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Discovering Kochi

Discovering Kochi

| @indiablooms | 20 Sep 2017, 12:46 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.

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