[Ravveendrra]

Hi,

I am due to spend a few days in Cochin the next week and want to spend one day at a great, fantastic beach preferably within 140 kms from Cochin. I would like to avoid crowds and would like quiet beaches where we are the only people around. A beach with the backwaters on one side and the sea on the other would be perfect.

I am also contemplating a day cruise on a kettuvellom. I hear Aleppy's waterways are too crowded - should I go further till Quilon or go to Kumarakom (inland)?

Pointers on great places to eat in and around Cochin would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks in advance.

[ajitsank]

Originally Posted by Ravveendrra

Hi,

I am due to spend a few days in Cochin the next week and want to spend one day at a great, fantastic beach preferably within 140 kms from Cochin. I would like to avoid crowds and would like quiet beaches where we are the only people around. A beach with the backwaters on one side and the sea on the other would be perfect.

I am also contemplating a day cruise on a kettuvellom. I hear Aleppy's waterways are too crowded - should I go further till Quilon or go to Kumarakom (inland)?

Pointers on great places to eat in and around Cochin would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks in advance.

Quiet Beach for yourself will be one hard thing to find. Take a cab to chertalla (35KM). Ask the cab driver to take you to cherthalla beach, it still has the crowd but not as much as other place. Spend time till sunset and you can find your way back to your place of stay or could choose to stay in some of the good hotels on the highway (cherthalla).

Kettuvallom: Tell your cabby to take you to the Alappuza - Changnacherry Highway. In a place called Nedumudy or near this place there is a company that provides HouseBoat (not sure the company name Mannapuram or Muthoot I guess). I am sure your cabby will know the place and location.

Food: There are plenty place to eat. It depends on where you stay. If you are veggie there is Dwaraka, woodlands, Bharath Tourist Home etc. For non-veggies the list is endless. If you are a non-veggie and if you are in cherthalla please visit "THE HUT". I love this place. There are tons of good restaurants.

Pointers:
1. Look for staying in Cherrai Beach
2. Take a Service boat from Boat Jetty to Wellington Island or Mattancherry or any other place. Enjoy the public service (boat ride). Not many people do this. I love this very much. Get down at the end point and walk around and see the place.
3. Drive to Vypin
4. Drive to Vazachal water falls (full day trip), will be terribly crowded during holiday season.

Have a good trip. Be prepared to sweat it out. Drink loads of water. Wear cotton dress and sweat absorbent.

[Skyline GT-R]

Restaurants in Kochi serving good Kerala cuisine.
Kayikkas Biryani - Off MG Road (I think Durbar Hall road).
Ceylon bake House - MG Road.
Gokul's (various locations for Veg esp breakfast dosa/idli stuff)
Woodlands/Dwaraka MG Road (same as above)
For Fish varieties try any beachside shack in Fort Kochi.
Seafood restaurant @ Casino Hotel Willingdon island (Award winning, little high end with no menu; you can order the fish as you want it)

The foreign tourist season is getting over & domestic tourists will start crowding only after the exam season.

Cherai (30 kms) is a good beach near Kochi which has decent restaurants/accommodation/bar. It gets little crowded usually only in the evening 5-7PM, but you have a really long beach to walk.

Arthungal near Cherthala (35 kms) is also good beach which is not crowded but dont excpect any facilities there (haven't been there for long time maybe other members can clarify if things have improved)

Kumarakom is classic if you are interested in backwater cruise. Lots of choices including KTDC. Check the website for availability.

[ptushar]

Hi,
I am travelling to Cochin this week and will be arriving into Cochin by train at Ernakulum Junction. From here I need to travel to Cherai beach, which is where I am staying. What is the best mode of transport from Ernakulum Junction to Cherai beach? Does the railway station have a prepaid taxi stand?

I will be travelling with my family i.e. wife and two kids.

[ANUJ GEORGE]

I will suggest a taxi from the railway station.It should be around 30 - 35Kms. Not sure about prepaid taxi, but due to the horrible road condition, taxi guys might ask for a premium. If you are traveling light, try the boat service from Ernakulam Jetty to Vypin and a taxi from Vypin to Cherai.