Marine Drive

Marine Drive is a waterfront promenade along the Arabian Sea in the city of Kochi, stretching roughly two kilometers in length. The route begins near the courthouse building and continues to an open plaza, passing several retail shops and eateries facing the water.

The waterfront promenade emerged during a phase of urban renewal in the 1980s when authorities reshaped the Kochi coastline. Development followed a plan to create public spaces along the water and make the city more accessible to visitors.

The waterfront promenade takes its name from British colonial days and serves today as a walking route where families gather in the evening hours. Street vendors sell freshly prepared snacks like masala peanuts and coconut chips while children sit along the railings watching the water pass by.

The walking path is wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers and remains walkable most of the year. The best hours to visit fall in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense and more shade becomes available.

The promenade offers a direct view of large cargo vessels entering the harbor while traditional Chinese fishing nets remain in operation in the foreground. These nets date back to the 14th century and still function today using the same principle of counterweights and levers.