Travel Diary

Kochi, earlier known as Cochin, is a port city tucked away by sailing history, cultural exchange, and colonial influence for centuries. On the east is the strategic position of the Western Ghats, while towards the west lies the Arabian Sea- a combination that has lured travelers, traders, and conquerors for ages. In due course, it grew into an important spice - trading center that drew all kinds of people, cultures, and influences which have molded this city into what it is today.

If you are looking for the best places to visit in Kerala with family, we visited with our four kids and had the most amazing trip.

We have wanted to visit India with our kids for a long time. Kerala has been on our bucket list forever!! Since we were travelling with two toddlers, we felt Kerala was the best spot in India since it has a slower pace of life and is not such a busy place.

From the backwaters to Fort Kochi, there are many incredible experiences and fantastic places to visit in Kerala with family.

Embrace the charm of Forte Kochi, a tasteful amalgamation of history and luxury that encapsulates the true crumbling colonial essence of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British Raj.

Huddled together in the bitesize port city of Old Cochin is an authentic palette of history and culture that stands unparalleled. Brimming with diversity, nowhere else across the vast subcontinent can one encounter such an enchanting fusion: sprawling spider-like webbed Chinese fishing nets, ancient synagogues, and mosques, colorful colonial-era houses from the Portuguese and Dutch imperialist endeavors, and the withering remnants of the East India Company's colonial rule. This creates a strikingly saucy cookpot of medieval Portugal and Holland, with elements of an English village seamlessly integrated into the coconut-fringed tropical soil of the Malabar Coast.

Fort Kochi derives its name from Fort Manuel of Cochin, the inaugural European fort established on Indian land, administered by the Portuguese East Indies. It constitutes one of several water-locked islands and islets clustered towards the southwest corner of mainland Kochi, collectively recognized as Old or West Cochin.

While you whisk away your day amidst grand heritage and abundant luxury at Forte Kochi, make sure you also indulge your palate in the multi-cuisine delicacies available at Jetty restaurant. Jetty restaurant represents several colonial cultures that influenced Fort Kochi especially during the colonial era, and the variety of choices on the menu reflect these colonial influenced times. Jetty is one of the highly recommended restaurants in Kochi especially for its ambience.

Art intrigues and imitates life as we know it and Kochi-Muziris Biennale is here to entice all art aficionados across the globe. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale is Asia's biggest festival of contemporary art exhibition that showcases artists from all over the world. This grand event entails everything from art exhibitions to seminars, talks, screenings, musical programs, workshops, and several other educational activities for art lovers, that take place in one of the oldest ports in the country - Fort Kochi. Unlike any other art exhibition in the country, the Kochi Muziris Biennale exhibition lasts for five months at the coasts of Fort Kochi.

Travelling with your friends is always the dream, and with a few good travel tips from our experts at Paul John Resorts and Hotels, we can make that dream a reality! After all, what is a long weekend without some time to unwind with friends?

So, as the long weekend draws near, we dive into our best travel advice for friends who are looking for a getaway together.

Katie Treharne picks the top luxury stays in this tropical Indian state.

Goodbye houseboats, and hello luxury. Kerala is loaded with small luxuries, such as karimeen fish roasted in banana leaf and then smeared with turmeric and other Keralite spices; backwaters balancing bushy water hyacinths alongside coir-woven houseboats; and mountain slopes coloured-in green with tea plantations and slender silver oaks.

Are you planning a trip to Kerala and wondering whether Kochi (Cochin) is worth visiting or not? Read my complete travel guide answering all your questions, including the best places to visit in Kochi and Fort Kochi, where to stay, eat, and when to go.

After spending a week in two different destinations - Bangalore and Coorg - I thought I had experienced two very unique holidays. Nothing could match them in my two-week-long South India Trip. Still, both Fort Kochi and Kumarakom exceeded my expectations. In this post, I'll tell you why I fell in love with Kochi and what are the best things to do in Kochi in 2 days.

As the day of love comes around, it's time to begin planning a treat for you and your favourite person. Whether contemplating some special Valentine's gift ideas, a dinner reservation or picnic basket, or even some creative couple's activities, we have a suggestion that can top it all.

Forte Kochi brings you a romantic getaway in the heart of Cochin, with the windy beach and beautiful port city to explore with your significant other. The quaint city is known for its romantic settings, boasting touches of modernity mingling with centuries of heritage and art.

The sun is shining and the views are stunning as is usual this time of the year in Kerala. So it is fitting that World Tourism Day falls in the month of September, on the 27th.

You will be greeted with sunny weather on your visit to Forte Kochi, perfect for a day at the beach or simply to cycle around scenic Fort Kochi visiting historic locations. There is a reason why Fort Kochi has been on every traveller's 'must visit' list and a reason why it stays close to your heart once you do.

Planning a wedding during a global pandemic probably isn't what you had in mind when you dreamt of this special day. Weddings are meant to be memorable, it's the special day when you choose to share the rest of your life with someone special. It's a day of promises and hope. The best part of a wedding is the chance to spend the day with your closest friends and family, to celebrate your happiness with loved ones. But now, the sheer scale of hosting a wedding within all necessary stipulations is enough to put anyone on edge, especially with travel restrictions remaining in place and the size of gatherings regulated. But that doesn't mean you can't have your special day!

The toddy shop is as singular to Kerala as the bistro is to France. Over the centuries, the thatched huts of toddy bars that dot the idyll of God's Own Country have evolved their own cuisine: mostly the poor man's drinking snacks made from tapioca, fish and pork. The inaugural edition of the Toddy Shop Festival at Forte Kochi Hotel that continued over two months served both Indian and foreign patrons and guests the gastronomy of the countryside bars.

F&B Manager Harikrishnan Kaniyarakkal says, “The first edition of the festival was a hit among people. To cater to the variety of clientele we get - Europeans, Americans, Asians and North Indians - we decided to reduce the spices to suit everybody's palate.” ...

Forte Kochi sits on the popular Princess Street in Fort Kochi - one of the world's oldest cosmopolitan port cities, and a melting pot of cultures from across the world, and offers a glimpse into the colonial heritage of Kerala.

Believed to be built by the Dutch, in the 1860s, the structure of Forte Kochi was once a part of the palatial home of an eminent Jewish family of Kochi. The architecture and the heritage aesthetics are a seamless blend of Portuguese, Dutch and British influences.

Now restored to its past glory, the hotel enchants visitors with glimpses of life once known and lived, centuries ago. ...

The Paul Hotels & Resorts , dedicated to creating unique luxury experiences in the hospitality industry has unveiled yet another gem of a boutique hotel.

This 5-star hotel “Forte Kochi” is steeped in the luxurious past of its namesake town.

A breath-taking amalgamation of Portuguese, Dutch & British architecture, the originalbuilding used to be the abode of an eminent Jewish family. The beautiful structure was originally built by the Portugese, the mansion presents a medley of Portuguese, Dutch and British ...