Kochi/Old Kochi

Old Kochi is the tourist enclave of Kochi, and it is separated from Ernakulam by Vembanad Lake, one of the largest in India. It consists of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the surrounding islands.

Fort Kochi is known for its neatly arranged colonial buildings, narrow well-paved roads, Anglo-Dutch influenced structures and large antiques shops. The nearby Mattancherry is primarily a trading centre, famous for its thriving Gujarati settlement brought to the city in the 16th and 17th centuries by the spice trade.

The surrounding islands include Vallarpadom Island, Vypin Island and Willingdon Island. Vypin Island is one of the most densely populated islands in the world with numerous fishing villages, tourist villages and the popular Cherai Beach. Willingdon Island is a large artificial island.

Get in
The Vembanad Lake between Ernakulam and Old Kochi is not well-bridged, and it is better to get into the peninsula by ferry.

By car
NH 966B connects Ernakulam to Old Kochi, and might be the be option if you want to get around using your own vehicle.

By ferry
There are ferry services between Fort Kochi–Ernakulam and Mattancherry–Ernakulam. The surrounding islands can also be reached using ferry.

By water metro
There's a water metro service between Vypin Island and High Court.