Double rooms from &euro110 £76 including breakfast

Double rooms from €110 (£76), including breakfast.Brunton Boatyard (2) at Calvathy Road, Fort Cochin (00 91 484 2215 461; <a href="http://www.brutonboatyard cghearth “>www.brutonboatyard cghearth ) reflects the style and splendour of Cochin’s maritime past. This refurbished colonial-style hotel offers 22 rooms, each with harbour views. Doubles from around $200 (£108) without breakfast.The Old Harbour Hotel (3) at 1/328 Tower Road, Fort Cochin (00 91 984 70 29000; www.oldharbourhotel ) opens in October. This Dutch colonial building has 13 spacious bedrooms, looking out on to either a quaint courtyard or the Chinese fishing nets. Doubles start at US$100 (£54), with breakfast $4 (£2.20) extra per person.The Raintree Lodge (4) at 1/618 Petercelli Street, Fort Cochin (00 91 484 325 1489; www.fortcochin ) is in Fort Cochin’s heritage quarter. Each of the five double rooms in this 18th-century residence offers an en suite bathroom, a balcony and air conditioning Rooms cost Rs1,800 (£21), excluding breakfast. The Fort House Hotel (5) at 2/6A Calvathy Road, Fort Cochin (00 91 484 2217 103) offers good value rooms, near the waterfront.

Nine rooms look out on to a quirky courtyard sculpture garden. Double rooms start from Rs950 rupees (£12), including breakfast. TAKE A HIKE The best way to discover this charming – if somewhat crumbling – colonial island fortress is on foot, passing the waterfront and through some of the ancient streets and alleyways.Start at the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets (6). At each high tide you can witness the centuries-old practice of releasing and raising huge, handcrafted nets into and out of the water, using a primitive system of counterweights.With the sea to your right, continue along the sea wall Promenade.

Cut inland, down an alleyway and turn right, past the Dutch Cemetery (7).A left turn down Elphinstone Road will take you past Bishop’s House (8), former residence of the Portuguese governor and later the Bishop of Cochin. Turn left again into Post Office Road and carry on past the Parade Ground – where once the city’s colonial masters conducted their military parades and drills. At the top you’ll find the Church of St Francis (9) – the original burial place of Vasco da Gama. LUNCH ON THE RUN You can choose your own “catch of the day” from one of the fishmongers opposite the fishing nets (6). Then, take it to one of the nearby “fast food” shacks where they will cook it for you.