The Salafi Masjid is the oldest Masjid in the city. Another Masjid is the Juma Masjid Padamugal. The Jummah Salaath is held between 1:00PM and 2:00PM. The sermon is delivered in Malayalam, Hindi or Urdu. Prayer rooms are not available for women. Most of the Muslim population in the city lives around Mattancherry.
Cochin has a number of Halal restaurants where travelers can dine and relish local food as well as dishes from North India, Chinese and fast food.
Fort Kochi is a beautiful historic monument for travelers to visit. The monument is a lovely example of European architecture. The most impressive part of the fort is the Chinese fishing nets that rest on the backwaters. Travelers can also enjoy a quiet walk along the Fort Kochi beach.
Another historic monument is the Dutch palace at Mattancherry, which was built in 1555 by the Portuguese. Situated on the Rose Street is the beautiful Vasco house; it is thought to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. The Museum of Art and Kerala History is also a great place to visit.
The Vypeen and Gundu islands have a lighthouse at Ochanthuruth, some excellent beaches and an impressive 16th-century Pallipuram Fort. On the Bolghatty Island is a beautiful Dutch Palace; it can easily be reached by a short boat drive from the mainland. There is a small golf course on the island and lovely beaches.
The Cherai Beach on the northern end of the Vypeen Island is ideal for swimming. The Willington Island is an impressive man-mad island built in 1933. Travelers can also enjoy a soothing walk along the Marine Drive a waterfront promenade in the city. Right in the heart of the city is the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary, home to several species of birds.
About 14km from Cochin is the wonderful Veega Land an amusement park. 16km east of Cochin in Tripunithura is the Hill Palace, which was built in the 19th century. The palace served as the seat of the Raja of the area. Today the palace is a museum preserving the beautiful collection of the throne and crowns and other wealthy articles.
The best place to shop in Cochin is M.G Road that houses numerous branded shops. Another place to shop is along the Marine Drive; here travelers can find several duty-free shops. The Broadway Road too has numerous shops.
