Cochin City

A cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas, Cochin or Kochi is perhaps the second best poet on the Western Ghats. Known as 'Queen of the Arabian Sea', it reflects the best of all that Kerala has to offer. A rich past and a vibrant present, Kochi gained the status of the business hub of the region long back. Comprising of mainland of Ernakulam, the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbor, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the southern peninsula, and Vypeen Island north of Fort Cochin, all the parts of Kochi are well-linked by ferries.

Being a seaport, many foreigners came to the place and one can clearly see the influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans in its culture and lifestyles of the natives. It boasts of the oldest church in India, the famous old-traditioned Chinese fishing nets, 500-year-old Portuguese houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, synagogues, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora and mosques. The harbor is still hale and hearty and the main exports of the region are pepper, seafood, rubber and coir. However, it attracts tourists because of its serene backwaters, beautiful lagoons fringed by swaying coconut palms and picturesque islands. The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery look more like a fusion of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village into one and are situated on the tropical Malabar Coast. Today, Cochin is one of India's largest ports and a major naval base.

Climate:

As Kochi is on the seashore, it has a moderately warm tropical climate with heavy annual rainfall of about 310 cm. In summers the temperature rises to a maximum of 35 ºC, while in winters, it is around 25 ºC.


How to reach:

What to wear:

Light cotton clothes are advisable and waterproofing will be an added advantage considering the heavy rainfall, the area receives.


Shopping Attractions:

Shopping at Kochi is a pleasure because of the immensely beautiful handicraft items that abound here. One may choose from metalwares, camel-bone and woodcarvings, coconut shell items, bamboo canes, embroidered screwpine mats, grass mats and many other types of handicrafts. Antiques, jewellery, readymade garments, and ethnic hand-woven textiles are some other things to look for. The major shopping hubs of the city are M.G. Road and Marine Drive including Broadway.