When you are here there are lots of places to go around and see

Theme Park

Veega Land Pallikara - Located 12 kms from the city is this unique amusement park offering a world of non-stop fun and adventure.  Sprawling over 18.5.acres, the main attractions include caterpillar trains, a 500-  seater theatre with a Musical fountain, the exciting family Fun Pool,  the Nest housing a variety of exotic birds, and an array of water rides.

Shopping

Broadway
Broadway, despite its name is a narrow road lined with shops running parallel to the Marine Drive. This was the city's busiest commercial centre in the yesteryears. Even now Broadway is always busy and the best buys include clothes and spices. 

Ernakulam Market  
The Northern end of Broadway is the Ernakulam Main Market selling fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, 

Kadavanthara & Vytilla
Kadavanthara junction half a km east of downtown Kochi and the adjacent Vytilla Junction is fast developing into shopping centres in their own right. The GCDA (Greater Cochin Development Authority) and Rajiv Gandi Indoor stadium, the second largest of its kind in India is located in Kadavanthara. Kadavanthara has a number of shopping malls and showrooms including Varkeys, The big Graffiti etc. Vytilla has its own shopping malls with V-Mart supermarket and Kemco selling branded clothes, luggage, leather bags and belts etc including international and local brands and Wardrobe with casuals for youngsters. Kemco and Wardrobe are seconds sale outlets which offers designer ware and branded clothes at reasonable prices. Other such outlets include Raymond Seconds and Priceless.

Jew Town
The area around the Synagogue in Mattancherry,  is a major centre of spice trade and curio shops.

Historical Areas

Bolghatty Island:  A beautiful island lying close to Ernakulam and Willingdon Island.  The Bolghatty Palace was built by the Dutch in 1744 which later became the seat of British Resident.  The palace is now converted into a hotel. There is also a well laid golf link.

Chennamangalam:  Chennamangalam was one of the chief centres of the Jews in Kerala.  Very old Black Jews  Synagogue, remains of Vaipicotta Seminary etc, are still present,  It was the seat of Palieth Achan, the Prime Minister of erstwhile State of Cochin.

Chowara:  Former summer resort of cochin Royal family .  Lies on the northern bank of Aluva river (Periyar),  Site of water works supplying drinking water to Ernakulam city.

Cochin Harbour and Willingdon Island: Cochin, one of the finest natural harbours in the world, and the only all weather harbour on the west coast, south of Bombay, affords a safe anchorage to ships,
Willingdon Island is a man made one which was formed with materials dredged while deepening the Cochin Port and channel,  It is the seat of the harbour and cochin Port Trust.  The Southern Naval Command has its headquarters here.  The seaport,  naval airport and the railway terminus are all on this island.

Dutch Palace:  Situated at Mattancherry, it is 8 kms, away from Ernakulam.  Although called Dutch, it was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Maharaja of Cochin in 1555.  It  acquired the present name after1663 when the Dutch added some extension to the building and carried out some repairs.  In the centre of the building is the coronation hall.  17^th century murals depicting scenes from the Indian Epic, Ramayana can be seen here.


Fort Cochin :  Lies 10 kms  away ,from Ernakulam . The architectural style of the buildings and lay-out  of the town mark out Fort Cochin from other cities and towns of Kerala.  The buildings show the influence of European architecture.  The Chief attraction of Fort Cochin is the St. Francis Church built by the Portuguese  It is believed to be the first church built by Europeans in India.  The body of Vasco Da Gama was buried here.  Close to St. Francis Church is  Santa Cruz Church.  some  beautiful paintings can be seen in the Roman Catholic Church.

Jewish synagogue:   The Jewish Synagogue at Mattanchery was built in 1568.  The great Scrolls of the Old Testament, The copper plates containing the privileges granted by the cochin Ruler to the Jewish  community and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles at the Synagogue are of great interest.

Cherai Beach
It is located in  Vypin Island  accessible by ferry or by road from mainland, Kochi.  This calm beach is ideal for swimming.  It has sea on the western side and backwater on east, which gives this tourist destination, a unique surrounding.  Thick coconut grooves and Chinese  fishing nets on the waterfront give it an added attraction.  Dolphins can also be seen here occasionally.

Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary
This sanctuary is 12 km from Kothamangalam, which is on the Kochi-Munnar route.

Kodanadu
This is a forest elephant care centre.  Here you can see baby elephants rescued from the forests being cared for.   Elephants are also trained here.  Kodanadu is 15 km from Perumbavoor which is on the Kochi-Munnar route (via Aluva).
Art  Complex - Madhavan Nair Foundation, Edappally - Located at Edappally, 10 kms north of Ernakulam en route  to Alwaye, the complex consists of two units: the Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures, which presents over 200 original paintings by contemporary Indian artists, some of them  internationally acclaimed, and works of reputed Indian sculptures.  The other unit, the Centre for Visual Arts is reserved for authentic reproductions of selected world masters from Leonardo da Vinci to those of the present century.  The centre also exhibits certain larger-than-life mural reproductions of ancient Indian art.

Fort Kochi Beach:  The Fort Kochi beach is a place ideal for an evening stroll,  Bathing and swimming are not recommended here,    The colourful carnival at New Years  Eve is a feature of this beach.

Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura-  Set on top of a hillock, this  prestigious palace-turned-museum displays 13 categories of exhibits, including paintings, carvings and other royal antiquities donated by the Cochin and Travancore royal families and the Paliam Devaswom.  The Heritage Museum, located on the rear side of the palace buildings familiarizes you with the traditional lifestyles of ancient Kerala.  As part of the establishment of a mini zoo, a deer park with spotted deer, sambar and peacocks is run by the Society for the Preservation of Hill Palace Premises.  The museum premises has also been converted into a botanical garden with exotic tropical trees from central America to Australia.  Located  11 Kms east of Ernakulam, en route to Chottanikkara.

Kali Kota, Tripunithura - As the name suggests, this beautiful, imposing building  a legacy of the Dutch rule  served as an entertainment auditorium  to the erstwhile     royal family featuring dance, drama, and plays.  Today it functions largely as a marriage hall, Situated near the Poornathreyesa temple

Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi Gallery of Contemporary Art, Ernakulam -  It is situated at the Durbar Hall ground on D.H. Road.  The hall had been the durbar of the raja of Cochin

Mangrove Forest, Ernakulam -  This small protected area a haven for birds, is located on Dr. Salim Ali Road, adjacent to the High Court of Kerala, Winter migrants include species coming from Kashmir and even distant siberia.  Best time to visit mid-January to early March.

Museum of Kerala History, Edappally -  Located along with the Art Complex at Edappally, it is a Sound  and light  show presenting thirty five scenes from the political, social, and cultural history of Kerala. Commentaries in English and Malayalam.

Pallipuram Fort, Vypeen-  It is situated at the far end of Vypin island.  SMall and hexagonal, it was built in 1503, claiming to be the oldest European fort in India.

Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Cochin- There are some beautiful paintings in this Roman  Catholic church situated close to the St. francis Church.

Malayattor Kurishumudi ( It is believed where St.Thomas visited during his apostolic journey)  Bhoothathan kett, Kadamattom Church ( connected with Kadamattathu kathanar) Uliyannur (Near Aluva ,  place connected with Uliyannur Perumthachan) Kallil Temple, Kakkoor Kalavayal (Famous  Agrarian  Festival) Changampuzha Nagar Edappally  Pazhoor Padippura (Near Piravom) Koonan Cross( Mattancherry) Kochi Bishops House (Built in 1566 as  the residence  of the Portuguese  Governor )  Fort Immanuel (built in 1503. Remains  of the structure can be seen).   Bastian Bungalow (Built in 1667) David Hall  (Built in 1695 connected with Van Reed) Parade Ground, Dutch cemetery, St.Mary's   Basilica, Sahodaran  Ayyappan  Smarakam at Cherai, Children's  traffic Park  at Ernakulam, St. Francis Assisi Cathedral, Ernakulam are other Tourist attractions of the District.

Pilgrim centres