A night in Kochi

Historically known as Cochin, it is located south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as

'God's Own Country'.

View from the plane (Kingfisher! excellent service but a little dirty yeeks...!)

1st Stop : Hill Museum

Travel Tip: GO with a TOUR Guide or go when they decide to renovate.


Kochi was previously controlled by the Dutch, British and Portuguese, its probably the only place in India you will see a church in almost every corner!

Stop 2 : St. Francis Church

Travel tip 2 : Check the opening hours...the church was closed when i got there...

So i ended up watching the kids play cricket on the field next to the chuch

A few metres away.. Hungry?!?...

Walk from St. Francis Church to Chinese Fishing Nets...

Cute stalls that sells fishermen pants, sourvenirs made of shells, bracelets, necklaces etc...

Stop 3 : Chinese Fishing Nets

A must see...go during the late afternoon/evening and walk along the beach while the sun sets!

Smells like fish but sheer beauty...

Try the river prawns...thats what they catch with the nets during the night...

Stop 4: Cherai Beach

Refer to Travel tip 1 - get a tour guide and do not go to Cherai after sun down

They were renovating the roads, so we had to walk about 400m to the beach..there are no street lamps only drunken men pissing on the side walk....

Not scenic at night! reminds me of Kuantan's beach only more dangerous :s

Retire for the night and wake up to the must see Back Waters of Kochi.

Views from the Taj Hotel - Kochi

Reminds me of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam...

Enjoy the view little birdy...

Watch the Kathakali performance...highly stylised classical Indian dance drama.

Pity i didn't get to watch it...maybe next time...

When in Kochi buy BANANA CHIPS!

The sight of the kitchen might put you off but the chips are worth a try...

Natural or sweet...a tasty and cheap present for the folks at home!

Sunset in Kochi...I'll be back...

Kisck you.

Crown Palace (Taj Mahal)

Love, like a river, will cut a new pathwhenever it meets an obstacle.- Crystal Middlemas -

The Taj Mahala ("Crown Palace") - One of the Seven Wonders of the World - a manificient structure made entirely of Indian Marbel that took 22 years to complete. It was built by the 5th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The four pillars are angled at 88 degrees away from the dome to prevent damage to the palace in the event of a calamity.

A glimpse of the Taj Mahal from Agra Fort.

The entrance.

There were heaps of people...and the line to get in was crazy..

TRAVEL TIP! Go with a tour group/guide and he'll pay off the guards to get you first in line...leave everything in the bus/car..carry your camera and valuables only..

Here we go!

Behold the symbol of true love fulfilled from a dying wish!
Couples are said to fall in love all over again when they see the Taj Mahal..even the squirrels were kissing in the garden!
The line to get into the palace to see the tomb of the emperor and his wife. However their tombs are actually buried below the palace, only mock ups were put inside the palace for all to see.

Beware pickpockets and molesters!

I cheated and went in from a side EXIT :P

There is nothing to see...But voices echo up to 13 seconds in a silent room!

The view from the palace!

A closer look! The black writings are scripts from the koran.

Mark Twain once made a famous remark that the world is made up of two kinds of people: those who have seen Taj Mahal and those who have not!

Wish you were there...