Kochi to Agatti Island Flights

  About Kochi

Kochi is one of the most dynamic cities and the commercial capital of Kerala. The city is constantly bustling while its surrounding remains true to its agricultural roots. Kochi, as a city, plays an essential port to the South-west coast of India. The ports are connected to the Maldives, Lakshadweep Island and many important coastal cities.

Despite having a blend of various seasons, the heat and humidity in the air continue to remain constant. However, that only makes travellers fly to Kochi instead. Not to mention how the gorgeous setting of the city and its impeccable connectivity that allows a traveller to traverse through various terrains.

Best time to visit Kochi

Kochi sees multitudes of seasons and climate all-year-long. Throughout the year, even know specific seasons are set and have been followed, every year, sudden twists in the western forecasts leave the locals in peril. The tropical setting of Kochi and even Kerala it ideal for summers and even winters. In fact, the months from October to February are actually enchanting and the best. The temperatures dawdle between 17 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius. Not only is the winter season perfect for backpackers and solo travellers but also couples and newlyweds who wish to go to honeymoon in Mumbai itself.

The months from March to June marks the start of summer in Kochi. The temperatures in Kochi during summer continues to escalate up to 37 degree Celsius. Although it is considered to be a good season to visit the city, it is only because there is less crowd. On off-seasons, tourists avoid visiting places as they fear unpleasant experiences. However, flying to Kochi on off-season might be helpful as people wouldn't have to deal with the excess tourist crowd. Plus, flight tickets to Kochi see some massive price drop. Many airlines also have flight deals to bring down the cost of a ticket to Kochi.

Monsoons in Kochi are exceptional. Even though it is not a peak season for the city as a rain-washed city would not be favourable for tourist activities, many travellers opt for monsoons. The main reason behind choosing monsoon as the best time to catch a flight to Kochi is that the city's lush greenery turns emerald as the backwaters dance under the torrent rains. Booking a hotel in Kochi during this season is also affordable as it is an off-season for hoteliers. The whole sight of the place is enchanting and definitely an unmemorable experience. Kochi experienced monsoon between July to September.

Places to see in Kochi

The gorgeous Arabian sea might border Kochi on one side, and the towering Western Ghats on the other but the melange of the two varied geographies only makes the city alluring. When in Kochi, you should definitely check out some of its famous beaches namely, Veeranpuzha Beach, Cherai Beach, Munambam Beach, Fort Kochi Beach and more. The city also has many pristine churches that should be visited. These are St Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilican and the Paradesi Synagogue.

Besides these attractions, Kochi also has museums like Indo-Portuguese Museum, Ginger House Museum Hotel, Folklore Museum, and more than would enlighten you about their cultural heritage, their history and more. Not just the beaches but you should also check out what the lush green valleys close to Kochi have to offer. You can witness the Athirapally Falls and the Areekkal Falls. More than anything, you can visit the famous Lulu Shopping Mall too, which is right there in the city centre. You can further continue the pilgrimage by visiting temples such as Shiva Temple, Gowreeswara Temple Cherai, Ernakulam Mahadeva Temple, Thrikkakara Temple and more.

Things to do in Kochi

Elephant Training Centre

A little away from the city of Kochi is an adorable retreat for elephants. An Elephant Training centre has been established by the Ernakulam district where the animals are brought together to live in harmony. At the centre, these elephants are bathed and fed properly. The centre takes good care of the elephants and even allows visitors to come over and play with the giant animals. Visit this beautiful place and feel happy in the company of playful elephants who would keep you entertained with their goofiness.

Fort Ayurveda Spa

Kerala's Ayurvedic spas are world-renowned and for all the right reasons. The therapeutic massages and spa treatments actually help rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Kochi has the Fort Ayurveda Spa, which lives up to the reputation of providing the customers with excellent services. Book an appointment here and let your troubles be washed away by the gentle touch of a masseuse. The experience will be beautiful and certainly have a lasting effect on you.

Kathakali Centre

The classical dance form of Kathakali is enchanting and compelling. The performances usually have a backstory and a theme based on which the whole show is presented. The art would keep you engaged as the eyes of the dancers would hypnotise you. Often these performances express a certain Hindu mythological story.

