Varanasi 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:

Varanasi is the oldest city of the world with rich educational and spiritual background. Commonly known as Banaras and Kashi, the city is located on the banks of the holy river Ganga. Some of the monikers bestowed to the city that highlight its significance are the 'city of temples', 'holy city of India', ' religious capital of India', ' city of lights', ' city of learning', and 'oldest living city on earth'. Besides housing a wide range of tourist attractions, the city is also an industrial hub. The Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), a major diesel locomotive manufacturing plant of Indian railways, is located here.

It is a popular destination of India in more than one way and is well-connected by Varanasi flights to different cities. This holy destination is visited by several domestic and international tourists in search of spiritual peace. Varanasi is also famous for its 'banarasi sarees', which are produced locally in small cottage industries. Some of the popular tourist attractions of Varanasi are the Ganga Ghats, Alamgir Mosque, Bharat Mata Temple, Archaeological Museum, Sarnath and Bharat Kala Bhavan. All this can be explored by availing flights to Varanasi.

For knowing more about the various airfare deals and availing flight booking services, tourists can visit www.makemytrip.com.

Varanasi airdrome is well linked with major Indian cities such as Delhi, Ahmedabad, Khajuraho, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Agra. Frequent flights of Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and SpiceJet run to this city. The distance between the airport and the centre of Varanasi is around 29.9 km. You can have a comfortable stay in the hotels like Ramada Plaza JHV Hotel and M M Continental Hotel.