15 Best Places to Visit in Kochi
From beaches to backwaters, from spice estates to tea plantations, from Kathakali performances to authentic Kerala cuisines, there are so many things to do and see in Kochi. You can plan a vacation for seven days, and you will not be bored for a moment at this place. So, let’s see some of the places to visit in Kochi and nearby.
15 Best Places to visit in Kochi
- Mattancherry Palace
- Paradesi Synagogue
- Hill Palace
- Folklore Museum
- Indo-Portuguese Museum
- Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
- Cherai Beach
- Veeranpuzha Beach
- Kodanad Elephant Training Center
- Fort Kochi Beach
- Kathakali Center
- Malayattoor
- MG Road
- Kumarakom
- Athirapally Waterfalls
1. Mattancherry Palace
One of the top 10 places to visit in Kochi, Mattancherry Palace was previously called as Dutch Palace, as it was made by the Portuguese. The palace dates back to 1557. The architecture is that of a traditional Kerala house with four separate wings and a courtyard in the center.
Opening hours:
- Morning: 10.00 am – 1 pm
- Evening: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
Remains closed on every Friday.
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2. Paradesi Synagogue
Also known as Jewish Synagogue, this palace was built in 1568. The palace was built by Cochin Jewish group or Malabar Yehudan people, and is a well known landmark in the Jew Town in Kochi.
Opening hours:
- Morning: 10.00 am – 12.00
- Evening: 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
3. Hill Palace
Basically a museum, it is one of the top places to visit in Kochi, which exhibits several archaeological relics and colonial belongings of the Maharaja of Kochi. The lush green gardens outside the museum add beauty to this tourist attraction. Built in 1865, this is an apt place for the history aficionados.
Opening hours:
- Morning: 9.00 am – 12.00
- Evening: 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm.
The palace remains closed on every Monday.
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4. Folklore Museum
Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum is one of the places that are highly frequented by tourists. You can find various folk-tribal objects of Kerala here. Built in 2009, the building exhibits Malabar architectural influence.
Opening hours:
- Sun – Sat: 9.30 am – 7 pm
5. Indo-Portuguese Museum
You will find a fine blend of Indian and Portuguese culture as well as architecture in this museum. One of the best places to visit in fort Kochi area, this museum is divided into five wings that display Treasure, Altar of Furniture, Procession, Civil Life and Cathedral.
Opening hours:
- Tue – Sun: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm.
- Monday : Closed
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6. Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
One of the good places to visit in Kochi is Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary. It is one such place where you can take your kids to. You will be able to spot a wide variety of local as well as migratory birds in this sanctuary. Apart from birds, you can also spot various species of fish here.
Opening hours:
- Sun – Sat: 9 am – 6 pm
7. Cherai Beach
The serene Cherai Beach is one of the most peaceful places to visit in Kochi for couples. Away from the city, you can spend some memorable time with your partner, collecting sea shells, relaxing by the sea or trying some local delicacies in the beach shacks.
Opening hours: 24*7
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8. Veeranpuzha Beach
If you want to witness a typical Malabar coastal set up, you should head to Veeranpuzha Beach. This is again one of the best places to visit in Kochi for couples, where they can experience pure tranquility; thus, can spend some time with each other without any intervention of anybody or anything.
Opening hours: 24*7
9. Kodanad Elephant Training Center
It is one of the places to visit in Kochi in one day where you can reach early in the morning and witness elephants being washed and trained. If you want, you can also give it a try, and have that one of a kind experience.
Opening hours:
- Sun – Sat: 8 am – 5 pm
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10. Fort Kochi Beach
One of the places to visit in fort Kochi and Mattancherry, this beach is an absolute place if you want to spend some time amidst natural beauty. You can take a stroll on the beach, admiring the peaceful surroundings.
Opening hours: 24*7
11. Kathakali Center
The center opens early in the morning and closes at around 9.30 pm. Therefore, you can visit this place at any time of the day to witness the classical dance form, Kathakali, which originated in Kerala.
Opening hours:
- Sun – Sat: 6:30 am to 9 pm
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12. Malayattoor
One of the places to visit in Kochi, Kerala, this is where land, river and mountain meet; thus, frequented by tourists. The St. Thomas Church at the Malayattoor hill is a popular attraction that is visited by tourists all through the year. Don’t forget to witness the life-size statue of Saint Thomas inside the church.
Opening hours:
- Mon – Sat – 6.00 am – 5.15 pm;
- Sundays – 6.00 am -7.30 am
13. MG Road
MG Road is one name that you will find in many cities of the country, but Kochi’s MG Road has a different charm as you can go shopping here. There are many shops where you will find various souvenirs, clothes, accessories, spices, handicrafts, etc.
Opening hours:
- Sun – Sat: 11.00am to 9.00pm
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14. Kumarakom
Located 56 km from Kochi, Kumarakom has a group of small islands on the Vembanad Lake in the state. This place is more popular for the backwaters. Therefore, this place cannot be missed out from the list.
15. Athirapally Waterfalls
Situated at a distance of 73 km from Kochi, this waterfall drops from a height of 80 feet along with many parallel streams. It gives a truly mesmerizing sight.
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Kochi can give you a varied experience where there is something for everyone. Every interest can be fully understood and you can hire a rental car to fully utilize yourself before moving out of Kochi, this will save you both time and effort. The lively town clubbed with the rich heritage and friendly residents is a paradise for tourists who are seeking a true Kerala vacation.
