been established in the 4th century CE by Syriac Christian
immigrants; c) Inchathotty Suspension Bridge, Neriamangalam that is home to the longest hanging
bridge in Kerala with a length of 183 meters and 4-foot width; and d) Hill
Palace Museum, Kochi that is home
to a Large 19th-century palace complex with an archaeological and
heritage museum along with unique parks.
Valara Waterfalls, Chillithodu on way from Munnar
'Aroma Kitchen' in Fort Kochi area of Kochi
Having
traversed the distance of 110 Kms., we finally reached Kochi at around lunch
time and were famished by then as we hardly had anything on the way. The driver did not have any idea about any
place providing good quality food, so my daughter browsed through the internet
and booked us at ‘Aroma Kitchen’ at Fort Kochi, although the food and ambience
was really good, but it was at its price!!
Having had our lunch we went out to explore Kochi. Kochi is
one of the oldest settlements in Kerala also called as the ‘Gateway to Kerala’
as well as referred to as the “Queen of the
Arabian Sea”. It is at present a vibrant
city situated on the southwest coast of India in the state of Kerala. Known for
its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and picturesque
landscapes, Kochi has emerged as a popular destination for tourists and
business travelers alike more so because it becomes either the starting or
ending point for tourists, who embark upon their Kerala sojourn either from
Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi.
A traditional ferry boat in Kochi
A Naval frigate in Kochi
A large Ocean liner in Kochi
A Bramhiny kite in flight in Kochi
A shop selling trinkets in Kochi beach area
The old Fort Kochi area with a Chinese fishing net
A map of Ernakulam district where Kochi is situated [sourced from internet]
A brief history of Kochi would reflect that centuries
ago too Kochi was a commercial center for traders like Arabs, British,
Portuguese Dutch and Chinese. These travelers came to this beautiful city to
get access to spices like cardamom, clove and black pepper which was abundantly
available here. It was Ma Huan, the Chinese traveler, who first mentioned
Kochi in his books about life in Kochi of early 15th century. Nicolo Conti, the
Italian traveler also talks about the place in his records of 1440. From then
on, the name appears in many travelogues and records of various travelers and
traders from across the globe as Cocym, Cochym, Cochin, Cochi and so on. It has
also been mentioned in some records as ‘Balapuri’, a Sanskrit name that means
small town.Some others believe that the
name is a corrupted version of the Sanskrit word ‘Go Sree’, which means
‘prosperous with cows’.Kochi is also
believed to be derived from the work ‘kaki’, which means harbor in Tamil or from
the Malayalam word, ‘koch-azhi’ meaning ‘small sea’ that appears to be most
plausible and may also draw its name from its earlier name Kakochi that was
preceded by the name Kochim, used in the Portuguese records of the 15th century.
Some people still like to refer to the place as Cochin, although it is now
known as Kochi.
Another view of the Kochi port area through a Chinese fishing net
A view of Fort Kochi with view of Synagogue top in distance
A view of the St. Francis Church in Kochi
Present day Kochi offers the tourists
the following array of destinations to explore while visiting Kochi – i) Kochi Fort and Mattancherry
Palace – This old and archaic historic
Fort Kochi area, houses the remnants of European colonial influence that are
evident in the architecture. One can visit the iconic Mattancherry Palace, also
known as the Dutch Palace, showcasing exquisite murals and artifacts; ii) TheChinese Fishing Nets - Were the most intriguing to witness. The sight of Chinese fishing nets along the
coastline, a traditional method of fishing that has been practiced in Kochi for
centuries reflects its connection with the Chinese traders in the past. The
nets are particularly enchanting during sunset, providing a picturesque view;
iii) St. Francis Church – also in the Fort Kochi area the quaint St.
Francis Church, one of the oldest European-built churches in India. This
historic church, dating back to the 16th century, holds immense significance,
as it was the original burial site of the explorer Vasco da Gama; iv) Jew
Town and Synagogue – The quaint
narrow lanes imbibes you with the charm of Jew Town that show cases its antique shops and the Paradesi
Synagogue. The synagogue, dates back to AD 1568 and is a testament to the
long-standing Jewish heritage in Kochi.
v) Kochi beach – As one
checks out the Chinese fishing nets, you may traverse along the Arabian Sea and
at the end is a small beach that is quite unkempt and with a rocky interface
with the Sea, it is not a place to swim or indulge in any beach side activities
and is a rather a dull place to visit, except for many local roadside eateries
and people selling trinkets; and vi) Kerala Folklore Museum, Thevara – Last
but not the least is this quaint museum that is maintained by a family trust
and built independently by the founder of the trust and houses many old
artefacts of use during the old times including items used in everyday life
also. It is a must visit destination for
tourists to know about the past glory of Kerala.
View of the main entry bill board of Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
A brief description board in Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ornaments at Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ornamental animal heads in Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Another display inside the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ancient swords in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ancient shields in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ancient texts in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ancient musical instruments in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of ancient Chinese pottery items in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Display of gold plated art work in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
An array of ancient stone sculptures in the Kerala Folklore Museum, Kochi
Having
completed our tour of the city, we headed towards the airport area, as I had
booked a hotel near the airport to avoid heavy traffic rush, we witnessed first-hand
the traffic jams while trying to reach our hotel from main Kochi area.Although the ‘9 Gems Airport Hotel’ is a
small establishment, but it is neat and clean with a dedicated workforce and
quite good option for overnight stays.Kochi
now a days, is a bustling city that is also one of the commercial hub
of Kerala and there are many industries contributing to the success of this
place. Amongst them is the Kochi Refineries located at Ambalamugal which works
along with the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). This refinery is a
major contributor of petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, LPG and many more
useful bi-products. Eloor is an industrial area of Kochi where you have around
250 industries which are involved in producing retro-chemical products,
fertilizer, pesticides and even leather products.Further, it being sensitive militarily, the
South Western Naval Command headquarters are also at Kochi.Thus, ended our trip to Kerala, but not
without a hitch, as the vehicle owner, who had promised to end the trip at
Kochi as the last destination, started clamoring for paying him for return
journey to Thiruvananthapuram, wherefrom I had booked the vehicle and that too
at rates with Air Conditioner, whereas it was not required for driver who was
to return the vehicle alone.These kinds
to tricks played on the visitors, which leaves a bad taste for tourists at the
end.
