Fort Kochi: 13 km from VJ VILLA

The iconic land of Fort Kochi is famous around the world for its sea kissed lands and lively streets oozing with Portuguese architecture. Fort Kochi is the place where nature blends in with ancient heritage. No one can miss the grandeur of Chinese fishing nets laid across beautiful warm tinted beaches. Culinary varieties here are one of the best in Kerala, with a special focus on seafood. Because of its long trading heritage, the culinary has its influence from the local Christian community as well the Portuguese style. Fort Kochi has other interesting sites such as the St Francis church, Jain temples, Jewish Cemetery and a lot more. Being an immensely popular tourist destination frequent folklore shows and classical performances like Kathakali and Koodiyattom are staged here.

Hill Palace Museum: 11km

Build in 1865 in the traditional architecture style as the official residence and administrative centre of Cochin Maharaja is a beautiful site to visit. Located at Thripunithura with a total area of 54 acres the hill palace complex houses an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a prehistoric park and a children’s park. Get a comprehensive understanding of Kochi royalty and heritage through a one day visit to hill palace.

Mattancherry Palace: 10km

Mattancherry Palace was originally presented by the Portuguese as a gift to the Kochi king as a token of their long-standing alliance around 1555. It’s a magnificent palace blending traditional architecture with European style. The glory of palace rests on the large numbers of murals placed across the palace depicting various Hindu temple art forms. Mattancherry Palace is also called as Dutch palace and is one of those few sites we can breathe in the very essence of history itself. Located very near to the Mattancherry Palace is the world-famous Jew Street. Here you can find antique furniture shops and beautiful roadside handicraft sellers. It is one of the to be places in Kochi for people who loves antique furniture and exotic handicraft items. The Jew Street is the perfect destination for buying souvenirs that reminds you of wonderful time you had in Kochi.

Paradeshi Synagogue: 10Km

Paradeshi synagogue also known as the Cochin Jewish synagogue or the Mattancherry synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in Common Wealth of nations. Constructed in 1567, the synagogue stands as a heritage site representing the rich cultural and religious harmony that Kochi has always been famous for. The synagogue has its own speciality because of its historical cultural mixing with local Hindu, Christian and Muslim cultures. A visit to the synagogue is an excellent opportunity to see in person some rare relics from the past, like the Scrolls of the Law, gold crowns received as gifts, many Belgian glass chandeliers, and a brass-railed pulpit.

Wonderla: 20km

For thrilling rides that pump your adrenaline levels, Wonderla Amusement Park in Kochi is a must visit place. Wonderla offers all kind of rides for each member of the family. Wonderla has dedicated sections of land rides, water rides, thrill rides and rides for the kids. A trip to Wonderla will kick start your vacation mood to a whole new level.

Kodanad Elephant Training Centre 50km

A paradise land for all the elephant lovers out there. Located just 45kms away from the Ernakulam city is the largest elephant training facility in Kerala. A visit a Kodanad is a different experience. You get to see these majestic creatures at their growing stages, see how they are groomed and even interact with them. Kodanad is a must-see place for families who love animals.

Marine drive 7km

Marine drive is a beautiful promenade build facing the backwaters of Kochi. It’s a centerpiece attraction site where people from all backgrounds come and have a good time. Ironic to the name, Marine drive doesn’t allow vehicles in. A walk through the Marine Drive soon after the evening is a soulful experience. With several shopping malls located along the way Marine drive also acts as one of the hottest shopping destinations in Kerala. With the cool enchanting breeze of the backwaters and serenity of the open space, Marine drive is a perfect choice to spend your evenings.

Marine drive also has this wonderful cruise program through the very beautiful Cochin back waters to add to your evening mood. The cruises are available in different packages according to the size of your group and the amount of time you want to spent gazing the seductive charm of calm back waters. Take one cruise like this with your loved ones to see never before seen perspectives of life and living.

Athirapally 62km

Get into the cradle of nature and witness the majestic sight of Athirapally waterfalls, also popularly known as the Niagara of Kerala. Find yourself enchanted by lush greenery and dense forestry around Athirapally. Along the route, there are other smaller but equally tranquil waterfalls of Charpa, Vazhachal etc. Visitors can reach the top of the waterfall via a paved walkway that leads through thick bamboo clusters. A steep narrow path also leads to the bottom of the falls. Athirapally waterfalls are at their beautiful best during the monsoon seasons

Ezhattumugham 53km

While Athirapally evokes awe, Ezhattumugham calms the soul. Located just 9Km downhill from Athirapally lies the Ezhatumugham, the village kissed by nature. After the display of power at the Athirapally waterfalls, Chalakudy rivers flow in here as the gentle princess waiting to tickle your feet. It is gentle, serene and soul cleansing. There is also Prakirthi Gramam setup by the Government of Kerala with features like hanging bridge, butterfly garden, children’s park, all located on the two sides of a check dam. Ezhattumugham is a must-see destination for tourists who love being close to nature with a sense of tranquility and peace.

Kerala folklore museum 3 km

It is a museum that is completely dedicated to folklore and preservation of ancient culture and heritage of South India. Folklore Museum works with the aim of providing art education to the students and visual & academic knowledge to art lovers, researchers, and travelers from all over the world. It is the only architectural museum in Kerala and is a treasure trove of stone, wood and bronze sculptures, ancient terracotta etc. Travelers with a flair for ancient art forms and performances will have an excellent time here.

Kerala History museum 15km

Established in 1984, the Museum of Kerala History and the Gallery of Contemporary art is a paradise for all the history buffs out there. The museum is located just 3 Kms. away from Lulu mall in a large green campus. It feels as if you are not in a city, once you enter the museum complex. The museum continues to amuse people of all age groups through the feature rich re-telling of the complete Kerala history through sculptures, displays, and many other art forms. The accompanying doll museum and art gallery is a treat to the eyes and fodder to the brain.

Bastion bungalow 13km

Built in the Indo-European style way back in 1667, the Bastion Bungalow gets its name from its location on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the Old Dutch fort. The bungalow is situated on River Road in Fort Kochi, Ernakulam. The building blends beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion, has a tiled roof and a typical first-floor veranda in wood along its front portion. The Portuguese built Fort Immanuel during the early decades of the 16th century and when the Dutch captured Kochi in 1663, they started destroying the fort and reduced it to almost one third its size. Originally, the fort had seven bastions. Of these, the Stormberg bastion was later converted to the Bastion Bungalow. Now it serves as the official residence of the district sub-collector and also a declared protected monument by the State Archaeology department. It’s a fine place to visit when you roam the streets of Fort Kochi.

Mangalavanam bird sanctuary 8km

Located right behind the Kerala High Court is the green lung of the Kochi, Mangalavanam. Covering about 2.74 hectares, with abundances of mangroves and a shallow tidal lake connected to Kochi backwaters through a canal; is the nesting ground for a large variety of migratory birds. The true mangrove and mangrove associate species that exist in the sanctuary are Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius and Acrostichum aureum. For nature enthusiasts and bird lovers, Mangalavanam offers the unique opportunity to observe and study different species in their natural habitat.