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The Goshree Islands are the islands north of Old Kochi, including Bolgatty, Vallarpadom and Vypin. Vypin is the outermost of the three islands. Vypin Island is one of the most densely populated islands in the world with numerous fishing villages, tourist villages and the popular Cherai Beach.
Get in
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By water metro
[edit | edit source]- 1 Vypeen Water Metro . Vipeen Water Metro terminal is located on the southern tip of the island. It is connected to High Court (Ernakulam) terminal. The ride takes 20 minutes and costs ₹23
By ferry
[edit | edit source]- 2 Munambam ferry. Munambam is located on the northern tip of the Vipin Island and connects it to Azhikode, Kodungallur
See
[edit | edit source]Vypin
[edit | edit source]- 1 Church of Our Lady of Hope (Prathyasha Matha). Located at the southern tip of the Vipin Island, the church dates back to 1605. The church follows a distinct Mannerist and Indo-Portuguese architectural style. Statue of Ecce Homo: The church houses a famous 500-year-old rosewood statue of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns (Ecce Homo).
- 2 Vypin Lighthouse (Cochin Lighthouse), Puthuvype (adjacent to Puthuvype Beach). 10 am - 6 pm (Mon closed). The tallest lighthouse (46 metres / 151 ft) in Kerala. The original structure dates back to 1839. The present structure dates back to 1979. ₹20. (₹10 extra for mobile camera usage).
- 3 Azheekkal Sree Varaha Temple. The temple is dedicated to Varaha, the third incarnation of Vishnu. The temple belongs to the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community. The present structure if the temple dates back to 1880s. The temple houses all the seven deities of the Gowda Saraswat Brahmins and hence is referred to as the complete temple.
- 4 Sahodaran Ayyappan Smarakam.
- 5 Basilica of Our Lady of Snows (Manjumatha Basilica), Pallippuram. The church dates back to 1503. The original structure was heavily renovated with majestic Gothic arches in 1931 and rebuilt again in 2006.
- 6 Pallipuram Fort, Pallippuram. The oldest existing European fortification in India. Built by the Portuguese in 1503, it was later handed over to the Travancore Army to become a major army base till 1903, when it was converted into a heritage museum. It has a small museum and good views of the lagoon on one side and the sea on the other.
Beaches
[edit | edit source]- 7 Cherai Beach, North of Vypin Island (Take Route-3 bus from High Court stand). Gold beaches with big sand grains, coconut palm corridors, backwaters and historical monuments. Cherai Beach surpasses all with its swimming facilities and coconut groves. Occasional sights of dolphins are also an added attraction. This is one of the safest beaches for swimming, watersports and beach games. A very large, beautiful backwater is 250 m from the beach and is famous for its scenic beauty and boating. The best way to reach Cherai is a ferry from Fort Kochi to Vypin Island and then a local bus (₹12) to Cherai Junction. From there, take an auto-rickshaw (₹20) to the beach. An alternative is taking the auto-rickshaw from the ferry for about ₹100. There are also buses from Ernakulam to Cherai Junction.
Vallarpadom
[edit | edit source]- 8 National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom (Malayalam: വല്ലാര്പാടം പള്ളി, Portuguese: Basilica de Nossa Senhora do Resgate), Vallarpadam. A minor basilica and a major Christian pilgrimage centre. The picture of the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus, installed at the top of the main altar of the Vallarpadam Church, was brought by Portuguese merchants under the leadership of Vasco da Gama in 1524. In 1676 the old church, founded by the Portuguese missionaries, was destroyed by a heavy flood, and the picture was found floating in the backwaters. Nobody except Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the prime minister of Maharaja of Cochin, could recover it. The present church at Vallarpadamis is built on land donated by him.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Matsyafed Milky-way Aqua-Tourist Village, Malipuram (12 km from city centre), ☏ +91 4829 273 314. 10AM-5PM. A unique concept where a large shrimp farm of the state-run cooperative Matsyafed is converted into an aqua-tourist village with options to fish for fresh prawns, crabs and shrimp for a nominal fee, canoeing within a mangrove forest, sun-bathing, swimming at a private beach nearby and enjoying sunset picnic cruise. Breakfast and lunch are included in entry cost and have a wide range of fish delicacies and pickles. ₹100 per person.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
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[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | Under ₹750 |
| Mid-range | ₹750–3,000 |
| Splurge | Over ₹3,000 |
Splurge
[edit | edit source]Vypeen
[edit | edit source]- 1 Le Maritime.
Bolgatty
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- 2 Bolgatty Palace, Bolgatty Island South (take ferry from High Court Jetty or reach through Goshree Bridges), ☏ +91 484 2750500, +91 484 2750600, bolgattypalacekochi@ktdc.com. Check-in: noon. A premium heritage property of KTDC, where English Royals celebrated their life during British Raj days. The Palace complex was built in 1630s by Dutch owners and soon became the residence of the British Resident Commissioners for Cochin and Travancore. The resort is famous for its honeymoon cottages, large Dutch style gardens, horse tracks and golf course. A marina and accompanying marina suites are nearby near to the ex-Residence. ₹5,000-15,000 per night.
- 3 Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Mulavukad, ☏ +91 484 266 1234.