The Kerala State Water Transport Department will launch a new Kochi solar cruise service to Fort Kochi and the Kadamakudy islands on Saturday, creating the department’s first dedicated tourist vessel connection to the island clusters. Bookings for the service will open on Friday, according to the Times of India report.
The 30-passenger solar cruise vessel Saurya 2 will operate two daily excursions from the Ernakulam boat jetty. The first, called See Kochi, will depart at 11am and return at 1pm after a two-hour journey through Bolgatty, Vallarpadam, Vypeen and Fort Kochi. Tickets for the route will cost Rs 200 per person.
The second service, See Kadamakudy, will leave Ernakulam at 3pm and return by 7pm. The four-hour cruise will pass through nearly 12 island clusters, including Kothad and Pizhala, before reaching the Kadamakudy viewpoint. The return journey is scheduled to offer sunset views, with tickets priced at Rs 300 per person.
The Kadamakudy service will also connect passengers with activities offered by a local resort, including kayaking and water sports. These activities will cost an additional Rs 100. Snacks will be included in the cruise fare, while a music system will be available on board, a senior SWTD official said, according to the report.
The department has announced fare concessions for younger passengers. Children below five years will travel free, while children below 11 years will receive half-price tickets. The concession will also cover school groups travelling on educational trips. SWTD said it would introduce online booking soon, although the initial booking process will begin on Friday.
The service places Kadamakudy within Kochi’s scheduled water-based tourism network rather than treating the islands only as a standalone visitor destination. Passengers travelling from the Ernakulam jetty will be able to reach the island clusters through a fixed route and timetable, while also passing through established waterfront destinations such as Fort Kochi and Bolgatty.
Kadamakudy panchayat president M S Antony said the expected increase in visitors could create opportunities for local enterprises, Kudumbashree units, small vendors and businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors. The launch therefore combines a tourism excursion with a public water transport operation and a local economic opportunity for communities located across the island landscape.
The first See Kochi cruise will depart from the Ernakulam boat jetty at 11am on Saturday, followed by the See Kadamakudy service at 3pm. SWTD has not provided a separate launch date for the proposed online booking facility.
