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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.
District Area 2408 sq.km
Population 27,97,779
Altitude Sea Level
Climate Warm Tropical
Temperature Summer : Max. 33°C, Min. 24°C
Winter : Max. 32°C, Min. 22°C
Rainfall 254 cm (Annual)
Beat Season January, February, March, April, August,
September and December.
Rainy Season June, July, August, October and November
Clothing Tropical Cottons
Literacy 100%
Language Malayalam, English
STD Code 0484
ISD Code +91 |
