Reaching Kochi
Cochin/Kochi (Airport Code: COK) has a world-class modern international airport, located 30kms north-east of the city, with regular flights to major cities in India. Cochin is also connected to Singapore, Colombo and all major cities in the middle-east (Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah, Muscat, and Riyadh) by direct international flights. Airlines operating from Cochin include Air Deccan, Air India, Air India Express, Air Sahara, Emirates, Go Air, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Mahan Air, Oman Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines, SilkAir, SriLankan Airlines, Air Asia and Qatar Airways, making it the fifth busiest airport in India. The International and Domestic terminals are located right next to each other. The airport buildings have been built in traditional Kerala architectural style. It is the first Indian airport to be built using private investment.
Kochi (Ernakulam) are connected to the rest of India by an extensive rail network. There are two main railway stations in Cochin: Ernakulam Junction railway station (also known as Ernakulam South, code: ERS) is the main railway terminus in the city of Kochi. It is one of the busiest railway station in South India and an important railway hub.. Ernakulam Town railway station (also known as Ernakulam North, code: ERN) is located in the northern part of the city and it is the second major railway station in Kochi after Ernakulam Junction. Many important trains start from here and many others from/to the south of kerala stop at these stations.
Railway enquiry: Ernakulam Junction: +91 484 131; Ernakulam Town: +91 484 2390920/2395198.
An extensive network of national/state highways and local roads link Kochi to rest of the country. Five important National Highways (NH) pass through/start from Kochi, apart from many state roads. NH-66 (Panvel to Kanyakumari), NH-85 (Salem to Kanyakumari), NH-544 (Salem to Kochi), NH-966 (Kochi to Dhanushkodi), NH-85A (Thrissur to Edappally). Private and public transport services are available to/from all major cities of South India from here. Long distance coach tickets to Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Bangalore, Coimbatore, etc. can be purchased from private coach operators operating from Jos Junction in the heart of the city.
KSRTC enquiry: +91 484 2352033/2372033 - for state and inter-state public buses.
Kochi has a magnificent all weather natural port that is used regulary by large cargo ships. Regular boat service to places like Kottayam, Kumarakom and Alleppey are available through the scenic backwaters of Kerala. The outlying islands that make up Cochin, like Vypeen, Mattancherry, Bolghatty, etc are connected to the mainland by regular public and private boats plying from the main boat jetty off Park Avenue and from the boat jetty near the High Court. Many cruises ships also currently berth and the Ernakulam Wharf, which is part of the Cochin Port located on Willingdon island.
