Fort Kochi

Kochi, India

The historic core, home to the Chinese fishing nets, colonial architecture, and the beach promenade.

Places in Fort Kochi

The Rice Boat A restaurant serving exquisite seafood with backwater views from the Taj Malabar Resort.
Fort Kochi beach promenade cafés Cafés along the promenade, good for watching the fishing nets at work over coffee.
Rain Tree A relatively upscale restaurant-bar in Fort Kochi, popular for evening drinks.
Chinese fishing nets Cantilevered fishing nets thought to have been introduced by traders from China, still worked daily along the Fort Kochi shoreline.

Best time to visit: November to February brings dry, comfortable weather; the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, when running, adds a strong contemporary art draw.
Getting around: Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are walkable; ferries connect Fort Kochi to Ernakulam across the harbour, a scenic and practical way to cross the city.
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
Language: Malayalam, English. English is common in tourism.
Timezone: IST (UTC+5:30)
Current trends: Heritage hotels in colonial mansions continue to be Kochi's strongest accommodation category, with boutique conversions adding to long-standing addresses like Brunton Boatyard.

Mattancherry — The old spice-trading quarter, home to the Paradesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace.
Mattancherry — A historic trading quarter of spice warehouses, antique shops, and the Dutch Palace, alongside Jew Town's synagogue.