Kochi India | Fort Kochi and Ernakulam in Kerala | Accommodation, restaurants, attractions and shops | India backpacker, travel to the India

Kochi India: the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi

All information below is subject to change Kochi consists of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon island and Ernakulam and much more. In this article I will focus on Fort Kochi and Ernakulam.

Fort Kochi has been strongly influenced by European culture for centuries, and it is deeply reflected in its architecture, food and history.

If you compare Ernakulam and Fort Kochi, it can be hard to digest that these two belong to the same country. Fort Kochi is absolutely stunning with its great architecture, laid-back and charming cafes.

But if you expect and want a 'real' piece of India, Fort Kochi is not the place to go and visit. Not many things will remind you of India in Fort Kochi.

I stayed in Fort Kochi for 3 weeks because of my field work. So I got to know this place very well.

Kochi India: Santa Cruz Church What I do know is that if you want to escape from the hassle and noise, Fort Kochi is perfect. It was very quiet compared to several places in India and Kerala.

So a couple of days of voyage into Fort Kochi will do good for your mind and body.

Another thing about Fort Kochi (and Kerala) was its people. I got to know fantastic Keralites during my stay there, and I will never forget them.

In general, the South Indian culture differs from the North Indian. And I'm probably not the only one thinking that Kerala is much more calmer than the north.

In fact, the differences are quite noticeable. You will notice it you too. People in the south harass you a lot less than they do in the north.

By air: Domestic and international flights land at Kochi airport, located 1,5 hour from Ernakulam city center.

From the airport you can take taxis to Ernakulam city center or Fort Kochi. I took a taxi from Ernakulam to the airport, and it cost me Rs 600. The ride took one hour. From Fort Kochi, a taxi to the airport will cost around Rs 700-800.

Here's the KSRTC AC-bus time table to and from airport:

Time table is picked up from stayinkochi.com.

Boat to Fort Kochi By train: There are two railway stations in Kochi, Ernakulam Town (around 3 km north of city center) and Ernakulam Junction.

Ernakulam Junction (ERS) is the closest station to the ferries heading for Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the other islands (Vypeen and Bolghatty).

When arriving at Ernakulam Junction, take a pre-paid Rickshaw. The booth is right outside the main entrance. It cost Rs 20 from the railway station to the main boat jetty, in addition to a service charge (Rs 1). The ride takes 10 minutes.

When arriving at the main boat jetty, there's a ticket booth on your left side. If there's a long queue, there's a separate lady queue to the right. The ticket cost only Rs 3, and the boat ride takes 20 minutes to Fort Kochi.

Time table: Ernakulam to Fort Kochi -- (picked up from stayinkochi.com)

Time table from Fort Kochi to Ernakulam/Willingdon island:

Kochi India

When arriving in Fort Kochi, you can either walk or take an auto rickshaw to the main tourist area, where most of the guesthouses, homestays and hotels are located in town.

Most of the accommodation facilities are heavily concentrated around Princess street, Bastian street, Burger street and Peter Celli street, while many hotels and resorts can be found on Tower Road and along the shores.

How to leave Kochi: the same way you got in. By rail Ernakulam Junction connects to most major towns and cities in Kerala. Trains to Trivandrum also leave Ernakulam Town.

Kochi India: Ticket booth at Fort Kochi jetty Most trains to Goa (Madgaon) leave Ernakulam Junction and take between 12-16 hours, depending on train route. If you're on your way to Wayanad, you can take the train from Ernakulam Junction/Town and get off at Kozhikode (Calicut). The train ride takes 4-5 hours, and another long bus or taxi ride from Calicut to Wayanad.

You should have at least one hour at your hands when arriving at the railway station. I will tell you about one incident.

I booked a seat on a train from Ernakulam Junction to Trivandrum. I arrived there 45 minutes before departure. Guess what they said?

"I'm sorry, but the train route to Trivandrum has been moved to Ernakulam Town. Only for today."

