Kochi (formerly called Cochin) city information
Cochin (now known as Kochi) is Kerala’s most cosmopolitan city with a bustling commercial port. It is the financial capital of Kerala.
Cochin has a lot of remnants form the past still clinging on. The famous landmark in Cochin is a row of Chinese fishing nets at the mouth of the harbor leading to the Arabian sea. It is a blend of modern India on one hand and while the old quarter – the Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Kumbalangi and outlying islands Cochin is Comparatively cleaner and quieter than many other Indian Tourist places.
Ernakulam is the commercial capital of Kerala with one of the finest natural harbours in the world. The city lies about 30 kms north off the airport. The downtown city-area is known as Ernakulam and the areas surrounding it, comprising mainly of islands, is collectively known as Kochi (Cochin). From here, ships set sail for foreign ports with pepper, seafood, rubber and coir, from time immemorial. Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese seafarers followed the sea route to Cochin and left their impressions on the town.
The Chinese fishing nets, believed to be erected in 1350 AD, swaying in the breeze over the backwaters, the Jewish Synagogue on Jew Street, The Dutch palace at Bolghatty, Maharaja’s Palace at Tripunithura, the narrow streets of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, old temples and colonial churches attract tourists from all over
