Chennai to Kochi

About the city:

About kochi

Kochi, or Cochin as it was until recently known as officially, came into existence in 1340 AD, after a massive flood in the Periyar River, which destroyed the world-renowned port of Cranganore. The flooding caused the formation of a natural harbour at Kochi. Kochi always had the strategic advantage over other sea towns on the Western Ghats due to the international seafaring route between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Owing to foreign and domestic rules, Kochi gradually developed into a major centre for trade, trading in high-quality spices like pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. The Portuguese ruled the land, which was called Cochin back then, from 1503, and the city was the first European Colony in India. The rulers built the Fort Emmanuel. In 1653, the Dutch invaded Cochin and took over the reins of the city from the Portuguese in 1663 and built the Fort Williams. However, the Dutch were soon defeated by the Mysore rulers, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It wasn’t until 1814, much after the British annexed most of India, that Cochin became a part of the East India Co. and the British Empire in general. Its spices made Cochin the baseline for British interest in this port. In 1956, after independence, the state of Kerala was formed by uniting the provinces of Cochin, Malabar, and Travancore. Cochin, or now Kochi, is a part of the Ernakulam District, which is a merger of various places including Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Kanayannur Taluk, and other nearby villages.

How to reach Kochi

• Kochi By Air

– The Cochin International Airport is the main airport serving the city of Kochi, which is 29 kilometres from the main city centre. All major domestic and International carriers operate flights to Kochi on a daily basis. One of the first in the world to operate completely on solar energy, the Cochin International Airport is also one of the busiest airports in the country in terms of international traffic.

• Kochi By Rail

– The Southern Railways, a regional branch of the Indian Railways, connects Kochi to all major cities across India by means of superfast and fast trains. There are two major railway stations in Cochin – Ernakulam Town Station and Ernakulam Junction; most inbound trains halt at either of these stations.

• Kochi By Road

– Kerala has a very strong network of buses run by the state transportation board, the Kerala State Run Transport Corporation (KSRTC), as well as private buses for connectivity within the state. The states connected through KSRTC bus services include Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka. Air-conditioned deluxe Volvos ply regularly from Kochi to cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and Trivandrum.

What to do in Kochi

Kochi is a vibrant shoreline city in the Indian coastal state of Kerala, with the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. It was initially known as Cochin under the colonial rule. Kochi lies on the south-western coastline of the Indian Peninsula, with a breath-taking sea view and natural beauty. The establishment of this city dates back to the 1500s when the Portuguese landed here; further colonization of the city resulted in a diverse set of culture and traditions for the city that have been thriving even in the current era. Kochi has been under the influence of various cultures such as the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Chinese, the Arabs, and ultimately the British, and the remnants of the cultures show from the Dutch cemetery and Portuguese and British architecture in the city to the famous Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi. Kochi has always had strategic importance as a port, which gave the city the name “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. Casually, Kochi is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. This port city has been given many other names such as “Mini England” (British), “Homely Holland” (Dutch) and “Little Lisbon” (Portuguese). Geographically, Kochi lies in proximity to the equator; but the seas and the nearby mountains make it a place where one can enjoy moderate, equatorial weather conditions. Kochi is not a very big town; however, this is a great place to start exploring the beauty that is the state of Kerala. Here are some of the top things to do when in Kochi:
1. Sri Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
2. Kerala Kathakali Centre
3. LuLu Mall
4. Kerala Folklore Museum
5. Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
6. Edappally Church Complex
7. Mattancherry Town and Palace
8. Jew Town
9. Paradesi Synagogue
10. Cherai Beach
11. Marine Drive
12. Church of Saint Francis
13. Chinese Fishing Nets
14. Vallarpadam Church
15. Hill Palace, Tripunithura
16. Ernakulatthappan Temple
17. Princess Street
18. Fort Kochi Beach
19. David Hall Gallery & Cafe
20. Subhash Park
21. Bhoothathankettu Dam & Reserve Forest

Major Airports in and near Kochi

Cochin International Airport is the main airport serving people taking flights to Kochi or from Kochi. Major domestic and international fliers de-board here to travel to Kochi and other nearby cities. MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Kochi. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Kochi or from Kochi. MakeMyTrip flights to Kochi can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.