I grabbed my stuff, and ran to find an auto. The ride from Ernakulam Junction to Ernakulam Town took 15 minutes, and cost Rs 35. I was glad that I showed up early, that's for sure :-)

Important information for Kochi:
Police: Office at Ernakulam Junction Railway station. Tourist police tel: 0484-2224067Hospital: Try Medical Trust Hospital, a private hospital and has a 24 hour ambulance service. Tel: +91 484 2358001. Website: Medical Trust HospitalKSRTC bus station: General inquiry tel: + 91 484 2372033Internet: Rs 40 per hour, international calls: from Rs 15 per minute

Railway travel India | How to choose the rights seats and berths | Tips on travel by train in the India

Millions of Indians take the train every day. India has enormous train stations, 'endless' platforms and there is some panic involved in finding the right train, and the right coach.

I personally couldn't relax before I knew I was on the right track.

This article is aimed at helping newbies finding their way on Indian railway stations. I will focus on sleeper class (SL) and second sitting (2S).

What are the differences between these two? How do they look like?

Which berth should I choose?

All of these questions will be answered here in this article.

On short distances you can choose second sitting (2S). It's usually the cheapest option. I chose the 2S quite often. There was no air-con, only fan. The luggage can be stowed away in the upper shelf right above your head.

On short and longer distances you can choose sleeper class. You have 'beds' where you can sleep and relax. There are no pillows and quilts in sleeper class, so feel free to bring your own.

There are 5 types of berths you can choose from in sleeper class: lower, middle, upper, side upper and side lower.

Rail travel India: The different berths in sleeper class The lower, middle and upper are faced horizontally in the train, while the side upper and side lower are faced vertically (along the windows).

Which one should you choose?

If you're scared of heights, lower berths would be the best option. Here you also get to sit next to the window. During daytime though you have to expect that strangers will come and sit on your berth. If you want to take a nap, it's not always possible.

If you choose the upper berths (upper and side upper), you can go to bed whenever you want. There's a short stepladder from lower berth to upper berth. If you know that you're a heavy sleeper and sleep in one position the whole time, upper berth can be nice.

I tried an upper berth once, but it was creepy to fall asleep because the train was driving fast and I was afraid to fall out of bed.

The middle berth can be a solution for travelers who are afraid of heights, but middle berth is seldom folded out during daytime because people want to sit on lower berth.

My favorite berth is side lower because during daytime you can sit on regular padded chairs. If you want to sleep, you can fold out the berth into a bed. You also get to sit right next to the window.

Rail travel India: One version of Second sitting (2S) on Indian trains It's cheap. Even if there's no fan, you can open the windows and the fresh breeze will make up for that. If you're lucky to get a window seat, you can see the beautiful landscape while sitting on the train.

Rail travel India: Another version of second sitting (2S)

Thousands of Indians take the 2S, and you will definitely get to know a few on the road. It's a social train ride.

The disadvantages about 2S and Sleeper (SL) is the noise, and all the bugs and cockroaches.

But if you have been in India for quite some time, this shouldn't bother that you that much. If you're taking an evening or night train in 2S or sleeper, the small bugs will of course be attracted to the lights above you.

If you're sitting in the aisle, they will definitely land on you, or eventually in your mouth while sleeping.

When it comes to the cockroaches I only saw the smaller ones, and they were crawling in the cracks of the walls and the 'bed'. It's better to close your eyes and pretend they're not there.

Another annoying thing that can happen on train travels is beggars. When I took the sleeper class from Alleppey to Kochi in Kerala, there was a albino beggar walking in the aisle, asking for money.

I have only experienced this once in sleeper class, so whether this is a 'typical' thing or not, I'm not sure.

Rail travel India: Platforms in India Arrive early at the train station. If you're in big cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Trivandrum or Mumbai I would suggest to arrive one hour before departure.

Why?

In the cities there are several platforms to choose from. Your goal is to find the right platform where your train leaves from.

The platforms are long (I'm not exaggerating), and it's not always easy to find your way around when thousands of people are around you. It can be overwhelming at first, so that's why you should take your time.

After you've found the platform, you need to 'calculate' where on the platform 'your' coach will stop. It's crucial because you only got a few minutes to find the right coach and get on the train before it leaves.

It's not the end of the world though if you don't find it, because you can walk across the coaches till you find your seat. But knowing where your coach will stop will save you a hell lot of time, and it can be tight to walk in the aisle with your backpack touching people's faces and irritating them.

So how do you find the right spot on the platform?

There are three ways of finding out: Almost every time I took the train in India, I asked the information desk.

There's usually a queue/struggle to get to the information desk. There's no sense of queue system here -? you just have to break through and be rude yourself. It can be frustrating when people are pushing you away from the queue, but my solution there is to use your backpack to push them away.

