October 15, 2026 03:08 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Meerut blue drum murder case: Muskaan, her lover get death sentence | 'Rise up, young patriots!': American singer Mary Millben alleges CJP gets US funding, urges peaceful protests | 'Won't go unchallenged': Muhammad Yunus heckling in New York triggers legal action warning | flydubai cockpit attack probe widens: Two Maldivian pilots detained in UAE over links to Omani co-pilot | Netflix scores big FIFA deal: All 104 World Cup 2030 matches to stream live in Spain, Andorra | Jantar Mantar crackdown: CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka sent to jail for 5 days | Punjab activist confronts chemist over alleged drug sales, shot dead during Facebook Live | ‘Rahul Gandhi pushed me during protest march’: Pregnant journalist’s allegation sparks BJP-Congress faceoff | ‘You cannot denotify resistance': CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das jump Jantar Mantar gate to protest, detained | Delhi Police de-notifies Jantar Mantar as protest site amid CJP stir over Gyanesh Kumar

Discovering Kochi

| @indiablooms | Sep 20, 2017, at 06:16 am
The port of Kochi has for centuries been a crucial juncture of trade and cultural exchange. Located on Kerala’s Arabian Sea coast, this city is a modern hub of business with a multi-layered history with influences from across the world. Driving around in Kochi and discovering its city landmarks and outskirts is a pleasure-filled activity.

A History Drive around Kochi

There are many car rental services in Kochi which one can choose to explore the town. Self drive is the best option as travellers can enjoy privacy and complete freedom to change plans and make impromptu stops. Some of the landmarks of Kochi provide fascinating history lessons. The 16th century Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese. Over the centuries it fell under Dutch control, then Hyder Ali until it was passed on to the British East India Company.

The next stop should be Fort Kochi, which many term as living history. Here one can find the use of the Chinese nets for fishing, a lasting legacy of the city’s Oriental connection. One of the popular sites here s St. Francis Church, one of the oldest in the region, dating back to the early 16th century. Vasco da Gama was buried here for 14 years. The Indo-Portuguese museum at the fort is more than a hundred years old and s a window into the colonial influence on the region. Another marvellous symbol of Cochin’s multi-cultural legacy is the Paradesi Synagogue, one of the oldest in the world.

Evenings at Kochi can be spent on its seaside promenade, where one can watch the sun set gloriously over the Arabian.

Natural Getaways

Kochi is also a stage for beautiful nature getaways. The famed backwaters of Kerala can be reached easily. The calming environs of Alleppeyare just 63 kilometres away from the city, a soothing and scenic coastal drive south via the NH66. The legendary Kumarakom Lake and its unique riverine landscape are just a 90-minute drive away, taking visitors into the swaying palms and verdant fields of Kerala’s beautiful countryside. Other great drives from the city include trips to the Athirapally Waterfalls, 73 kilometres away and the hill station of Idukki, 105 kilometres away.

Not having a car does not mean people need to miss out on the fun. Companies like Zoomcar have introduced affordable rental plans which can be changed real-time according to the driving requirements, via an app-based system. Pick up a car on rent and experience the city and the beautiful region around it.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.