Located on the Western Ghats of India, Cochin is a port city in the state of Kerala. Though it is formally known as Kochi, it is still fondly known by its colonial name, Cochin. With fast paced development it has emerged to be the industrial and commercial capital of Kerala. As a matter of fact, it is the second most important city in the state after the capital, as well as on the West coast. Apart from this, its unfathomable beauty and treasure of tourist attractions, has won acclaim making it one of the top 50 Must Visit Spots, in terms of travel and tourism.

Cochin was an important spice trade center from 14th century onwards and was even referred as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It was even the site for the first European colonial settlement and was under constant influence of Portuguese, Dutch, British, etc. As a result, it has been blessed with colonial heritage in the form of architecture and culture. In effect it represents a striking blend of ethnicity and modernity. To top it all, the natural splendor of the place is simple awe inspiring, adding another feather in its cap.

Tourist Attractions

Cochin can be called a tourist's paradise, as it offers host of tourist attractions to be visited. Fort Kochi, Bolghatty Palace and Mattancherry Palace are the colonial buildings in the city, which are examples of European and Dutch architecture. Once the home of British governors, Bolghatty Palace has now been transformed into a heritage hotel maintained by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Built in 1744, it is located on the Bolghatty Island along the coast.

Also known as Dutch Palace, the Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese and renovated by Dutch. The palace showcases portraits of royal families of Cochin, Hindu temple art, paintings depicting scenes from epics and exquisite murals. Besides, the coast along Fort Kochi also provides a fascination sight of the Chinese fishing nets, which are not found elsewhere in the country. They were installed by the Chinese traders and serve as the means of earning livelihood for the fishermen here. These are huge permanent nets installed at the shore for catching fish.

Another reason why people flock Cochin is its crystalline backwaters. Dotted with soaring coconut trees, the backwaters of Cochin provide an ideal respite from the hum drum of city life. For all those who wish to peep into the chapters of history, Pareekshith Thampuran Museum and Museum of Kerala History are must visit spots. Those with a religious fervor should visit St Francis Church and Jewish Synagogue. The church was built by the Portuguese in 1503 while the Synagogue is the oldest in all the Commonwealth of Nations. Other sites worth visiting in Cochin are Godaisan Hill and Willingdon Island.

How to Reach
By Air: Cochin international Airport is situated around 25 km north of the city and operates both domestic and international flights.

By Rail: Cochin is connected to the rest of the country via an effective railway system. There are three railway junctions here, namely Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Cochin Harbor Terminus.

By Road: Cochin has an extensive network of national, state highways and local roads, which links it to the rest of the country. NH 47, 49, 17 pass through Cochin, which connect it to Kanyakumari, Mumbai and Madurai, respectively.