The Gateway Hotel at Ernakulam, belongs to the Taj group of hotels and is one of the most sought after places to stay in the city of Ernakulam/Cochin.

Situated along the promenade of the Marine Drive on the waterfront, it offers panoramic views of the backwaters, harbor and the islands of Cochin.

I was a guest of the hotel during my participation as a member of the media at the Kerala Travel Mart, KTM2018 held in Cochin, Kerala, India, from Sep 28th-30th, 2018.

About the Gateway Hotel Ernakulum –

This 5 star property is very centrally located in a busy part of the city and is in the vicinity of several shopping malls, theaters, supermarkets and dining options.

The decor is a blend of the traditional and modern. The wooden beamed ceiling of the lobby looks down on a spice laden boat, a large Uruli with floating lotuses and tall ceremonial brass lamps.

One can gaze at framed pictures bearing ancient maps and glimpses of the Cochin of yore, while being seated in the comfortably plush couches of the foyer.

Even the elevators in the have traditional carved wooden doors, elevating them to a very elegant status indeed.

The property offers rooms and suites which are city view or sea facing and are well appointed with the usual trappings of TV, mini bar, electronic safe and such. There are a total of 108 rooms.

For spectacular views of the water, make sure to ask for a sea view room or suite. These ‘rooms with a view’ can keep one engrossed for hours on end, watching the ferries go by or the ships docked in the harbor or the glimmer of distant islands or even the various birds that skim across the shimmering waters and provide entertainment throughout the day.

The hotel also features a spa and ayurvedic center that uses specially formulated oils and various wellness treatments, a fitness center and a swimming pool.

4 conference halls named after all things related to the ocean like Waterfront, Anchor, Marina and Beacon, can accommodate right from 15 to 500 people for personal as well as official celebrations and events.

Dining options –

There are 4 restaurants that include the Sian which serves Japanese, Thai and Chinese and is also known for its seafood, Swirl, the bar that stocks a fine range of liquor, Deli the pastry outlet and  the Bubble cafe which is the waterfront facing, all day restaurant, that gets its name from its glass dome. The cafe serves multi cuisine fare along with local Kerala cuisine.

During my stay, I was present at the hotel only at breakfast times and hence did not get a chance to experience the other meals here.

I must say that the breakfasts here were among the best that I have had because of their focus on serving the local cuisine apart from the usual standard fare. The live counters dishing out my favorite appams that were fittingly lacy and well complemented by their accompanying stew, were enough to get me all excited.

I also had the pleasure of sampling the local Puttu kadala, the red beaten rice Poha upma, Elanji which is also known as sweet love letter with its coconut filling encased in a rolled up crepe and Pidi which is a steamed rice ball.

There are also North Indian and Western breakfast dishes but as usual I stuck with what was local.

Service is very attentive and perceptive.

Surroundings –

Shopping – The hotel located within walking distance from Broadway which is Ernakulam’s oldest shopping streets. This low cost shopping area is a shoppers paradise where one can buy anything from spices and banana chips to jewelry and electronic goods. Generations of trades have conducted their business here and and one will be amused at times to see Kerala spices being sold in Gujarathi shops 😀 It happens only in India, right ?

Contrary to its name, the street is not broad at all … or as my guide seemingly unaware of the paradox he was stating, said – Broadway is very narrow 😀

However the paved 2 km long street is supposed to be a car free zone and shoppers can walk unhindered by vehicles. This shopping area also leads to the Ernakulam market which is another bargain area for shoppers. I did not get time to explore the market, which is probably a good thing because I would have probably gone berserk buying up goods that would have enticed me and increased the weight of my baggage 😀

Walkway – The 1.75 km Marine drive is again not a drive but a walkway. It is situated adjacent to the hotel and there is a gate from the property that leads exclusively to it.

Any time of the day is good for a stroll along the tree lined path that is constantly blessed by cool breeze that blows across the water. A bird watchers delight, one can spot various species of the winged creatures including the common sparrow which is rather uncommon for those of us who hail from Bangalore 😀

Sunset Cruise – 

The hotel arranges a complimentary sunset cruise every evening at 5 pm. Tea and snacks are served at 4.45pm prior to the sail and guests partake of cookies and fritters before embarking on the boat. The cruise takes 90 minutes from start to finish, a time that passes all too soon when one is enraptured by the views that are suffused with the gold of the setting sun and when one wants to linger on trying to capture as much of the scene both mentally and photographically.

The boat sails alongside the surrounding islands and gives us a glimpse of the mouth of the sea where the backwaters of the lake eventually spill out into.

Some of the best pictures can be obtained on the cruise, that include the iconic Chinese fishing nets of Cochin, magnificent Indian naval ships and the various well known hotels and buildings that line the shore. Dolphin sighting is rare at in the evenings and is said to happen during the earlier part of the day.

Of course the highlight (literally) of the cruise, is the sunset and if there are no clouds to hamper the show, one can take delight in watching a perfect ball sinking into the horizon that is flushed with the red of the blushing sky.

Ferry to Fort Kochi and Jew town, Matancherry –

The ferry terminal is just a few minutes walk from the hotel and a ridiculously low price ranging from Rs 4 to 6, will take you across the waters to different parts of the city. The ferry is operated at a high frequency through the day, by the Kerala State Water Transport Corporation.

One can make a quick trip to Fort Kochi, the heritage rich sector of Cochin city or Mattancherry where the Jew town is located. This trip would certainly take much longer by road and one can also enjoy a cruise of sorts at a very low cost.

The Chinese fishing nets along the Fort Kochi beach, are an all time attraction. This walkway though badly maintained, is a delight for seafood lovers with vendors selling absolutely fresh catch that includes gigantic scampi, crabs, tiger prawns and all that one probably would find in fish heaven, if there is such a place !!! And the joy of discovering the attractive prices is only compounded by the fact that there are little shacks where this seafood will be cleaned and cooked for you on the spot at a nominal charge.

Fort Kochi retains many vestiges of its colonial past when it went through the hands of the Portugese, the Dutch and the British. Many of the old buildings still exist, as does the somber Dutch cemetery that lies in a corner, a tiny bit of the 17th century that co exists silently with current times.

Do not miss visiting the St Francis Church CSI, built in the 16th century and said to have initially housed the mortal remains of Vasco da Gama in 1524 AD before they were transported to Portugal in 1538AD.

Getting to The Gateway Ernakulam Hotel –

Gateway Ernakulam is an hour’s drive from Kochi International airport and 3.5 km from Ernakulam South railway station.

Bookings and contact –

Access the website at Gateway Ernakulam

Disclosure –

On this trip I was hosted by the Kerala Travel Mart Society and partnering hotels, as a media invitee and I thank them for the hospitality. My narration is based on the inputs I received from various sources as well as my personal experiences.

For more pictures see My Facebook – Gateway Hotel Ernakulam. Also catch me on My Twitter and My Instagram

Sep 22nd-29th, 2018