Ask the half-sleeping officers at the train station, or the patrolling station officers. They usually know. Look for a writing board near the station chief's officer (usually on platform 1). There you'll find information on the incoming trains: which platform and which coach will land where on the platform.

Example: If your coach is S1 (sleeper 1), and it says number 11, then you have to find number 11 along the platform.

Didn't get the chance to buy a train ticket in advance?

No worries. You can buy train tickets at the railway station. Specify the route and class you want to travel in.

If you want to travel cheapest as possible, ask for General Quota. The seats in General Quota can't be reserved, but on the bright side you get really cheap tickets. With General Quota from Trivandrum to Varkala I paid Rs 21, and from Jaipur to Ajmer I paid Rs 50.

If you buy an unreserved train ticket, the coaches are the first and last of the train. You have to be prepared to stand because it's unreserved seats. If it's a short trip though it's worth the standing.

Yes, you can get food on the train. Workers on the train will frequently run and forth in the aisle, screaming "Kappi-kappi", "masala-masala" and so on.

A chai tea cost around Rs 10, and a hot masala dinner will cost around Rs 50. When the train stops at a station, there's usually people selling bottled water and Indian sweets. Make sure that the sealing of the bottle has not been tampered.

Is it safe?

I honestly didn't try any meals on board because they didn't look inspiring. I only drank chai tea, and I was fine after that.

A better (and safer) option is to buy snacks before departure, or get a quick bite at a restaurant before you leave.

Trivandrum India Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram India | Trip to the India, India backpack

Trivandrum India: The Centre of the city of Trivandrum -

Welcome to the capital of Kerala!

Trivandrum is the city's hub of Kerala, and is connected to most cities and towns in the State.

Trivandrum is very quiet compared to other cities of the India. It is almost too quiet after 8 pm.

Frankly, Trivandrum has become more like a travelers stop Kovalam and Varkala.

Backpackers in Trivandrum, few remain more than a day unless they have to.

It is because there is not much to do in Trivandrum. For me, the center of the city lacked the charm and was only dirty and crowded. The northern part of the city where, schools and Government offices is the best part where can meet the Green State of Kerala.

When he was in a field work, I got to see their pearls. The best of Trivandrum is its restaurants. My favorite restaurant was Ariya Niwas, I will talk more about this restaurant later in this article.

Air: Many domestic and international flights land at the airport of Trivandrum, located 3-4 km outside the city centre and 16 km from Kovalam.

From the airport you can take a taxi or a Rickshaw to the Centre of the city, Kovalam and Varkala or other places in Kerala. In February, 2011 pay Rs 500 a taxi from the airport to the Centre of the city (we were 5 people).

The taxi stand is just outside the door of departure of the arrival hall.

Be careful with resellers outside the airport. One of them suggested we have in the City Centre for Rs 900 (!) It is much better to take a prepaid taxi.

Visit the website of the Trivandrum Airport (opens in a new window)

By train: Trivandrum is connected to major cities throughout the State. Long distance train takes depends on what train take. Some express trains used for example 30-40 minutes to Varkala, 2 hours and 15 minutes to Alappuzha, 3 hours and 15 minutes to Ernakulam and so on.

The train station in Trivandrum is located near KSRTC bus support. A Rickshaw from the Princess Street to the train station costs Rs 15-20 depending on your bargaining skills.

To find out which platform and where it will land on the platform 'their' head coach, request the Office of information. If it is too comprehensive to search for a Board of large written close to the main station of the officer.

Of Trivandrum to Kovalam: There are no trains to Kovalam. The cheapest way of Kovalam is to take the local bus. There are frequent buses leaving this Fort between Trivandrum and Kovalam, and costs 9 (ida) Rs. We only ran the bus when we get to the bus station. After 10 minutes, there was another ready bus.

The bus stop is near the Shri Padmanabhaswami temple on MG road (a 20 minute walk from Princess Street and 25 minutes from the railway station), and the trip takes less than an hour. The trip can be irregular because of the bad road condition, so they hang!

important information for Trivandrum:
Police: Number of phone: 100 fire: phone nr: 101 ambulance: phone nr: 102 Internet: Rs 20 per hour, copy = 5 Rs

India Varanasi backpack | Places to visit in the India - Varanasi Varanasi | Accommodation, restaurants and Ghats of Varanasi

Backpacking India

Varanasi, also known as Varanasi, is known for centuries for its 'Ghats' (a ladder leading to a sacred river). Million people had bathed in the River Ganges, in themselves soaked in holy water.

