From: tripunit@algol.cs.psu.edu (Mahesh V Tripunitara)
Subject: Re: Cochin
Organization: Penn State Computer Science
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 19:28:25 GMT

In article <3NOV199216290709@rosie.uh.edu> st1s0@rosie.uh.edu (Hans, Samir) writes:
>G' day,

Hello!

>I was wondering if anyone on the net is familiar with Cochin. I plan going 

Heh! Yes, you came to the right place alright. I am sure almost everyone that
pays any attention to this newsgroup is familiar with Cochin (Kochi).

>there this December. Would love to know about it. Places of interest, action
>places for young people and the works. More the information, the better it is.
>Also, some good hotels where one could stay.

December is a nice time to visit Cochin...well, anytime of the year is a
nice time to visit Cochin. Relics of Cochin's colonial past are worth a
visit. The Dutch Palace, The Mattancherri Synangogue (a must-see), St.
Francis Church (original burial site of Vasco da Gama), Santa Cruz
Cathedral, Bolghatty island (& the Palace-Hotel in it), Parishat Thampuran
Museum, Tripunithura Hill Palace Museum & the Museum of Kerala History
are some spots I can think of. Cherai Beach is a short journey from Fort
Cochin, and the journey itself is interesting. Fort Cochin is a very nice
place & one needs to take a boat from there to Vypeen island. Cherai beach
is on Vypeen island (if I am not mistaken). One could also visit Gundu
island, which has a coir factory. (Of course, one has to get on a boat
to get to these islands and that is one damned good reason to visit
them...or you could just get the boatman to take you on an hour long
boat-ride on an evening).

Kathakali performances are staged nightly by the Cochin Cultural Centre
& the See India Foundation. If you are early, you can watch the performers
put on their makeup...it is really interesting. Art Kerala stages
Mohiniyattam, Ottanthullal & Koodiyattam every evening. There are a
few places to go to for Yoga classes too, if you are interested in attaining
salvation after death (Cochin institute of Yogasanas, Yoga Marg, Yoga
Therapeutic Centre etc.). Ernakulam town (which is one of the twin-towns
that are together called Cochin or Kochi city) offers most opportunities
that cities (in India) offer.

Also, Kerala(m) being a small state, & Cochin being rather centrally
located (ahem! yes, I am from Cochin) driving to other places in Kerala
is made easy. I can think of innumerable places within a few hours (by
road) from Cochin that might interest you. Allepey (Allapuzha), Kottayam
(& all the towns close to it such as Changanasseri), Trichur (Guruvayur,
which is where the famous Sri Krishna temple is located, is just 20
miles from Trichur. There is also the Alathur Kota near the temple,
where you get to see about 40 elephants that are housed there), Kaladi
(birthplace of Adi Shankara) etc. etc. etc.

Malabar Hotel (owned by the Taj group) is easily the best hotel in
Cochin. It's location is ideal for a vacationer (right by the sea).
Other (relatively expensive) hotels I can think of are Presidency
Ashok (ITDC - Ashok group hotel), Casino hotel, Bolghatty Palace
Hotel (some of the rooms here are HUGE) & Abad Plaza (excellently
located - right in the heart of Ernakulam). There are of course
other hotels as well (Bharat Hotel, Dwaraka, Woodlands etc. etc.).

And make sure you visit my home at Cochin when you go there. That's
the biggest attraction in Cochin for me!

Mahesh.
Newsgroups: alt.culture.kerala