Why is Fort Kochi famous?
The most popular photo’s of Fort Kochi are the Chinese Fishing nets at Vasco da Gama Square. The is also known for the Dutch, British and Portuguese architecture. The famous explorer Vasco Da Gama was originally buried in the St. Francis Church. The Heritage buildings are now hosting hotels, B&B’s and art galleries. Fort Kochi is not only historically or culturally interesting. There are also many upscale restaurants and coffee shops serving Keralan specialities, European food, strong fresh grinded coffee, mouth watering chocolate cakes and pastries.
Why is it called Fort Kochi?
The Portuguese built a fort and that is why the area is called Fort Kochi. Most of the fort is destroyed by the Dutch but if you walk along the beach you can see parts of the old fort. At Mahatma Gandhi Beach are ruins of the Gunnery of Fort Emmanuel were you can see an old canon.
Photos of Fort Kochi
How many days in Fort Kochi?
I have been to Kochi twice and, besides the pushy and annoying rickshaw drivers, I had a great time at Fort Kochi. These days I’m not only travelling but also working. I stayed at a boutique hotel where I was allowed to work in the restaurant during the day. In the mornings and evenings I loved to explore the many different restaurants, café’s, cultural sites or I just went for a stroll along the shoreline.
I have written a post about Fort Kochi about the things you can do and see. I extended my initial stay of four days to eight days and came back a second time. That is how much I love to stay in Fort Kochi. To see most of the sites a one or two day visit should be enough. But if you have more time it’s an ideal place to settle down for a few days or a week.
When you stay longer you might have the opportunity to meet a few locals. If you are lucky they take you around and show you the places they like to go to. One of my friends showed me around in Mattancherry and we eat at a local restaurant. The south Indian Dosa was amazing. The owner didn’t speak English and it’s a bit off the beaten track where tourists don’t go. These kind of local experiences are memorable and only possible when you meet people who are living there and know the area.
Need some help planning your trip?
Would you like to visit Fort Kochi but you need help planning the trip? I can help you with that. I’m specialized in setting up personal itineraries. I can also take care of all the necessary arrangements for you like booking the flights, hotel(s), and local transport. Need some assistance? Feel free to contact me.
