NIGHT SHOPPING IN KOCHI

Who said Kochi is conservative or that the city goes to bed early?? The word ‘night life’ immediately brings to mind visions of people rocking to the music at various discotheques. After the entire days’ hustle and bustle, relaxation becomes important.

The City of Kochi has given an elite status by the Government of Kerala to have Night Shopping, going the way of other cities with Metro rank. With the successful conduct of the Night Shopping for 10 days during Onam, the City Administration has started Night Shopping from December 15, which will continue up to January 15, 2008 i.e. for One month!!

Earlier in 80’s and 90’s Kochi had late night life, where the shops were kept open up to midnight. But later on due to electricity shortage, the Government brought a rule according to which the lights and others electric equipments must be switched off by 7 PM. It brought down the life in Kochi. After few years the Government withdrew the orders, but Alas! By then the shop owners had made it a habit to close down the shops early. Now Kochi is going back to its old sweet reminiscence.(Ship Berthed at Kochi Port)

All agencies agree that Cochin cannot do without night shopping as it is emerging as a key destination for mega investments. The techies, mostly the youngsters, look for relaxation during night after a hard day’s work. In fact, the traders have mooted the night life after the Smart City project took off the ground. The traders feel that the Smart City being set up by Dubai-based TECOM would attract techies from all over the world, who are used to vibrant night life!!!

The Government knew that Kochi is perhaps the only city in Kerala, which

can accept such kind of an environment as it has some of the largest s

hops in India.

Various Massive shops in Kochi are:

Jayalakhsmi, Alukkas Wedding center(shown at right), Maharajas, Seemati, Parthas, Jos Brothers, Vettukattil, Kalyan Silks, My Kingdom, GCDA Complex, Penta Menaka Shopping complex. Also there are oulets of all the major brands like Raymonds, Peter England, Allen Solly, Jeanz world etc etc.

Not to forget the mammoth Gold jewelry shops like:

Alappat Gold, Alappat

Heritage, Alukkas, Joy Alukkas, Jos Alukkas, Geeripai, Vanitha Jewelry, Tanishq(Exclusive diamond shop). The Registered Office of the Joy Alukkas is in Kochi near Marine Drive in a huge complex.(Kalyan Silks shown here right)

ONLY MALL OF KERALA!!

Also the city has the only Mall of Kerala – The Bay Pride Mall (without a cine complex).

Other Specialities!!!

1)The city al

so has the only “PIZZA HUT” in the state which was earlier familiar for only metro cities.

2)The other famous hangouts are Chick King (again the only one in the state). “

3)Avenue Reagent” has given

Kochi a different outlook among the western community, which has modern coffee shops.

4) Apart from the routine coffee shops like “COFFEÉ DAY” which are in South Ernakulam, Near Shenoy’s Theatre, there are other cool and swanky coffee shops such as the famous “Coffee Beanz”. One new Coffee Day shop is coming up in the historic place FortKochi.

Areas such as Marine Drive, Subhash Bose Park(see picture here) and Durbar Hall

can provide appropriate place to sit and spend time during night time.

The city officials and the big shop owners were sure of the purchasing power of the Kochiites which led them to implement Night Shopping in Kochi! The best instance for this is The Grand

Kerala Shopping Festival- A shopping festival from Dec1 to Jan 15, 2008 which has started in all the 14 districts of Kerala, aims to collect revenue of about Rs.250 crores, of which a whopping amount of Rs.125 Crores is expected to be collected from Kochi alone!!! This is why Kochi is regarded as the “SHOPPING CITY”.

Moreover, people can shun the unimaginable city traffic a

nd go for shopping at night in serene and pretty environs. The beauty of Kochi city can really be tasted at night time. The gratification that you get at night time is utterly different.

Other wise also, there is a wide range of recreational spots in Kochi which include pubs, bars, discotheques, coffee joints where the ‘night life starts after 9’. Till a few years ago, there were not many pubs in Kerala.

There were no clubs available here in the Western meaning of the word where tourists can visit and hang out and have fun. The only clubs in Kochi

were the exclusive ‘members only’ clubs like The Lotus Club and the Rama Varma Club where you can go only as a guest of an existing member.

But now The Queen of the Arabian Sea awa

kens after dusk. Now one can see long lines of vibrant youngsters

waiting to groove to a DJ’s music. Kochi seems to be emerging as a hotspot for several youngsters. The serene and peac

eful atmosphere of the city coupled wit

h the latest hangouts and discos whip up the perfect ambience for those people who love to come down to the city for a blast after a hard time at work.

Nightclubs in metros have the liberty of being open till 6 am or even 7 am. But Kochi has a decent timing too. 1.30 am is not bad at all. One can finish one’s work and still find time to hit the night

club. The nightlife in Kochi has lots to offer to its visitors, you must know the right place to go, and once you are there, there’s nothing stopping you, drink, dance and make merry to your heart’s content! Kochi has a thriving club culture with couples gyrating to Western or Indi-pop till late hours. Entry price is usually per coupl

e. A few bars and discos that young westerners and Kochities like are usually part of swanky hotels.

And it is a hell of a lot better than Thiruvananthapuram for starters. It’s quite interesting to be out in Thiruvananthapuram only till 9 pm, after that police… curfew… checking….lack of buses eeks!!!

In few years from now (may

be by 2011 or so) Kochi can expect to get a metro city status, as Kochi is going to witness an unprecedented and unique development in all the fields. With the implementation of Smart city, Vallarpadam International container terminal, LNG terminal, Golf Course near airport, new international cricket stadium, new airport at Chowara(near Aluva) for Coast Guard, Metro Rail project, IT parks by pri

vate firms like Shobha group(already started consruction), CIAL’s IT park, IT park by Parsvnath Developers at SEZ(received the much awaited approval from Government), Muthoot IT park, Ocenarium at Puthuvypee

n Island(got approval and land transferred to fisheries department by the Government), Marine Institute, Cruise Termainal at Wellington Island, 100 Floored Trade tower(yet to get clearance from Government)Aqua Park, and

not to mention dozens of MALL’s set to come up in Kochi,
which are all under construction and also huge apartments coming up in various parts of city and suburbs will surely transform Kochi into a mega city.(may be some projects are missing here).

So Kochi is waiting for the year 2009 which is going to change the face of Kochi.