And millions of bodies have been cremated in the Ganges. If a poor family cannot afford the luxury of enough wood for the fire, there may be possibilities of that body will be cremated.

Parts of the body is one of the many things that settles in the bottom of the Ganges.

The locals have a strong belief that the water is holy, and not think about the disease can be obtained by bathing in water. Tomorrow take a boat trip on the river and it was noted that the water was of consistency of waste water. His belief is alarming, but also fascinating in some way.

Backpacking India Varanasi: Animated streets of Varanasi
Grab a cup of lassi while studying the life in the narrow streets. The motives of the ghats was probably the most interesting part of my trip to Varanasi. Each ghat is special, aesthetically and spiritually. For example, main Ghat is where he carried out a ceremony of the night (starts at 6 pm).

While walking in the streets of ghat, they also encounter corpses in a procession. Don't be surprised - is actually very common in Varanasi.

Varanasi is chaotic, and full of noise and traffic (old Delhi is worse). The charm was definitely the Ghats:

Enjoy Varanasi!

Air: Land of flights at the airport of Varanasi, located 18 km from the Centre of the city of Varanasi. From there you can organize taxis prepayments to enter the city. The trip takes between 1-1, 5 hours. We were already 6 people traveling together, we have paid in total around 850 Rs (this was in March 2011).

I saw two taxi, one inside and outside cabins. The busiest taxi cab was outside the arrivals entrance. You will see a man by a wooden table, waiting for the people of the book. They have a list of addresses, which is why the taxi driver knows where to drive you.

If you are on a tight schedule and you want to save time by flying, Jet Airways and Kingfisher can be extracted. Both fly in and out of Varanasi. I have tried both and recommend both.

From the Center to Varanasi airport I paid Rs 500 for a taxi. It is organized by Hotel Surya.

By train: Varanasi is connected to cities like Delhi (12-17 hours), Agra (13-14 hours), Jaipur (17.5 hours), Calcutta (14-26 hours), Allahabad (3-4 hours), Patna (4-7 hours), new Jalpaguiri (16 hours - if you are starting from Darjeeling) and so on. The duration depends on what train take. Express trains are the most efficient.

 

Go water pipes in the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng, Laos | Laos tubes

Tubes of Vang Vieng "Pipes of water in Vang Vieng"

Tubing is popular in Vang Vieng, and is the reason why many travellers go to Vang Vieng.

Rental price: 40,000 Kip 55,000 + deposit

If you're planning on tubes carry a dry bag for not wet camera, money and clothes.

Otherwise you can rent bags dry at least 20,000 kip.

Start your journey near the organic farm - 4 km from the city. The rent normally will include a walk of Tuk Tuk free, so do not worry of how to get there.

Downstream, children carrying him with bamboo sticks to what can go barhopping. In the bars you can get local alcohol and Lao Lao.

While you are floating on the River, you will also see the scenario of Vang Vieng. And it is simply beautiful!

Therefore, become interested in pipes?

There are small agencies along the main road from Vang Vieng offering tours of tube. Good request personnel at home if you rent tubes!

Best time to go: Less is filled before 12 am. Many travelers are sleeping until 11.00 - 12 am.

The operators of tube open at 10.00 am and you have to once again deliver the tube by 06 PM h

water tubes of Vang Vieng

But be careful when you is floating down the River:

It has there been reports of drownings, due to the combination of too much alcohol and strong currents of Nam Song.

And another thing:

You know that you've gone too far in the River if you don't see other tubers around.

I am going to tell you about a young girl that we meet in Luang Prabang, who had his worst nightmare in Vang Vieng.

Wasn't it had transported throughout the end of the day and had to float "forever" by the River (felt as always to it).

She managed to carry on its own, despite the current and ended up walking in just her bikini wearing his tube into city. This girl was so terrified at the time when he struggled to get on the ground.

Water pipes: a typical sign of Vang Vieng

And not to mention, embarrassed because he got very bad and seems odd as she walked in just her bikini. I felt pity for her.