{"source":"Haila Kochi","description":"Kochi's premier digital magazine, food, events, culture, people","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com","articles":[{"id":3161,"slug":"won-onam-bumper-first-24-hours","title":"Won the Onam Bumper? What to Do in the First 24 Hours","excerpt":"Won a Kerala lottery prize? Sign the ticket, photograph it, lock it away and ignore anyone asking for a fee. You have 90 days to claim.","date":"2026-09-27T09:30:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/won-onam-bumper-first-24-hours","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/8576782/pexels-photo-8576782.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Onam Bumper","Kerala Lottery","Lottery Prize Claim"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":5},{"id":1230,"slug":"guruvayur-temple-day-trip-from-kochi-guide","title":"Guruvayur Temple from Kochi: Getting There, Timings and the Dress Code","excerpt":"Guruvayur is 90 to 110 km from Kochi by road. Only 3 direct trains run from Ernakulam, so here is how to get there, the temple hours and what to wear.","date":"2026-09-27T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/guruvayur-temple-day-trip-from-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/36109000/pexels-photo-36109000.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Guruvayur","Day Trips","Temples"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1229,"slug":"thulavarsham-northeast-monsoon-kochi-guide","title":"Thulavarsham in Kochi: What the Northeast Monsoon Brings and How to Plan Around It","excerpt":"Thulavarsham is Kerala's northeast monsoon, from October to December. It brings about 17% of the state's rain, mostly as afternoon thunderstorms.","date":"2026-09-27T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/thulavarsham-northeast-monsoon-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/36724157/pexels-photo-36724157.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Monsoon","Weather","Safety"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1228,"slug":"vypin-island-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","title":"Vypin Island, Kochi: How to Get There, What It Is Like, and Who It Suits","excerpt":"Vypin is a 27 km island linked to Marine Drive by the Goshree bridges. How to reach it, what it is known for, and what living there is really like.","date":"2026-09-27T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/vypin-island-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/38555087/pexels-photo-38555087.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Vypin","Neighbourhoods","Islands"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1227,"slug":"kochi-to-thrissur-train-vs-bus-vs-car-guide","title":"Kochi to Thrissur: Train vs Bus vs Car, and Which One to Pick","excerpt":"Ernakulam to Thrissur is about 73 km by rail, with second-class fares from Rs 60 and trains taking about an hour. When the bus or car makes more sense.","date":"2026-09-27T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/kochi-to-thrissur-train-vs-bus-vs-car-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/20402113/pexels-photo-20402113.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Thrissur","Day Trips","Transport"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":5},{"id":1225,"slug":"bolgatty-palace-island-kochi-guide","title":"Bolgatty Palace and Island: Kochi's 1744 Dutch Palace, Explained","excerpt":"Bolgatty Palace was built by a Dutch trader in 1744 and has been a KTDC heritage hotel since 1976. Its history, the island, and how to get there.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/bolgatty-palace-island-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/27833049/pexels-photo-27833049.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Bolgatty","Heritage","Islands"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1224,"slug":"st-francis-church-fort-kochi-vasco-da-gama-guide","title":"St Francis Church, Fort Kochi: Vasco da Gama's First Grave and What to See","excerpt":"St Francis Church in Fort Kochi dates to 1503 and was Vasco da Gama's first burial place. Its history, what to look for inside, and when to visit.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/st-francis-church-fort-kochi-vasco-da-gama-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/20581231/pexels-photo-20581231.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Fort Kochi","Heritage","Churches"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1223,"slug":"kochi-to-alappuzha-train-vs-bus-vs-car-guide","title":"Kochi to Alappuzha: Train vs Bus vs Car, and Which One to Pick","excerpt":"Alappuzha is about 62 km south of Kochi. The fastest train takes 50 minutes, the bus about 1.5 hours. Which one to take, and when to drive instead.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/kochi-to-alappuzha-train-vs-bus-vs-car-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/15308719/pexels-photo-15308719.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Alappuzha","Day Trips","Transport"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1222,"slug":"mangalavanam-bird-sanctuary-kochi-guide","title":"Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary: Kochi's Mangrove Patch Behind the High Court","excerpt":"Mangalavanam is a 2.74-hectare mangrove sanctuary behind the Kerala High Court. When to go, what you will see, and why it is struggling.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/mangalavanam-bird-sanctuary-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/33285579/pexels-photo-33285579.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Mangalavanam","Birdwatching","Nature"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1221,"slug":"maradu-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","title":"Maradu, Kochi: Living Where Three Highways Meet the Backwaters","excerpt":"Maradu sits 6 km south of central Kochi, where NH 66, NH 85 and NH 966B meet at Kundannoor. What living there is like, and the lesson of the 2020 flats.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/maradu-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/17441031/pexels-photo-17441031.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Maradu","Neighbourhoods","Real Estate"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":1220,"slug":"digital-arrest-scam-how-to-spot-kochi-guide","title":"Digital Arrest Scam: How to Spot the Fake Police Video Call and What to Do","excerpt":"There is no such thing as a digital arrest in Indian law. How the fake police video call works, the red flags, and why reporting to 1930 fast matters.