Cherai

Overview

Cherai occupies the northern end of Vypin Island in Ernakulam district, between 22 and 26 km north of central Kochi by road. A Cherai beach trip suits travellers who want a swim, a seafood meal and a look at an old fort without travelling far from the city, and the dry months of October to March, with temperatures of roughly 17 to 33 C, suit it best.

The shore is long, between 10 and 15 km depending on where it is measured, with a gently shelving seabed and coconut palms along the sand. What sets it apart from other Kochi beaches is the setting: backwater and sea sit beside each other here, so a single view can take in both. The Muziris heritage beach listing includes it, with a walkway and a children's park behind the sand, and shells wash up along the tide line. Dolphins are reported often enough that sightings are counted among the draws. Beach shacks serve fresh fish after a swim, and the area has filled with resorts and stays, so weekends and holidays can be busy.

Beyond the sand, Vypin carries some of the oldest European traces on this coast. Pallipuram Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1503 and rebuilt in stone by 1505, is hexagonal in plan, a shape known locally as ayikotta. The Department of Archaeology made it a protected monument in 1964, and it is open to visitors, about 4 km from the beach. Cherai Gowreeshwara Temple, dedicated to Murugan, is some 3 km from the beach and holds its yearly festival with elephants in late January or early February.

One route is is the ferry from Kochi to Vypin, then a local bus to Cherai Junction and an auto-rickshaw to the beach; drivers can also come by road. Ernakulam Junction is the main rail station, about 26 km away, and the airport at Nedumbassery is roughly 16 to 26 km off, depending on the route. Combine Cherai with Fort Kochi or Mattancherry for a fuller day, or stay overnight to see the beach early.

Known for

A shore of 10 to 15 km with palms behind the sand