More – Kochi
About the city
Kochi is a lovely seaside city in the state of Kerala. The Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian sea on the West, makes this narrow strip of land bountiful. It is 220 km away from Trivandrum, the state capital, 578 km from Bangalore and 731 km from Chennai.Captivating Kochi, the commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala is an excellent blend of traditions and modernity. Kochi, the "Queen of the Arabian Sea" is full of history, legends and natural beauty. Since time immemorial, Arabs, chinese, dutch, British and Portuguese had trade relations with Kochi. The beautiful town considered to be one of the most attractive destinations in the world is also shopper's paradise. The shopping the comprises of antiques, wood carvings, wooden jewellery boxes, oil lamps, coir products, textiles, spices and other handicraft items.
Cochin Carnival
Cochin Carnival is a merry making feast observed during the last week of every year in Fort Kochi in Kerala. The carnival dates back to the Portuguese New Year revelry held here during the colonial days. Fort Kochi puts on a festive look and the highlight of the Carnival is the massive procession on the New Year Day.Chiinese fishing Nets
These huge cantilevered fishing nets are the landmark of Malabar coast. The nets were introduced between 1350 and 1450 AD, by traders from the court of Kublai Khan in china. They are set up on teak woodand bamboo poles and are mainly used during the high tide. The vasco da Gama square affords the best view of these nets, especially during sun-set time.Demography
The city has a population of about 596,473, with a density of 685.7 persons per sq.km. The female-to-male ratio is 1,024: 1,000, significantly higher than the all-India average of 933:1,000. The literacy rate in Cochin is very high, about 94.3%. The female literacy rate is lesser than the males by 1.1%, amongst the lowest such gaps in India.History
The rulers of Cochin, earlier known as Kochi had a long history of conflict with the Zamorin of Calicut. They granted the Portuguese rights to trade from Kochi in 1499. However with the defeat of the Portuguese at the hands of the Dutch, the Raja again found favors with the victors by granting them trading rights much to the wrath of the Zamorin who had earlier befriended the Dutch. However, the Dutch were defeated in the battle of Kolachal in 1741 by Raja Marthanda Varma and the Zamorin was forced to withdraw from Kochin 1758. Kochi had a brief period of freedom before the ravaging onslaught of Haider Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan. Their defeat at the hands of the British in 1792 (Treaty of Seringapatam) made Kochi, a princely state under the direct suzerainty of the Britishers.Kochi (Cochin)..A city tucked in the beauty of coconut palms and endless blue waters is one of the important towns in South India, with a natural harbour. It is the commercial hub of Kerala. Kochi is a dynamic city with soaring land prices and rapidly industrialising suburbs. A trading port since Roman times, it lies on the main trade route between Europe and China. The town has three main parts- Fort Kochi, Willingdon Island and Ernakulam. This city is home to the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth as well as numerous old churches and temples. Half the fun of visiting Kochi is moving around on local ferries.
