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Voykit pocket guide · India
Cherthala
Spend a half‑day for beach walk and temple visit; add a boat ride to make it a full day.
Cherthala is a small Kerala town with beaches, a historic basilica and backwater experiences. One half‑day covers the main sights; a full day lets you add a boat trip to the nearby islands.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–₹3,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coconut water | ₹30–₹50 |
| Fish fry plate | ₹120–₹250 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- COK · Cochin International Airport
- about 70 km (43 mi) north, reachable by bus or taxiabout 43 mi (70 km) north, reachable by bus or taxi
Typical fares
- Cochin Airport → Cherthala (taxi)
- ≈ ₹1,200, 1.5 h (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈ ₹150 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Hire a taxi or auto‑rickshaw for short trips; state and private buses run frequently and are cheap.
See and do
Known for
- Marari, Arthunkal and Andhakaranazhy beaches
- Arthunkal Basilica
- Thanneermukkom Dam backwaters
- Local temples
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary | Bus or taxi eastward, about 17 km (11 mi)Bus or taxi eastward, about 11 mi (17 km) | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- PWD Rest House
- basic accommodation near the town centre
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | क्षमിക്കണംkshamikkanam |
| Thank you | നന്ദിnandi |
| How much is this? | ഇത് എത്രയാണ്?ith ethraanu? |
| Where is the bus stop? | ബസ് സ്റ്റോപ്പ് എവിടെയാണ്?bus stop evideya? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat trips to Pathriramanal island cost ₹500 per group – confirm price before boarding (check).
- Temple etiquette: dress modestly and remove shoes.
Cherthala is generally safe; watch belongings on crowded buses and follow temple dress codes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cherthala yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Marari, Arthunkal and Andhakaranazhy beaches
- Arthunkal Basilica
- Thanneermukkom Dam backwaters
- Local temples
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Cherthala coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Cherthala, revision 5301432 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301432
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/cherthala). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.