When the rains came
Experience the Monsoon Magic Relive the moment just before the rains arrive in Kerala. The
It must be great. But what would you say if we made it greater? We can, if you’re visiting Alleppey, and if you let us. All you have to do is take a two-hour drive out of town.
If Alleppey is Kerala’s serene soul, Fort Kochi is its storied heart — a town where every street corner whispers tales of Portuguese sailors, Jewish traders, Dutch builders, and British governors. A one-day trip from Alleppey to Fort Kochi is the perfect way to dip into history, sip on coastal café culture, and wander through India’s most artistic neighborhood.
Start early to make the most of your day. The drive from Alleppey to Fort Kochi takes about 1.5 to 2 hours by cab or bus. The route is a spectacle to record on your camera — lush canals, toddy shops, small roadside temples, and old fishing villages flashing by.
What to Pack: Water bottle, camera, walking shoes, sunhat, and your sense of wonder.
Begin your Fort Kochi adventure in style with a hearty breakfast at Loafer’s Corner Café, perched above the quaint colonial-era Princess Street. With creaky wooden floors, open windows, and bird’s eye views of pastel-painted buildings, it’s the perfect place to try Kerala-style eggs on toast, filter coffee, or a tropical smoothie bowl.
Tip: Vintage vinyl plays in the background. Time slows down here — lean into it.
From the café, join a walking tour of Fort Kochi’s street art and architecture, where you’ll witness a creative explosion in the leftover murals from the Kochi-Muziris Biennale that have transformed the facades of walls, shutters, and old buildings. Abstract gods, surreal portraits, and political art rise from mossy plaster like stories reborn.
A short auto ride or walk will take you to the town’s historic spice-trading quarter. Catch the scents of cinnamon, pepper, and cloves hanging in the air as you wander through spice warehouses and antique stores.
Stop by the Paradesi Synagogue, which was built in 1568 — its Belgian glass chandeliers and hand-painted blue tiles are breathtaking. At proximity lies the Dutch Palace, also known as the Mattancherry Palace, with its rich treasurehouse of murals depicting Hindu mythology expressively painted in rich natural pigments.
Tip: Pick up packets of fresh pepper or cloves from the old merchant shops. It makes for a fragrant souvenir.
Housed in a 17th-century Dutch bungalow, David Hall brings together art, history, and food under one tiled roof. Try their thin-crust wood-fired pizzas, garden-fresh salads, and lime mint cooler.
There’s also an art gallery in the courtyard, where you can browse contemporary works while your lunch is being prepared.
Walk toward the shoreline to witness the Chinese fishing nets, a legacy of trade with Chinese merchants. Watch local fishermen rhythmically lower the cantilevered nets into the sea — a slow, meditative ballet against the waves.
Tip: This spot is an Instagram haven in the late afternoon, especially with the silhouette of the nets against the sea.
Before wrapping up, settle into Pepper House, a peaceful café-library-gallery combo. It once stored spices; today, it stores ideas. Artists sip chai next to travelers. Bookshelves line the walls. The courtyard is breezy and quiet — perfect for journaling or flipping through a book of Kochi’s maritime past.
Try the lemon drizzle cake or their masala tea. Both linger like good conversations.
On your way out, swing by a few curio shops for handmade jewelry, coir products, and old prints. Visit St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, and once the place where Vasco da Gama was buried before his remains were transported back to Portugal in 1538.
The church’s simplicity speaks louder than any monument. Stand in its cool interior. Listen. You’ll hear time itself breathing.
Head back with the sun dipping low and the sea breeze playing with your hair. You’ll return not just with photos, but with the feeling that somewhere between a spice market and a sea breeze, you brushed against a forgotten world.
One day. Two towns. A hundred textures. A trip from Alleppey to Fort Kochi isn’t another place on the map — rather, it is a leap through time. Come for the history, stay for the art, leave with stories.
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