Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
- Agra & the Taj Mahal
- Cochin
- Delhi
- Kerala Backwaters
- Khajuraho
- Ladakh
- Mysore
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Varanasi
- Wildlife National Parks
Cochin
With its large, natural harbour set around a series of islands and channels, Cochin has long been a port of great importance and was once the hub of the spice trade along the whole of the Malabar Coast.
Although still a busy port and large naval base, Cochin has retained its charm with a great wealth and mixture of architecture and cultural sites that are the legacy of centuries of rule by different European powers ranging from the Dutch and British to the Portuguese.
Some of the highlights include the Mattancherry (or Dutch) Palace which houses some of the finest original murals in India, the Church of St Francis which is the oldest European church in India built in 1503, a delightful Jewish synagogue and the accompanying Jewtown with its shops and nearby spice markets, and the Kathakali dancing performances which date back over 500 years.
Our preferred hotels in Cochin include:
Brunton Boatyard
Taj Malabar
Malabar House
Le Colonial
Trinity