About the city:

About Chennai

Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu, situated on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal. It is the fifth largest urbane settlement in India, a hub for culture, commerce, and education in all of South India. The main city and its adjoining regions form the limits of what was initially known as Madras, presently called the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Chennai is visited by many foreign and domestic tourists. While one of the reasons is that Chennai is considered among the safest cities in India, many tourists come here seeking health.

How to reach Chennai

• Chennai By Air

– Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is the main airport serving people taking flights to Chennai or from Chennai. Located in Meenambakkam, the airport is 21 km from Chennai’s city centre. Major domestic carriers operate direct flights to Chennai and from the city, while all major international carriers fly from and to the city too.

• Chennai By Rail

– Chennai houses the headquarters of Southern Railway, one of the 17 zones of the Indian Railways. Three of the major railway stations in the city are Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore (2 km from the city) and Tambaram (which lies in the suburbs). Most super-fast and express trains travel to Chennai on a daily basis, with direct connectivity to top metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

• Chennai By Road

– The Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT) connects cities like Tirupati, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, and Tirunelveli. Among the bus services offered, one could select between deluxe, semi-deluxe, hi-tech, Rajahamsa executive, and sleeper buses; they also connect major cities like Bangalore and Calicut to Chennai.
Chennai is well connected to most neighbouring cities by a network of highways. The five major highways connect Kolkata, Bengaluru, Madurai, Tiruvallur, Nellore, Vellore, and Pondicherry to Chennai.

What to do in Chennai

Chennai has some very classical looking structures and is one of the metropolitan cities in the country, which has the largest number of heritage monuments. The Marina Beach has a 6 km coastline, the longest coastline in India. The San Thomas Cathedral Basilica, built by the Portuguese in 1523 and designed in the Neo–Gothic style, is one of the only 23 Basilicas in India. Chennai is also about 74 km away from spiritual destinations like Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram. Pondicherry and Vellore are two cities that are a drive’s distance from the metropolitan capital city. This city is combination of experiences that bring in foreign and domestic tourists on a daily basis. One must-explore beyond the obvious to really soak in that well-preserved southern culture of the country. If you also want to experience the famous Pongal festival, try to travel here around January. Following places should form your list of must-see places when in Chennai.
1. Mylapore temple
2. Fort Saint George Secretariat
3. Madras High Court
4. George Town Markets and Bazaars
5. Marina Beach
6. T Nagar
7. Cholamandal Artists’ Village
8. Kalakshetra Arts Academy
9. Vivekananda House (Vivekananda Illam)
10. The Turtle Walk: To See Olive Ridley Turtle
11. The Ripon Building
The best time to visit the city is from November until February, when the temperatures range between 20°C and 25°C. During the day, cool breeze from the sea provides relief from the regular sultry weather. Pongal, celebrated in the month of January, makes this a special season to travel to Chennai. From March to June, summers make the city extremely hot and humid, with temperatures rising to a whopping 40°C and above. However, the city is less crowded then, and one can expect good hotel deals during this time. Monsoons in Chennai last from July to September, with the city being engulfed in heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Major Airports in and near Chennai

Chennai International Airport (IATA: MAA) is the main international airport, serving people taking flights to Chennai or from the city. It is located in Meenambakkam, which is 21 km from Chennai. The airport is ranked as the fourth busiest airport in India. The Chennai International Airport has two adjacent domestic and international terminals, which were the first of its kind back in the day. They are named after former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, K. Kamaraj and C. N. Annadurai.
• The Chennai airport serves as the South Indian regional headquarters for the Airports Authority of India.
• The airport also serves as the nucleus for Blue Dart Aviation, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines, and a focal point city for Air India and GoAir airlines.
MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Chennai. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Chennai or from Chennai, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to Chennai can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.