Cochin or
Kochi, as it is called now is situated on the west coast of India in the
beautiful greenish state of Kerala. Cochin has long been eulogised in tourist
literature as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. This simple heckneyed phrase
reflects the beauty and long-standing maritime importance. The city is basically
a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas and can be mainly divided in to
Ernakulam, Willington Island, Mattancherry and Fort Cochin, which spreads around
87sq.kms. Ernakulam is the business centre and forms the main land. It is
separated from the Fort Cochin and Mattancherry by the river Periyar that flows
down to the Arabian Sea. Cochin has the finest natural harbors in the world
around which the city has grown. Being one of the important cities on the
western coast, Cochin is well connected by road and rail to all important cities
in India. The nearby international airport is linked with national and many
international destinations. Guided
city tours by KTDC
History
of the City
The history of
Cochin dates back to hundreds of years. At the end of fourteenth century the
"Perumpadappu Family", the local king, shifted their capital to
Cochin. This small town started to grow and developed in to a major trade point
of spices after the formation of the natural port by a massive flood in 1340 AD
when the river Periyar flooded over and washed away the then famous port at
Cranganore. By the bigining of the sixteenth century the Portuguese arrived and
Cochin began to gain importance. Long back the arrival of Europians, Cochin had
good trade relations with China and Middle East. Also many Jews were settled in
and around the city. By the end of 1653 the Dutch invasion started and they
defeated the Portuguese. But by the end of seventeenth century the rulers of
Mysore collapsed the Dutch power. The British took over Cochin after the forth
Mysore war. In 1814 the construction of a modern port began and by 1936 Cochin
became a major port. Post independence, in 1967, the Corporation Cochin was
formed and the Queen of the Arabian, after shifting to so many hands, was
finally at peace.
More
about
Attractions
From time immemorial
Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and British seafarers followed the sea route
to Cochin and left their impression on the town. This fact is tangibly evident in the city’s well-known landmarks.
The must see places include the Dutch palace built in 1555, Jewish synagogue
built in 1568, St. Francis church by the Portuguese, Santa Cruz Basilica,
Bolgatty palace, the man made Willington island and the 15th century Paallipuram
fort. You can see rows of Chinese fishing nets at Fort Cochin water front. In
and around the city there are three museums. You can also enjoy the traditional
art form called "Kathakali" and martial art "Kalaripayattu"
in many cultural centres. Tourist information and city maps are available from
the three tourist offices run by government agencies.More
about
Hotels
It is
better to stay in Ernakulam than Cochin, as the range of accommodation is
greater there. During December
to January,
there is a great rush for hotel rooms. You can find many delux and budget
hotels. Yatri Nivas, Tourist lodges and hostels provide a convenient and cheap
base. More
about
Eat
Outs
Cochin has an enormous
range of restaurants, offering reasonably priced food and drinks. You can eat
out quite cheaply in Cochin but if you have more expensive tastes, then there
are number of well known restaurants. You can have the traditional Kerala dishes
from most of the restaurants. Many of them also offers cuisines from different
countries. Find
a Place
Shopping
The Mahatma Gandhi
(MG) road, branches off from the Banerji road cuts through what is today the
city's main commercial district. A bustling shopping centre where you can buy
all kind of goods. Many airline offices, hotels, restaurants, and movie theatres
are along this road. The Marine Drive and the lively GCDA Commercial Complex
along the water front features a variety of shopping malls. You can buy all kind
of spices from Broad Way running parallel to the east of Shanmugham road or from
Mattancherry. Antique shops can be find in Jews town. Web
Directory
Climate
months of September, October, November and December. The annual rainfall is about 310 cm. Coolest weather lasts from November to mid-March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days. Really hot weather, between April and June. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. The warm tropical climate recommends light cotton clothes.
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