Having received a series of cultural transitions through centuries, from the Portuguese to the Dutch and the British, Cochin has become a charming blend of culture of colonialism. A wide array of attractions, ranging from the magnificent colonial monuments to its natural endowments like islands, lagoons, and rivers are ready to fulfill your holiday in Cochin.

Bolghatty Palace
Lying on the scenic island of Bolghatty in the Arabian Sea, the Bolghatty Palace was built by the Dutch in 1744 and served as the residence of the Dutch and the British Governors, respectively. The two-storied palace contains well-decorated bed chambers, a huge lounge displaying historical portraits. The ferry ride from the Ernakulam to the island is available, and offers the pleasantly panoramic view. On the island, there is also a picturesque golf course, ideal for picnicking.

Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
Situated in Erakulam, the Place was originally built by the Portuguese and presented to the king of Cochin in 1555. This is where the coronation of many king of Cochin took place. Later, the palace was taken by the Dutch who repaired and embellished it in 1663.

The Mattancherry Palace has two stories, designed in oriental style. Interior, the palace is graced by the fine mural paintings, dating back to the 17th century and depicting scenes of the Indian great epics, the Mahabharatha and the Ramayana. Dresses, turbans, weapons are also on display in the palace. In the central courtyard, there stand a Hindu temple, enshrining the royal deity, Palayannur Bhagavati. Two more temples lying on either side of the palace are dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva, respectively.

The palace opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Friday and National holidays.

Hill Palace
Constructed by the king of Kochi in the 19th century, the Hill Palace was the official residence of the Kochi royal family. Consisting of 49 buildings, designed in traditional architectural Kerala style, the Hill Palace sprawls over 52 acres of picturesquely terraced landscape. In the surrounding garden, a number of floras indigenous to Kerala, including the medicinal plants are grown.

The palace was converted to be a museum displaying fine collections of paintings, murals, sculptures, manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, and belongings of the royal family. Also on exhibitions are more than 200 antique pieces of pottery and from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art.

St. Francis Church
The oldest church built by the European in India, St. Francis was the site where Vasco da Gama was buried after he fell ill and died in 1524. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal, but the carved gravestone marking where he was buried can still be seen in the church. The church is notable for its decorated façade with multi-curved sides, making it the model for most of the churches in India. There are regular worship meetings in the church every Sunday and commemorative days. The church remains open on week days for visitors and tourists.

Jew Town & Jewish synagogue
In the Jew Town, the center of spice trade and trinket, there stands the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568. The synagogue is stunning for its Chinese hand-painted tiles and Belgian chandeliers. The giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here.

Fort Kochi (Fort Cochin)
The first site of the Portuguese settlement, Fort Kochi is a complex of colonial buildings, commercial and trading centers, military base, and residential buildings, representing the distinguished cultures of the European comers who changed the history and left their heritages to this land in respective periods.

The Portuguese who first landed in Cochin in the 15th by a group of explorers, led by Vasco da Gama, chose this site to be their first settlement. After growing good relations with the local ruler, the Portuguese were later granted to build the Fort Immanuel in 1553. Within its vast precincts, the Portuguese built houses, Churches, and other buildings. The force was later destroyed by the Dutch and the British, respectively, but its remains are still fascinating and worth visiting.

One of the most visited Portuguese buildings is the Vasco House, believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama, built in the early 16th century in the typical European glass paned windows and Balcony cum Verandas characteristic.

The Bishop's House is another striking Portuguese heritage, characterized by its large Gothic Arches. It also has a beautifully circular garden winding up t the main entrance.

The Princess Street or Loafer's Corner, one of the earliest streets set in Fort Cochin, is an ideal place to feel the atmosphere of the colonial period during which the Europeans lived, met each other, and enjoyed their daily life activities.

The Santa Cruz Basilica is a historic church, built by the Portuguese and elevated to a cathedral by the Pope Paul IV in 1558. It later fell to the British who demolished it. It was not until 1887 that Bishop Dom Gomez Ferreira commissioned a new building at the same site, and the church was accredited a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II.

Parade Ground is also worth visiting. Sprawling over more than four acres, the Parade Ground was served for the military drill and parade during the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British colonial periods. Surrounding the ground, there stand the buildings of their defense establishments. Today, it became an open ground used for sporting activities.

In 1663, the Dutch wrested the Fort Kochi from the Portuguese and constructed a number of buildings, trading centers, bungalows and mansions in their turn. During the Dutch period, Fort Cochin reached its pinnacle as a thriving commercial center, major military base, outstanding hub of culture and Christianity, and well-known ship building yard. The Dutch legacies as seen in town are, for example the Dutch Cemetery, wherein the tomb stones are the most authentic record of the hundred of Europeans who left their homeland on a mission to expand their colonial empires, David Hall, built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company, but named after one of its later occupant, David Koder a businessman and a member of the old Jewish community. David Hall is now maintained by the foundation for the Cultural history of the Netherlands Overseas (CNO), India. VOC Gate, facing the Parade Ground is one among other representatives of the Dutch influence. The large wooden gate was craved with the monogram VOC of the once powerful Dutch East India Company.

Another colonial facet of Fort Cochin belongs to the British who took over the town in 1795. Along with the continually thriving spices and tea trade, Fort Cochin enjoyed its status as the administrative outpost under the British rule. In many of the Bungalows, one will notice the grandeur of European Villa; evidence of distinct strain of Indo-European Architecture that matured mostly in this period. The United Club and The Cochin Club are one of the places that remarkably retain the British atmosphere. The United Club used to house the offices of Fort Cochin Municipality until 1907. Now it serves as a classroom for the nearby St. Francis Primary School, and in the evening, it became a card room for the current listed members. For the Cochin Club, it is set in a wonderfully landscaped park, housing an imposing library and a collection of sporting trophies and retaining the traditional English ambiance.

Fort Kochi is located about 13 kilometers from Ernakulam town.

Chinese Fishing Nets
The stunning thing one can see while entering the harbour of Cochin is the fascinating Chinese Fishing Nets, lining the sea-front. These fishing nets exhibit a mechanical method of catching fish, believed to have been introduced by Chinese traders coming from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan.

Cherai Beach
Bordering the Vypeen Island, the lovely Cherai Beach is ideal for swimming. The surrounding scenery around the beach is breathtaking with traditional Kerala village, lavishly green paddy fields, and coconut groves. Dolphins are occasionally seen here as well.

Pathiramanal & Alappuzha
A small island on the backwaters of Alappuzha, Pathiramanal is a haven for hundreds of rare birds migrating from different parts of the world. Surrounded by the lakes, Pathiramanal can be reached only by boat. The island is covered with the greenery space, offering unspoiled natural point for real relaxation. On the main land Alappuzha, the remarkable experience can be made while taking a boat cruise and delving though its vast networks of lakes, lagoons, and rivers.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar is one of India's most picturesque reserves. A dam constructed on the Periyar River led to the submersion of a large forest area and the formation of a 55-square kilometer-lake, which assures the local wildlife a perennial source of water and led to its rapid growth. Its prominent fauna include elephant, tiger, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, niligiri tahr, wild dog, porcupine, lion-tailed macaque, Malabar squirrel, flying squirrel, sloth bear, and gaur. The best time to visit the sanctuary is between December and May.