Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'.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.

Kochi played a pivotal role in the development of shipping and trade in the region. Kochi's prime location on the west coast, its fine bay and protected harbour made it popular with seafarers and merchant ships who made frequent stops to stock up on spices, coffee and wood enroute to the rich markets of Europe and West Asia. And so down the ages, Kochi prospered as a busy port city and commercial centre.

Tourist Attractions in Cochin

Fort Cochin - Also known as the 'Old Fort', Fort Cochin is the very first fort built by the Europeans in India. Started by the Dutch and then British, the Fort has many amazing structures. Vasco de Gama, the first European to land on Indian coasts in 1498, died in Fort Cochin on Christmas eve in 1524. The Fort houses a huge Portuguese-style Mansion, the St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Basilica among other attractions.

Willington Island - Surrounded by beautiful backwaters of Cochin, Willington Island is an artificial island created by the dumping of the materials that were dug out while Cochin Port was being deepened. It houses the city's best hotels and trading centers, the port trust and the headquarters of the southern naval command.

Cochin Museum - One of the most famous museums of Kerala, Cochin Museum is known for its rich collections of paintings, coins and sculptures. The museum displays the 19th century oil paintings, mural paintings, wooden sculptures, sculptures in stone and plaster of Paris and old coins. Earlier the museum was situated at the Durbar Hall but now it has been shifted to the Hill Palace at Tripunithura.

Mattancherry Palace - Built by the Portuguese in 1557, the beautiful Palace was gifted to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Cochin. The Palace is famous for its beautiful murals, depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and other Puranic Hindu legends. Also on display are the Dutch maps of old Cochin, royal palanquins and coronation outwears of former maharajas of Cochin. Also known as the 'Dutch Palace', the palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch.

Climate in Cochin

Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate, with heavy rains during June–August due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall is 310 cm

How to Reach Cochin?

By Air: Cochin has a domestic airport and is well connected by daily flights to all the major cities of India.
By Rail - The city has three important railway stations - Cochin Harbor Terminus, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town.
By Road - Cochin enjoys a very good network of roads and is well connected with major cities of South and West India.