Snorkelling at Thiruvankullam

Compared to other parts of coastal India, Kochi has extremely beautiful and clean beaches. The shores are just as bright and spotless as is the Arabian sea that touches the coasts. The clean and clear waters of Kochi have enabled snorkelling in the area. You can head to Thiruvankullam and take up the water activity. You will be surprised to see some exquisite marine life that's prevalent just miles away from the city of Kochi.

Backwater tour

Kochi connects to Alleppey, which is the hub of backwaters in Kerala. Although it is a few kilometres far from the main city, Alleppey has a harbour from where you can either choose a houseboat or a shikhara ride to explore the gorgeous backwaters lined by rice paddies.

Food and restaurants

Kochi's lifestyle is heavily inspired or rather influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and English. This is easily reflected in their way of living, lifestyle and more importantly, their cuisine as well. While they still have their special curry and parotha as the highlight of the state, the landscape of Kerala cuisine has seen quite a lot of transformations. As a coastal city, the cuisine mainly centres around exquisite seafood and Malabari food. As a developed city of India, Kochi manages to sustain the traditional cuisine as it also embraces other cuisines such as Asian, North Indian, Continental and more.

Sky Grill Lounge and Bar, Fort House, Asian Kitchen, The Rice Boat, Dhe Puttu, Fusion Bay are some of the finest restaurants that you will find in Kochi. You might not know this, but Kochi actually has a lot of quaint cafes to cater to the backpacking audience. In the city and close to the coastal area, you will find small joints and ventures that have a hipster vibe and attract the young crowd. It is a known fact that the seafood in Kerala is a delight to the taste buds. The city centre will acquaint you with not just exciting dishes but also taste and flavour that will be unforgettable.

How to reach Kochi (Transportation)

By Air

The Cochin International Airport, located 29 km away from the city centre sees excellent flight connectivity from Kochi to other major cities in India. In fact, the airport also has flights taking international routes from Kochi to Middle Eastern countries. Kochi airport is known to be one of the busiest and crowded airports thanks to the excellent connectivity it has with the other cities in the country as well as internationally. A plethora of flights fly from Kochi to cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and more. The city is always on demand and hence, getting good flight deals for Kochi becomes quite challenging. However, with good planning and timing, you might be able to get cheap flight tickets to Kochi and even decent flight deals.

By Rail

Just like the flight connectivity of Kochi with the rest of the major cities in India, even the railway network is strong. There are two railway stations, namely Kochi Railway Station and Ernakulam Junction Station that connect the city with the rest of the country. There are express trains too that travel to Kochi from Mumbai, Delhi and other big cities. Train tickets to Kochi can be booked online as well as physically at the railway station. The city is well-connected within the state too and has bus and railway services to ensure that the city's stature as one of the economically strong and developed places sustains.

By Road

Kochi has impeccable roadway network as well owing to the city being a commercial hub. The city doesn't just contribute to the state's economy but also to the country's and hence, is blessed with strong roadways network. Several buses enter and leave the city from various parts of the country. The neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, even Goa, have bus facilities that provide services to the city. The Kerala State Run Transport Corporation (KSRTC) travels through several cities, including Kochi. There are options for AC and Non-AC buses that you can choose from for your travel needs.

  About Agatti Island

One of Lakshadweep's finest islands and well-connected places is Agatti. The 6km long Agatti island is not just home to a wide range of marine life but is also the only place in the archipelago to sustain an airstrip. The fact that the island has an airstripe makes the flight connectivity to Agatti Island extremely convenient. With regular flights from Kochi and Bengaluru and ships services, Agatti easily becomes a place that can be visited. Folks who wish to escape from the noise of the city or multitude of people on beaches should pick this island as their destination.

With pristine white-sand beaches, clear blue waters and opportunity for a bunch of water sports activities, Agatti island easily manages to draw a certain kind of crowd. You can find yourself swayed by the quaint vibe and beauty of the island. Not to mention, the population is also quite less, which makes it all the more tempting. Not just underwater but diversity prevails even on the surface with Islam as the main religion for the habitants. While Malayalam and Tamil are the primary languages spoken here, English is also becoming a native tongue for the locals as it is easier to communicate with travellers.

The island might be easy to reach, but there are some restrictions which make travelling a wee bit difficult. Even though tourism is open and the island sees a lot of tourists, there are some essential documents and paperwork that the traveller must carry with them. You will require an Entry Permit from the administration of Lakshadweep to enter the island. The permit is granted to individuals who have already confirmed an accommodation, ahead of their voyage. Interestingly, the island also has only two hotels which means you must be certain of making your hotel bookings for Agatti Island before time to secure a worry-free trip. The tropical island is undoubtedly beautiful and definitely worth visiting.

