WikiConference India 2026/Travel
Welcome to Kochi
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30), no daylight saving |
|---|---|
| Currency | Indian rupee (₹, INR) |
| Languages | Malayalam and English |
| Airport | Cochin International (COK), Nedumbassery |
| Driving side | Left |
| Phone code | +91 |
| Electricity | 230 V, 50 Hz, plug types C, D and M |
| Emergency | 112 |
| Payments | UPI everywhere, cards widely accepted, carry some cash |
This page covers how to reach the city, how to move around it, and what to expect from the weather in early September. Venue and accommodation details will be added here as they are confirmed.
About Kochi: Kochi sits on the Malabar coast where the backwaters meet the Arabian Sea. It has been a port for more than six hundred years, and the trade left its mark: a Portuguese fort, a Dutch cemetery, a Jewish synagogue, Chinese fishing nets on the shoreline and a spice market that smells of pepper. Ernakulam, the mainland half of the city, is where most hotels, stations and offices are.
Getting to Kochi
[edit]By air
[edit]
Cochin International Airport (COK) at Nedumbassery is about 30 km north-east of Ernakulam and handles direct flights from across India and from the Gulf, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo. Prepaid taxis and app cabs run from the terminal and take roughly an hour into the city depending on traffic. Airport buses run to Aluva, from where the metro continues into Ernakulam.
If you are flying internationally, check the visa section below before booking.
By train
[edit]
Kochi has two main stations. Ernakulam Junction (station code ERS, also called Ernakulam South) is the busier of the two and sits close to the city centre. Ernakulam Town (ERN, called North locally) is about three kilometres away and handles trains routed via Kottayam. Aluva station is useful if you are heading straight to the metro.
Book early. Trains into Kerala fill up well in advance in the festival season, and early September falls close to the Onam festival.
By bus
[edit]
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs long-distance services from Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Mangaluru and every district in Kerala. Interstate and inter-district buses use the Vytilla Mobility Hub, which connects onward to the metro, city buses and the water metro. Private operators also run overnight coaches from Bengaluru and Chennai.
Getting around the city
[edit]Metro
[edit]
Kochi Metro runs from Aluva in the north to Tripunithura in the south and is the quickest way to cross the city in the evening rush. Buy a single journey ticket at the station or use the Kochi One card. Trains are air conditioned and step-free, and staff speak English at all stations.
Water metro
[edit]
The Kochi Water Metro is a network of battery-electric boats linking the islands around the city, and it is worth taking once even if you do not need it. Terminals connect with metro stations and city buses, and the same Kochi One card works across both.
Buses, autos and app cabs
[edit]City buses are cheap, frequent and busy, with routes announced in Malayalam and English. Autorickshaws are metered, and drivers in Kochi are generally willing to use the meter. Uber, Ola and Rapido all operate here, and Kerala Savari is the state government's own booking app for autos and taxis with published fares. For a group, a prepaid taxi from the airport usually works out cheaper than two cabs.
Weather in September
[edit]Expect warm, humid days between 24 and 31 °C, and rainy weather. Early September sits at the tail of the south-west monsoon, so showers are heavy but usually short. Pack an umbrella or a light rain jacket, quick-drying clothes and sandals you do not mind getting wet. Indoor venues are strongly air conditioned, so a light layer helps.
Visas and invitation letters
[edit]Participants travelling from outside India need a visa. Most nationalities can apply for an e-Visa online, and applications should be started several weeks before travel. Check the requirements for your nationality on the Indian government's official e-Visa portal, and apply under the category that matches the purpose of your travel.
If you need a letter of invitation for your application, contact the organising team through the helpdesk with your full name as it appears on your passport, your passport number, your nationality and your travel dates. Allow time for the letter to be prepared.