Cochin is located in the west coast of India in Kerala.The city is regarded
as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. The city is also
popularly called Queen of the Arabian Sea .
The History in a Nutshell :
Being a natural harbour, the city was the battleground of European powers
for capturing the lucrative trade in the west coast of India. The Portuguese
were the first to enter the city .The Dutch were the next to intrude into
Cochin and succeeded in throwing out the Portuguese very soon. Cochin
flourished as a major trade destination during that period. The city had
also received great patronage during the British period. Declared as a major
port in 1936, Cochin still handles a big portion of India's cargo.
Accommodation and Connectivity 
The South West Moonsoon does great favour to the city as heavy rains lash
the place during June-August.The annual average rainfall received is 310 cm.
Cochin has a modern airport connected to most major towns and cities of
India.Direct train services between Cochin and metros like Delhi, Mumbai and
Kolkata are also available. Cochin is at a distance of 848 km from Goa, 694
km from Madras, 565 km from Bangalore, 223 km from Coimbatore, 470 km from
Mysore and 312 km from Ootacamund. Although Cochin has good accommodation
facilities, the same are limited in numbers. As such, many tourists prefer
to stay at nearby Ernakulam also.
Tourist Attractions
Being a place with a rich history, Cochin has a lot to offer to the
tourists.
Fort Cochin
Fort Cochin leaves a strong legacy of the Europeans.The massive buttresses
were put up by the British to protect against possible attacks by European
rival powers.
The St.Francis Church
The St.Francis church also holds a pride of place . It is here that Vasco Da
Gama was initially buried in the year 1526. However, son Pedro Da Gama later
shifted his mortal remains to Portugal. It is also the oldest existing
European church in India.
The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry
The Dutch palace at Mattancherry is another major tourist attraction. The
best thing about the place are its wall murals all of which have been done
using the tempera process of painting. Forty-five scenes from the Ramayana
adorn the walls of this palace.
Parishath Thampuram Museum
The Parishath Thampuram Museum in Ernakulam has a very impressive
collection of nineteenth century old coins, sculptures, Mughal paintings,
temple models and oil paintings.
Lighthouse
There is a lighthouse at Ochanthuruth and also the 16th-century Pallipuram
Fort. The beaches at the place are also an attraction.
Excursion Delights
Thripunithura on the outskirts of Cochin has an attractive museum. Parur,
35 km north of Cochin, has many ancient temples to visit. 4 kms away is
Chennamangalam that houses the oldest synagogue in Kerala. The Jesuit Church
and ruins of a Jesuit College could also be seen there. Ernakulam celebrates
an annual festival for two days known as Thalapoli Utsavam.