You should know that while the tropical island has some of the best beaches, it has a very humble background. The people, the lifestyle, the hotels and basically the entire experience here would be nothing like what the Maldives has to offer. However, the simplicity of Agatti Islands will draw you to the island and especially the shores.

Best time to visit Agatti Island

Monsoon is a bane to islands, and Agatti is no different from the phenomenon. Hence, it is usually advised not to venture out to take up a trip to the quaint island between May to September. Since monsoon begins in the second half of May at the Arabian Sea, travelling becomes a big risk. In fact, the cruises and ship services are also suspended, owing to the challenges involved during this season.

The months between October to the first half of May are practically perfect, though. The weather is delightful and relaxed, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 36. It is ideal, especially for a tropical setting. The bearable heat further makes it an attractive travel option for individuals who wish to escape from the city's bustling. These months are also perfect for sailing and to pick up a cruise as a travel option. With lesser disturbance at sea, the risk of seasickness also drops tremendously.

The clearer summer and winter months also make it easy for divers to explore reefs and the wide sea. The added benefit of this is how it will enable you to experience the tropical bliss that Agatti Island has in store. With Agatti Island, picking the right season is imperative as that will decide how your trip will transpire.

Places to see in Agatti Island

The options of places to see in Agatti Islands is quite minimum since the place is rather tiny. Interestingly though, you can take up island-hopping and explore more of the islands such as Pitti Island or Bangaram Island as these two are close to Agatti. It'll take you minutes of a ferry ride to reach both the islands mentioned. Here's a fun fact, the Bangaram Island is the only place with a private resort. The accommodation is swanky and beautiful. The best way to spend time in Agatti is to put your energy towards exploring the sea and the marine habitats.

Things to do in Agatti Island

Agatti's azure blue waters touching the white sand coasts don't just make for a postcard-worthy setting but also offer a fun underwater adventure. The beauty of the place makes it possible for you to sit by the beaches and relax your soul. The calm waters and soothing sound of waves hitting the shores make for the perfect getaway from the city's noise. Soaking yourselves under the scorching sun is not the only fun activity that you can do on this island. From scuba diving to exploring the reefs, there are a plethora of activities that you can indulge in during your stay.

The place promotes water sports so you will get to sail on the waters as well as ski on it. Take a lovely kayak for yourself and go rowing towards the sea. You can explore Agatti's waters by kayaking. At the same time, if taking up scuba diving is something that you have always wanted to indulge in then that option is also available here. The crystal clear waters will make you spot an abundance of quirky and colourful fish. It is definitely going to be a joyride for all the water babies.

Snorkelling, fishing, water skiing and diving in the delicious seafood platter are some of the other things that will keep you occupied during your Agatti trip. Much of the cuisine has seafood, and if you are an enthusiast, their curries will go down well with your system. If all the water activities sound a little too overwhelming for you, then you can take it easy, throw on your flip flops and plop on a beach chair.

Restaurants and food in Agatti Island

The island is a tiny place with a bunch of activities to do but hardly many places to eat. There are literally only two hotels and limited restaurants too. Thanks to the small population and the few travellers who visit Agatti, there aren't many restaurant options to pick from. However, the positive here is that these hotels do offer phenomenal seafood. You will be amazed by how perfectly they emulate the traditional Kerala cuisine and service to the customers. If seafood is something that excited you, then Agatti would undoubtedly be the best place to explore more of the food sphere. From giant fish to octopus, you can experiment with the seafood that they offer.

How to reach Agatti Island (Transportation)

By Air

Agatti Island is the only island in all of Lakshadweep to have an airport. Since the islands are spread out on the Arabian Sea and not all of them, have the capabilities to host an airport Agatti is the only island to make it possible. In fact, the bird's eye view of the airport is simply marvellous and the kind to blow your mind. Do not fall asleep ahead of landing for you should definitely witness the beautiful airport's setting.

There is only one airline that offers services to charter planes to Agatti Aerodromes. You can make your flight bookings to Agatti Island by selecting Air India Regional. Although Agatti Island is not well-connected in terms of air as well as other modes of transport, you can always find flights to the island from Kochi, Chennai and Bangalore. In fact, the flight connectivity to the Agatti Island from the major metropolitan cities, including Mumbai and Delhi, is excellent so you can easily get your travel plans in order.

