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Travel - Kochi

Travels Agencies and Car Rental
PL Worldways, 35/1389 MG Rd, Ernakulam; and Olympus, MG Rd, are good travel agencies.
Car rental: KTDC Tourist Reception Centre, Shanmugham Rd, Ernakulam; Princy Travels, Ernakulam; Corp Taxi Stand (361-444), MG Rd, Ernakulam.

Local Transport
Airport From Ernakulam a taxi to the airport costs about Rs 100 and an auto-rickshaw about Rs 40. A bus to the airport costs Rs 2.

Auto-rickshaw, Taxi & Bus The easiest way to get around in Ernakulam is by auto-rickshaw. To get from the railway or bus stations to Shanmughan Rd costs Rs 20. You catch the bus from Ernakulam to Fort Cochin (Rs 3.50) on MG Rd, a little south of Durbar Hall Rd. After the ferries stop at night, auto-rickshaws will want at least Rs 60 to go from Ernakulam to Fort Cochin. A taxi to Willingdon Island from Ernakulam late at night will cost Rs 150.

Ferry This is the main way of getting around Kochi. Most of the ferry stops have names. The main stop at Fort Cochin is called Customs, the stop on the west side of Willingdon Island, opposite Mattancherry, is called Terminus, and on the east side is called Embarkation. In Ernakulam, you should make sure you are on the correct boat. Fares should be less than Rs 2. During the lunch hours the ferries may not run.

Ernakulam to Mattanchery via Willingdon Island (Terminus) and Fort Cochin (Customs). There are regular ferries from 6:30 am to 10 pm.

Ernakulam to Vypeen Island via Willingdon Island (Embarkation). There are regular ferries from 6:30 am to 10 pm. Ferries also leave from High Court Jetty on Shanmugham Rd in Ernakulam to Vypeen Island (sometimes via Bolgatty Island).
Fort Cochin to Willingdon Island There are regular ferries from the Customs stop to the Malabar Hotel Jetty (not on Sun).
Fort Cochin to Vypeen Island There are regular ferries from 6 am to 10 pm.
Boat Rental Visitors can rent a boat near the main Jetty in Ernakulam or at the Sealord Jetty. A rental boat is a good way to get around the harbor without the crowds. Boats start at Rs 350 per hour, but you have to bargain for a good price. Rowboats go between Willingdon Island and Mattancherry or Fort Cochin for around Rs 50.

Travel
Air The airport is on Willingdon Island, 5km from downtown Ernakulam. The Indian Airlines office (370-242; Airport: 666-072, 140) is on Durbar Hall Rd, next to the Bharat Tourist Home in Ernakulam. Air India (351-295), 35/1301 MG Rd; and Jet Airways (369-879; Airport 668-620) fly out of Kochi. Swiss Air (360-380).
There are flights to Agatti (3 weekly, $150), Bangalore (1 daily, $70), Chennai (1 daily, $105), Delhi (daily, $300), Goa (1 daily, $110) and Mumbai (3 daily, $150).

Train Kochi/Ernakulam is on the main train line going between Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore, Bangalore and Chennai. There are two stations in Ernakulam, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town. There is also Cochin Harbor Station on Willingdon Island. No through trains on the main train line go to Cochin Harbor Station. Most of the trains depart from the Ernakulam Junction Station, but some depart from both Ernakulam Town and Cochin Harbor Stations. When you purchase the ticket, be sure to ask from which station the train will depart.
The main reservation office is at Ernakulam Junction (353-100).

There are regular trains south to Thiruvananthapuram via Kollam and Kottayam. The Vanchinad Exp reaches Thiruvananthapuram in only four hours. There are also trains north to Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalasseri, and Kasaragod. Two trains a day go to Mangalore: Thiruvananthapuram–Mangalore Exp #6349 (11 am, 10 hr, ET). If you are going to Udhagamandalam (Ooty), there are trains to Coimbatore (6 hr).

Bangalore Bangalore Exp #6525 (2.20 pm, 14 hr, ET); Chennai, Chennai Exp #6042 (4.15 pm, 14 hr, EJ); Delhi Kerala #2625 (3.50 pm, 49 hr), Rajdhani Exp #2431 (11.25 pm, 41 hr; Sun, Mon, EJ); Goa Netravati Exp #6636 (4.15 am, 16 hr), Lakshadweep Exp #2617 (11.45 am, 16 hr); Kozhikode Cannanore Exp #6307 (5.12 pm, 4 hr, ET); Mumbai (VT), Kanniyakumari Exp #1082 (12.55, 41 hr, ET); Thiruvananthapuram Vanchinad Exp #6303 (5.50 am, 4½ hr).

Bus The main KSRTC Bus Stand (372-033) is in Ernakulam. From there, you can reserve buses five days in advance for buses originating in Ernakulam. For buses originating in other places, you cannot reserve tickets and have to fight your way on the bus. There are also private bus stands: the Ernakulam South Stand near Ernakulam Junction Railway Station, and the Kaloor Stand northeast of the Ernakulam Town Railway Station.
There are frequent buses to Thiruvananthapuram (4½ hr), Kollam (3 hr), Alappuzha (1½ hr), and Kottayam (1½ hr). There are a few buses daily to Kanyakumari (9 hr).

There are regular buses to Thrissur (Trichur) (2 hr) and Kozhikode (5 hr). Several buses daily go to Bangalore (15 hr), Mysore, Madurai (10 hr) and to Kumily and Thekkady (for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, 6 hr).

Buses depart from the High Court bus stand to Thrissur, Guruvayur and Kumily (for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary).

There are several private bus companies such as Conti Travels (353-080), MG Rd, and Princy Tours (354-712), GCDA Complex, Shanmugham Rd. They offer deluxe buses to various locations.

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