Top Places for Art and Cultural Activities in Kochi

A trip to Kochi cannot be complete without understanding its rich heritage. The art and cultural activities in Kochi will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. While visiting the cultural attractions in Kochi would prove to be informative, attending its artsy events will leave you entertained. From cultural performances to historical monuments that give you a glimpse of the past, take a look at this list to know Kochi better. Include these in attractions in your itinerary for Kochi and have a great vacation.

Check the list of top places for art and culture in Kochi:

  1. Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple

    Religious Site, Temple, Architecture

    Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is the most famous temple in Kochi. Two main deities are presiding here which can be seen in Melekkavu and Keezkkavu. Rajarajeswari is presiding in Melkkavu. Keezhkkavu Bhagavathy is badrakali in ugra form. Considered to be a powerful deity so effective that it is rumoured to cure mental illness, the god Bhagavathy is understandably famous amongst people of ...Read more
  2. Kashi Art Gallery

    4.4 (6176 Votes)
    Kashi Art Gallery

    Art Gallery, Exhibition

    Rightly called the pioneer initiative in revival of art in Kerala, the Kashi Art gallery is a down to earth gallery with big dreams. Host to a number of interesting exhibitions, the art gallery is a unique venture in the sphere of art and humanities. The adjoining cafe adds to the laid back ,rustic look and serves some delicious treats too. Kashi art gallery is one of the most amazing tourist ...Read more
  3. Kerala Folklore Museum

    4.2 (5926 Votes)
    Kerala Folklore Museum

    Museum, Exhibition , Sculpture

    Everything in this museum is a treasure celebrating Kerala and its heritage, including the building itself. Combining the architectural styles of Malabar, Cochin and Travancore, the museum was imagined as a temple to art. It's very entrance is made from parts of an 16th century temple in Tamil Nadu and various carvings from around Kerala. The first floor of the museum focuses on dance - Theyya...Read more
  4. Santa Cruz Basilica

    4.5 (4497 Votes)
    Santa Cruz Basilica

    Church, Religious Site

    The Roman Catholic Basilica of Santa Cruz is a colossal cathedral with a dominant Gothic presence in the form of a facade flanked by two huge towers. At the top of the main altar is a striking painting of the ‘Last Supper’, modelled on the renowned work of Leonardo da Vinci. The stained glass windows and intricate wall carvings add to the charm and grandeur of the place. The church ...Read more
  5. Jew Town

    Food And Drinks, Market, Neighborhoods , Old Town

    Jew Town is famous for the antique shops all along its sides. The Jew Town is a narrow street between Mattancherry Palace and the Synagogue. This is a wonderful place to hang out. It’s clean and safe. It’s full of shops where you can browse through some exotic knick knacks and shop for some genuine antiques. Scores of small firms huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the...Read more
  6. Paradesi Synagogue

    4.3 (3468 Votes)
    Paradesi Synagogue

    Synagogue

    The Paradesi Synagogue, in a corner of Jew Town, is more than a hundred years old and houses many rare antiques. The synagogue, that woos many visitors, adds to the quaint charm of Mattancherry. The word Paradesi means foreigner in many Indian languages. It refers to the White Jews - A mixture of Jews from Kodungalloor, Middle East and Europe. Enter the synagogue and the large main hall arrests...Read more
  7. Vallarpadam Church

    Church, Religious Site

    Built by the Portuguese in 1524, this church is dedicated to the Holy Mary of Vallarpadam, also known as 'Vallarapadath Amma'. The first church was destroyed by floods, so they built this one in 1676. Locals claim the patron saint of the church is responsible for saving the lives of her followers from storms. From September 16 to 24, the church's festival, the Feast of Vallarpadathamma, draws t...Read more
  8. St. Francis Church

    Church, Religious Site

    St. Francis Church is India's earliest European church. Built by the Portuguese in the early 1500's, this wooden church with its simple whitewashed facade became the model for later churches. It was dedicated to St. Anthony. It was originally surrounded by the Portuguese fort which gave the town its name; Fort Cochin. A stone church soon replaced the original wooden church. All of the Portugues...Read more
  9. Hill Palace Of Tripunithura

    4.3 (1788 Votes)
    Hill Palace Of Tripunithura

    Museum, Palace, Architecture , Archaeological Site

    Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala, near Tripunithura. Built in 1865, the Palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style, spreading across in 54 acres (220,000 m2). The complex has an archaeological Museum, a Heritage Museum, a Deer Park, a prehistoric park and a children's park. The palace is about 14 km from Kochi and approacha...Read more
  10. Greenix Village

    4.1 (6018 Votes)
    Greenix Village

    Art And Culture

    Greenix Village is a cultural art centre promoting Kerala's varied art forms under a single roof. This cultural art centre also houses an art gallery restaurant, a curio shop, book shop & vignettes of Kerala's cottage & craft industry. This Village attracts its visitors to be its Artist-in-Residence. Individuals from all types of creative platforms; visual arts, music, performing arts, ...Read more
  11. Ernakulam Shiva Temple

    4.8 (2284 Votes)
    Ernakulam Shiva Temple

    Religious Site, Temple, Architecture

    Lord Shiva is Kochi's protector diety and this temple, one of the most frequented in the city, is dedicated to him. The temple, like the idol inside, faces west, towards the Ernakulam backwaters. There are two famous legends out of Hindu mythopoeia directly related to the temple and Lord Shiva. Ask the locals about them. Two other deities have a presence here. Lord Ganesha has a shrine to the s...Read more
  12. Cgh Earth - David Hall

    4.4 (1573 Votes)
    Cgh Earth - David Hall

    Art And Culture, Art Gallery, Cafe, Workshop

    It's thought this beautiful bungalow was made from the remains of demolished churches sometime between 1670 and 1690, after the Dutch razed Portuguese constructs. These days it serves as a gallery of contemporary art aimed at promoting culture and empowering local artists. The gallery also hosts exhibitions, workshops and other events focuses on other forms of art such as calligraphy or tribal ...Read more
  13. Jain Temple

    4.5 (140 Votes)
    Jain Temple

    Religious Site, Temple, Architecture

    Unlike most other religious sites in the city, this temple is quite new, built only about a century ago in 1904. Its architecture was inspired by the temples in Gujarat. It is an elegant and simple building of beige exterior and marble interior. Inside, there is an idol of the Bhagawan Shri Dharamnath, the 15th Jain Tirthankar. Birds usually flock around in their hundreds, fed by the people at ...Read more
  14. Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    They say if a childless couple were to come pray at this temple the Lord Vishnu will bless them with a child. The temple is also famous for the various festivals celebrated here around the year, in particular the Vrishchikoltsawam festival in late November and early December. Ask the locals about the legends associated to the temple. Though the structure you see now is concrete, until a 1920s f...Read more
  15. Kaduthuruthy Shiva Temple

    4.6 (115 Votes)
    Kaduthuruthy Shiva Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    Usually if a temple is dedicated to Shiva, the Goddess Parvati gets a shrine too. This particular Shiva Temple is a Thali, a temple where the dedication is to Lord Shiva only, and Parvati is absent. The temple, set on top of a small hill, is one of the most popular in the city. It is the third of the main Shiva temples in the city which by legend were founded by the demon Kharasura. The wooden ...Read more