By Water

Since the Lakshadweep Islands is located in the middle of the Arabian Sea, there are no routes to Agatti by rail or road. The only way for the islands to connect to India is via the air route or the waterway. Luckily, for those who have never travelled by ships and cruises, this could be the best opportunity to give waterways a go. Two ship services can be found in Cochin. The ships named Bharat Seema and Tipu Sultan are the only ones to voyage to Agatti.

While these are government-run ships to Agatti, there are some private cruises too namely Star Cruises and Ocean Cruises. These private ships come with a plethora of luxurious benefits with swanky lounge settings, first-class accommodation, jacuzzi and more. They easily become a choice for many travellers as a journey by water can be quite tedious, especially if you are seasick. The luxury cruises run from Mumbai and Goa.

Aside from the government and private services, there's a travel-centric cruise service too that takes the domestic route to Agatti Island from Cochin and back. These trips basically have five islands listed out and will only go as per the itinerary. Going by the name Lakshadweep Samudram, the cruise goes on an island-hopping voyage from Agatti to Kavaratti. However, this is subjective to the kind of package that you choose and the perks that come with it. The cost of the package is also quite reasonable, so many couples do opt for this over the other ways.

  About Cochin Airport

Cochin International Airport is located 25 km away from the city of Kochi, at Nedumbassery, in the state of Kerala. The Cochin Airport is the first airport in the country that has been developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The project is funded by about 10,000 non-resident Indians (NRI) sprawled across 30 countries. The airport is known for its busy status as it is the most active in the state of Kerala. The airport is also the largest in the state. Cochin International Airport provides to ap[proximately 61 per cent of passenger movement. The Cochin Airport is also recognized nationally as the fourth busiest airport, with respect to international traffic and eighth most active overall.

About Cochin Airport Terminals

There are three main terminals at the Cochin International Airport. While two of them cater to the domestic terminal, the third one works as an international airport. Terminal 1 was previously used for international flight activities. However, with the new and improved Terminal 3, the international operations were shifted there. The terminal caters to the domestic airlines and operations and can accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour. There are 56 check-in counters, six private lounges and seven aerobridges with a conveyor belt that transfers baggage of about 12 flights at once. Terminal 2 offers an executive experience with CUTE enabled check-in counters, four self-check-in kiosks and six security gates with a space to handle about 400 passengers at once. The terminal was converted as an executive terminal much recently. The international Terminal 3 came into existence in recent times. Built with the Kerala architecture and influence from the Thrissur Pooram, the terminal boasts exquisite fibre elephants adorned with traditional costumes. There are five entry gates, 84 check-in and 80 immigration counters.

About airport authority

The Cochin International Airport is owned by the public limited company, formally known as Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which is a public-private consortium. The Government of Kerala also holds ownership in the venture with 33.36 per cent stakes. The government is the largest investor in CIAL while various Indian and foreign organizations also have stakes on it. Companies such as BPCL, AAI and Air India have a collective stake of 8.74 per cent. Meanwhile, foreign organizations such as Emke Group from Abu Dhabi, Galfar Group of Oman and Majeed Bukatara Trading of UAE hold 5.42 per cent stake. There are many more players in the venture too such as Federal Bank, Canara Bank and SBT. 38.03 per cent of stake is collectively owned by approximately 10,000 personal investors panned across 29 countries. These are non-resident Indians with stakes in CIAL.

Facilities at the Cochin Airport

Luggage facility: The airport has a slew of services available pertaining to the luggage. There are free luggage trolleys available at the entrance of the airport as well as at regular counters till the check-in. The terminal also allows porterage services where you can avail help from a professional to escort your luggage from one point to another. The porterage services do come for free for senior citizens, expectant mothers, physically disabled individuals, minors and more. It is imperative that you coordinate with the respective airlines to avail the services. Along with porterage and trolleys, the airport also offers baggage wrapping services. You can get your luggage wrapped in plastic to protect them from theft, mishandle and other concerns.

Child care room: The Cochin airport has designated child care centres in the domestic as well as international terminals. This comes in handy for mothers with infants. Women with kids can make use of the room to feed and change diapers. The room also has other provisions of baby products, including toys, to help soothe the child, if needed. The centre is well-sanitized and is maintained perfectly to ensure the hygiene of the space. Mothers must find it safe and healthy.

