Dog walks in Kochi, from Fort Kochi to Kakkanad

Kochi is not an easy city for dog walkers. Pavements are narrow, traffic is heavy and parks often do not allow dogs. But there are good places to walk if you know where and when to go. Here are the ones our customers and staff use most.

Panampilly Nagar, where our store is, has wide, tree-lined roads with less traffic than most of the city. The early morning walk along Panampilly Avenue, before 7.30 am, is popular with dog owners, and you will meet many of our regulars.

The Marine Drive walkway along the backwater is long and open, with a breeze. Go at sunrise, before it fills with walkers and joggers, and keep your dog on a short lead. Avoid it in the afternoon, when the paving gets hot. In Fort Kochi, the beach road and the quieter lanes near the old Dutch and Portuguese houses make a pleasant weekend walk. Watch for street dogs, which are territorial in some lanes, and carry water.

Further out, the roads around Kakkanad and the residential layouts near Infopark have broader roads and empty plots that feel more open. Wherever you walk, carry bags and pick up after your dog; it keeps these spaces open to all of us. In the monsoon, avoid stagnant puddles, and in summer, test the road with your palm for five seconds before letting your dog walk on it.