Getting Around Kochi

Autorickshaws

The minimum charge will be Rs 10/- upto a distance of 1.5 kms beyond which the rate per running kilometer will be Rs 4.50 or 18 paise for every 1/25th part of a kilometer, whichever is applicable. If the travel is between 11 pm and 5 am, an additional 50% of the charge shall be levied. No tip is expected by the drivers. Point-to-point pre-paid autorickshaw services from Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town railway stations, and from the Kaloor bus stand are also available to select destinations. Complaints, if any, against autorickshaws can be lodged on Tel: 2394964.

Tourist Cabs

Tourist cabs, charge Rs 6.50 per kilometer. Normally one has to pay both the up and down fare. Though the above charge does exist, taxis are unmetered and thus fares must be negotiated beforehand. 1 hour trips will incur a charge of Rs 80/-. Cars can also be hired from car rent companies. At the international airport, prepaid taxi booths are available upon exit from the Arrival Hall. (Tel: 2610115, Extn 2107 Domestic terminal; Extn 2242 International terminal).

Private City Buses

The most common and economical mode of transport, these buses are very crowded during the peak hours and in this case the passenger should beware of pickpockets. Minimum fare is Rs 3/-.

State Transport Buses

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (Tel: 2372033) operates shuttle, long-distance, and interstate express and super fast services from the KSRTC bus station. Also available from here are interstate services of the Karnataka (Tel: 2360229) and Tamil Nadu (Tel: 2372616) State Transport Corporations. State transport shuttle services are also available from the main boat jetty. Cochin is well connected by national highways with the rest of the country. These are NH 17 (Ernakulam-Mumbai), NH 47 (Kanyakumari-Salem), and NH 49 (Cochin - Madurai).

Long-distance Private Buses

Long-distance private buses are available from and near the stand at Kaloor, from High Court Junction, Foreshore Road, and Ernakulam South. Interstate services are also run by luxury coach operators.

Boats

Services of the State Water Transport Authority (Tel: 2360215) from the main jetty at Park Avenue are available to Vypin, Fort Cochin, and Mattancherry. The Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation's (KSINC, Tel: 2368646) services are available from the high court jetty to Fort Cochin. KSINC also operates services from Vypin to W/Island via Fort Cochin.

Trains

Cochin is well connected by rail to various parts of the country by the Indian Railways, the largest railway system in Asia. Ernakulam is a major railhead of Southern Railways. Trains are accessible from Ernakulam Junction (Reservation Enquiry: 132; Timings: 8 am to 8 pm, Sundays till 2 pm) and Ernakulam Town railway stations.

Airplanes

Cochin International Airport is, located 25 kms northeast of the city at Nedumbassery. International destinations include Bahrain, Bandar Abbas, Colombo, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore, and Tehran. International flights are operated by Air Arabia, Air-India, Emirates, Gulf Air, Indian, Kuwait Airways, Mahan Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, and Srilankan Airlines. Domestic flight services are operated by Air-India, Air Deccan, Air Sahara, Go Air, Indian, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, and Paramount Airways. Air-India and Indian are the national carriers.