Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a
vibrant city situated on the
south-west coast of the Indian
peninsula in the breathtakingly
scenic and prosperous state
of Kerala, hailed as 'God's
Own Country'. Its strategic
importance over the centuries
is underlined by the sobriquet
Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally,
Cochin is also referred to as
the Gateway to Kerala.
From
time immemorial, the Arabs,
British, Chinese, Dutch, and
Portuguese have left indelible
marks on the history and development
of Cochin. Over the years,
Cochin has emerged as the
commercial and industrial
capital of Kerala and is perhaps
the second most important
city on the west coast of
India (after Mumbai/Bombay).
Cochin is proud of its world
class port and international
airport that link it to many
major cities worldwide.
This lovely seaside city is
flanked by the Western Ghats
on the east and the Arabian
Sea on the west. Its proximity
to the equator, the sea and
the mountains provide a rich
experience of a moderate equatorial
climate.
Strictly
speaking, Cochin is a small
town. But, Cochin has outgrown
its original bounds and is
now the general name given
to much of the region adjoining
the original town, which now
includes Cochin, Fort Kochi,
Mattanchery, Ernakulam and
many other nearby towns and
villages. Cochin is situated
in Ernakulam district in the
state of Kerala. Ernakulam
is also the name of a town
- the administrative capital
of Ernakulam district - but,
for all practical purposes
Ernakulam and Cochin, generally,
refer to the same place.
Kochi
is the arguably the ideal
starting point for exploring
the unfathomable diversity
and beauty of Kerala, rated
in the top three tourist destinations
by the World Travel &
Tourism Council and featured
in National Geographic Traveler's
'50 greatest places of a lifetime'.
Main Attractions
Kerala
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