The Queen of the Arabian Sea
Cochin or Kochi, as its popularly known, is the largest city as well as the financial capital of Kerala. 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. No wonder, it was the chosen destination for the Europeans to set up one of their first colonies here. In fact, Fort Kochi is the only place in India which was occupied by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English. Throw into this mix, the Chinese, Arabs, Jews, Gujaratis, and Saraswat Brahmins among others who stopped by for trading and this explains the cosmopolitan tag that Kochi enjoys.
Kochi is the best place to begin your journey on an ever expanding sea of greenery, with rich flora and fauna. It also houses a lot of corporate offices like Federal Bank, Joy Allukas, Malabar Gold, V Guard, Alappat Gold as well as Board offices of KUFOS (Kerala Institute of Fisheries & Ocean Studies), Coir Board, Coconut Development Board to name a few. As a major attraction of Kerala, the city offers convenient connections with major cities in India and abroad. It has two important railheads, Ernakulam town, and Ernakulam Junction. These two significant railheads offer brilliant connectivity to all cities of India. Nedumbassery International airport, which is also India’s first airport to be built under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and was funded by nearly 10,000 Non-Resident Indians from 30 countries, is well connected to all airports in India as well as many cities abroad including Gulf countries and Singapore.
A visit to this city is incomplete without taking a boat ride to either Bolgatty Palace or a nice long walk in the narrow lanes of Jew Town while being aroused by the fresh aroma of spices. The Muzris trail is a must for those who have a passion to unearth ancient and untold history. Muzris used to be an important port during ancient times. It was a part of the famous spice route. It can no longer be physically located. One theory is that it got submerged within the sea. But its approximate location seeps in history. There are synagogues, temples, and mosques nearby, all of them a few centuries old.
As you walk by the beach, the sight of the Chinese nets, suspended midair and standing in one line silhouetted against the sunset is breathtakingly beautiful. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most photographed sights in Kochi. Also known as Cheenavala in Malayalam – is believed to have been introduced in Kochi by Chinese explorer Zheng He, from the court of the Kubla Khan. The fishing net established itself on the Kochi shores between 1350 and 1450 AD.
For those who want to live the city experience, Marine Drive is the place to be, with its shopping complexes and businesses, signature buzz and the sea of people which seems to flow around it. Tourists love to take a boat ride in the beauty of the backwaters while locals lounge around soaking its calm. For shopaholics, Kochi offers the best of Gold shopping with brands like Bhima, Chemannur, Francis Alukkas, and VNM to name a few.
Kochi is a must visit for all those who love the sun, sea, and sand. It is also the gateway to the picturesque hill stations of Munnar & Thekkady, and just an hour’s drive to Alleppey, the “Venice of the East”. No wonder, the tourism Tag – ‘God’s own Country’ is reaping huge revenues and attracting tourists from all around the world.