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/digital-arrest-scam-how-to-spot-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/6862836/pexels-photo-6862836.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Tech & AI"],"tags":["Cyber Fraud","Digital Arrest","Online Safety"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":5},{"id":1219,"slug":"mattancherry-palace-dutch-palace-visit-guide","title":"Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace): Timings, Murals and How to See It","excerpt":"Mattancherry Palace is usually open 10am to 5pm, shuts on Fridays and costs a token fee. The Ramayana murals are the reason to go. How to plan it.","date":"2026-09-26T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/mattancherry-palace-dutch-palace-visit-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/39392817/pexels-photo-39392817.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Mattancherry","Fort Kochi","Heritage"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3160,"slug":"fake-kerala-lottery-ticket-scam-how-to-spot","title":"How to Spot a Fake Kerala Lottery Ticket or Prize Scam","excerpt":"Genuine Kerala lottery tickets are paper only, sold at face value, with a QR code. A prize never costs a fee to collect; any demand for one is a scam.","date":"2026-09-23T12:30:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/fake-kerala-lottery-ticket-scam-how-to-spot","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/14907311/pexels-photo-14907311.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Kerala Lottery","Onam Bumper","Lottery Scams"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":5},{"id":3159,"slug":"nre-vs-nro-account-kochi-nri-guide","title":"NRE vs NRO Account: Which One Do Kochi's NRIs Actually Need?","excerpt":"NRI deposits in Kerala banks hit Rs 3.24 lakh crore by March 2026; NRE interest is tax-free, NRO interest faces 30% TDS.","date":"2026-09-23T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/nre-vs-nro-account-kochi-nri-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/164636/pexels-photo-164636.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Business"],"tags":["NRI Banking","Kerala NRI","Personal Finance"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3158,"slug":"southern-naval-command-kochi-explainer","title":"Southern Naval Command, Kochi: What It Is and What It Trains","excerpt":"Headquartered at INS Venduruthy since 1977, Southern Naval Command is the Indian Navy's training command and its largest.","date":"2026-09-23T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/southern-naval-command-kochi-explainer","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1786228335558-94abdc76c35f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&q=80","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Indian Navy","Willingdon Island","Kochi History"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3157,"slug":"kochi-to-munnar-bus-vs-taxi-guide","title":"Kochi to Munnar: Bus vs Taxi vs Self-Drive, Which Should You Book?","excerpt":"KSRTC's Kochi to Munnar bus costs Rs 188 and takes about 4 hours; a taxi runs Rs 3,000 to 4,000 and takes 3 to 4 hours.","date":"2026-09-23T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/kochi-to-munnar-bus-vs-taxi-guide","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1742106855258-2d7dd403f84a?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&q=80","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Munnar","Kochi Travel","KSRTC"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3156,"slug":"elamkulam-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","title":"Elamkulam, Kochi: Neighbourhood Guide to Metro Access and Daily Life","excerpt":"Elamkulam sits at pincode 682020 between Kadavanthra and Vyttila, with its own Kochi Metro stop opened in 2019.","date":"2026-09-23T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/elamkulam-kochi-neighbourhood-guide","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1697377747799-2c9647d56d3a?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&q=80","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Elamkulam","Kochi Neighbourhoods","Kochi Metro"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3155,"slug":"buy-kerala-lottery-online-outside-kerala-legal","title":"Can You Buy a Kerala Lottery Ticket Online or From Outside Kerala?","excerpt":"Buying a Kerala lottery ticket online is illegal everywhere; buying from outside the state is too, but anyone can buy one in person while in Kerala.","date":"2026-09-22T12:30:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/buy-kerala-lottery-online-outside-kerala-legal","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/14907377/pexels-photo-14907377.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Kerala Lottery","Onam Bumper","Kerala Law"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":5},{"id":3154,"slug":"kochi-to-bangalore-train-vs-flight-guide","title":"Kochi to Bangalore: Should You Fly or Take the Train?","excerpt":"A Kochi-Bangalore flight takes just over an hour, the fastest train about 8 hours 40 minutes. Here's which one actually makes sense for you.","date":"2026-09-22T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/kochi-to-bangalore-train-vs-flight-guide","image":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/37067059/pexels-photo-37067059.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1200","categories":["Guides"],"tags":["Kochi to Bangalore","Travel","Vande Bharat Express"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4},{"id":3153,"slug":"muziris-heritage-project-day-trip-kochi-guide","title":"The Muziris Heritage Sites Near Kochi Most People Never Actually Visit","excerpt":"The Muziris Heritage Project sits about 30 km north of Kochi, spread across a dozen small museums and synagogues. Here's how to actually see it.","date":"2026-09-22T06:00:00","url":"https://www.hailakochi.com/articles/muziris-heritage-project-day-trip-kochi-guide","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1705838617550-ae0573ebefc8?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1200&q=80","categories":["Things To Do"],"tags":["Muziris","Day Trips","North Paravur"],"author":"Haila Kochi Editorial Team","readTimeMinutes":4}]}