With abundant scenic beauty and dramatic landscapes, Kochi is the prime holiday destination of the South Indian state of Kerala. This dynamic city features an interesting cultural mix of Indian, Arabic, British, Chinese and Portuguese influences. This multicultural aspect of the city is magnificently manifested in the form of its numerous tourist attractions that visitors can explore and admire during their book Kochi holiday packages. Some of these top-rated attractions in the city include:
Museum of Kerala History: The Museum of Kerala History in Edappally, Kochi offers a whirlwind tour of the rich cultural legacy and glorious history of Kerala. The museum greets visitors with an iconic statue of Parasurama, the Hindu sage who is believed to have created Kerala. The MNF Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures here displays paintings by M F Hussain, Raja Ravi Varma, Jamini Roy and Manu Parekh. The museum remains open from 10am to 5pm on all days except Mondays.
Marine Drive: As its name suggests, Marine Drive in Kochi is a scenic promenade quite popular among visitors looking for some leisure time in the evening. This popular attraction was built on the land reclaimed by flushing the backwaters, and after its initial spate as a coastal road, this iconic drive was converted into a walkway in compliance with the coastline rules of Kerala. Visitors can embark on hourly cruises organized by private boat operators here.
Kodanad Elephant Training Center: The Koldanad Elephant Training Centre at a rural riverside village near the Periyar River is another must-visit attraction worth exploring during luxury holidays to Kerala. Here you may enjoy the sight of elephants bathing in the river. This dynamic tourist centre also counts among the Ecotourism destination projects by the Government of India, and is chiefly used as a rescue centre for elephants captured from the adjoining forests of Kerala.
Saint Francis Church: Saint Francis Church in Fort Kochi is one of India’s oldest European churches. The church has an excellent front view and is best known for being the original burial site of Vasco da Gama who died in Kochi in 1524. The church also gains its significance from the fact that it was the only remaining Catholic church in Kochi after the Protestant Dutch destroyed all other churches in the city after they captured the city in 1663.
Mattancherry Palace: The Mattancherry Palace is a quadrangular palace built with Nalukettu style architecture. This iconic city attraction features a courtyard in the centre that serves as the residing place for the goddess of the Kochi royal family. The black flooring of this royal palace is worth admiring which is made using burnt coconut shells, charcoal, lime and egg whites to give it a polished finish. This iconic palace also houses several murals painted in vibrant colors.
Hill Palace Museum: As an abode of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi, the Hill Palace Museum exhibits numerous ornaments and the crown of the Kochi royal family. Apart from the royal regalia, one can also admire several paintings, stones, weapons, coins and inscriptions depicting the rich past of the city. The museum also houses a heritage museum, an archeological museum, a pre-historic park, a deer park, a children’s park and horse cart gallery.
Visitors can explore all these interesting and popular attractions during their cheap holidays to Kochi offered by Brightsun Travel.