Information desk: The information desk is available at regular intervals. The space offers all details about the airport, including a map of the airport. The desk provides all the necessary information regarding flights, airlines, boarding gates and other such concerns even if you need to find specific places such as the lost and found and VIP rooms.

Conference halls: One of the major highlights of the Cochin Airport is the conference halls that it has. You can host meetings and other such conventions at the airport. It is excellent and quite convenient as it helps save time for all the parties involved. Business professionals can simply meet at the airport, wrap up the conference or convention and take their flights to return to their cities. It is a convenient setting and hence, is most favoured.

Postal facilities:

Cochin airport has postal facilities as well that work perfectly for the passengers. In case there are some important documents and letters that need to be posted, you can make it happen at the airport. Postal services are available at both the terminals.

Restaurants and cafes: Kochi airport's domestic wing has only a few food establishments in the food court. The international terminal of the airport does have a decent slew of restaurants and food establishments that you will find.

Pre-paid taxi services: From the airport, there are many pre-paid taxi services outside the airport. Outside the airport, the officials have segregated the parking spaces in such a way that specific pillars and lanes are dedicated to taxi cabs. Depending on your bookings, you will be directed to the specific pillar or lane for taxis.

ATMs and Forex: Foreign exchange counters and ATM kiosks are present at regular intervals in the airport.

You can make your currency exchanges and even get a good rate at the airport. You can also withdraw cash at the ATMs to ensure that you have enough money in hand.

Medical facilities: Much like every airport, even Cochin airport has medical services. It is a necessary protocol that needs to be followed by all the airports to have medical facilities. The possibility of a medical emergency is always prevalent at airports.

VIP lounge: The airport has exemplary VIP lounges and guestrooms for special people. Travellers who have first-class tickets or premium memberships at specific airlines will get access to the private lounges or VIP rooms. These lounges and rooms have upscaled luxury services with great hospitality.

Top airlines flying from the Cochin Airport

Cochin International Airport is recognized as one of the largest and busiest airports in the state of Kerala. With an air passenger movement of approximately 61 per cent, the airport easily becomes a busy one in the state. The Cochin International Airport also witnesses tremendous international traffic. As many flights directly fly to Middle Eastern countries from Cochin and witnesses a high demand too, the international traffic is just as busy as the domestic terminal. Cochin International Airport also serves as a base to the operations of the airlines Air India Express. Aside from Air India Express, the airport also sees many other important domestic airlines such as Air Asia India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, Indian Airlines, SpiceJet and Vistara. There are three passenger terminals with Terminal 3 (international terminal) being the largest terminals in the whole country.

Earlier Terminal 1 served as the international terminal. However, after a massive upgrade that took place and with the genesis of Terminal 3, the international flight activities shifted to the other one. The capacity is also quite good, with over 4,000 passengers per hour. Some of the international airlines that fly from Cochin Airport are Air Arabia, Air Asia, Air India, Air Jazeera, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Tiger Airways. These airlines majorly cater to the passengers flying in and out of Middle Eastern countries. As the demand for the Middle Eastern countries is very high in the state of Kerala, quite a few airlines have direct flights to those international destinations. Cochin airport houses airlines that directly connect with cities such as Muscat, Kuwait, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh and Jeddah.

How to reach Cochin Airport

There are various ways to reach Cochin International Airport. Buses, taxis and private vehicles can reach you to the Cochin airport without any hassle. There are dedicated buses that travel to the Cochin International Airport. Often many travel to Cochin Airport to reach places such as Alleppey, Munnar and other prominent tourist destinations in Kerala. While the main city does have the main bus stand, there are many bus routes that connect to the airport. These buses have destinations such as Ernakulam, Padma, Thrissur, Fort Kochi, Angamaly, Kaloor and Ernakulam-Vyttil-Thoppumpady, to name a few.

Another famous and favoured way to reach Cochin International Airport is by pre-paid taxis. There are taxi counters available close to the domestic and international terminals. There are booths available within the premise of the airport too from where you can make your taxi bookings. Even outside the airport, there are taxi counters from where you can get your taxis. Ride-sharing services are also available with apps such as Uber and Ola at work. Often many travellers even opt to reach other cities in the Ernakulam district by booking a taxi. To further enhance your trip, the airport also has rental services available. You can make a booking at the taxi counter as well.