| Kochi also known by its anglicized name Cochin is | | | | the first European colonial settlement in India. It |
| located in Kerala, the southern State in India. It is the | | | | remained the capital of Portuguese India until 1530, till |
| second largest city in Kerala after the state capital | | | | they opted for Goa as their capital. This Portuguese |
| Thiruvananthapuram. It is located in the district of | | | | period was a harrowing time for the Jews living in the |
| Ernakulam and about 220 kilometers (137 miles) far | | | | region, as the Inquisition was active in Portuguese India. |
| from the capital. With the largest urban agglomeration | | | | The time during which Cochin was under the |
| in the state, the city has always been one of the | | | | Portuguese rule is very interesting. It is said admiral, |
| principal seaports of the country. Heralded as the | | | | Pedro Cabral was sent by the Portuguese king to set |
| Queen of Arabian Sea, Kochi was an important spice | | | | up a factory at the city. The Raja of Cochin |
| trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast since the 14th | | | | succumbed to the demand of the admiral |
| century. Kochi merchants began trading in spices such | | | | predominantly to negate the Zamorins who ruled the |
| as black pepper and cardamom more than 600 years | | | | Malabar region. Zamorins were the dominant power in |
| ago. | | | | the region and was constantly breathing down the |
| In many ancient scriptures and history books based on | | | | neck of the King of Raja for political influence within |
| Kochi, one finds that ancient travelers and tradesmen | | | | the Kochi Kingdom. With the arrival of Vasco Da |
| frequented the city from time immemorial including the | | | | Gama, peace was made with the Zamorins after |
| Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese, who | | | | which the Portuguese built Fort Manuel to protect their |
| came here mainly for the purpose of trade have left | | | | factory from any sort of attack. Once the Portuguese |
| indelible marks on the history and development of | | | | shifted their capital to Goa, their strategic intent shifted |
| Cochin. Many of these groups went on to reside in the | | | | from Kerala and was centered on it. |
| city for sometime before migrating away to other | | | | The Portuguese rule was followed by that of the |
| lands. Kochi thus has been a cultural melting pot due to | | | | Dutch, who had allied with the Zamorins in order to |
| successive waves of migration both within India and | | | | conquer Kochi. The Dutch rule over Cochin lasted from |
| from outside over the course of several millennia. The | | | | 1663 to 1795. They defeated the Portuguese and |
| pan-Indian nature is highlighted by the substantial | | | | disposed the Cochin Raja. After landing confidently at |
| presence of various ethnic communities from different | | | | Njarakal, they went on to seize the Pallipuram fort, |
| parts of the country and many people including | | | | which they later gave to the Zamorins. Cochin |
| Anglo-Indians who are products of cross-breeding with | | | | prospered under the Dutch rule by shipping pepper, |
| foreigners. The city once had a large Jewish | | | | cardamom and other spices, coir, coconut, and copper. |
| community, known as the Malabar Yehuden-and now | | | | In between by 1773, Kochi has slipped into the hands |
| referred to as Cochin Jews. The nos. of this group has | | | | of the Mysore King Hyder Ali extended his conquest in |
| dwindled and the foreign blood has been substantially | | | | the Malabar region and briefly forced Kochi to become |
| diluted with local marriages. Retaining the Jewish knack | | | | a tributary of Mysore. Later the authority was |
| for business, this group has figured prominently in | | | | recaptured by the Dutch. They fearing an outbreak of |
| Kochi's business and economic strata. | | | | war on the United Provinces signed the Anglo-Dutch |
| Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the | | | | Treaty of 1814 with the United Kingdom, under which |
| commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is | | | | Kochi was ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange |
| perhaps the second most important city on the west | | | | for the island of Bangka. However, there are |
| coast of India (after Mumbai). Cochin has a world class | | | | evidences of English habitation in the region even prior |
| port and international airport that links it to many major | | | | to the signing of the treaty. The port city of Cochin had |
| cities worldwide. Its strategic importance over the | | | | become highly developed during the time of the British |
| centuries is underlined by the reference- Gateway to | | | | rule in India In 1866, Fort Kochi became a municipality, |
| Kerala. Kochi is a prosperous city and also known as | | | | and its first Municipal Council election was conducted in |
| the financial capital of Kerala. Surrounded by the | | | | 1883. The Maharaja of Cochin, who ruled under the |
| Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on | | | | British, in 1896, initiated local administration by forming |
| the west, it is a breathtakingly beautiful and scenic land. | | | | town councils in Mattancherry and Ernakulam. In 1925, |
| Kochi one of the best places to travel and it also | | | | Kochi legislative assembly was constituted due to |
| boasts of hundreds of islands, some even uninhabited. | | | | public pressure on the state. |
| This important and beautiful port city been rated as the | | | | Conclusion: |
| top three tourist destinations by the World Travel | | | | Many written accounts clearly state that Cochin was |
| & Tourism Council and featured in National | | | | invaded by foreigners and colonized many times. The |
| Geographic Traveler's '50 greatest places of a lifetime'. | | | | king remained the titular head. The pungent smell of |
| Kochi has a lot of remnants from the past still clinging | | | | pepper and fragrances of other spices beckoned the |
| on. As European a city as one can find in India, it has | | | | invaders. The intra-struggles between the dominant |
| Fort Cochin built by the Portuguese on an island | | | | powers of Kerala resulted in the weakening of its |
| offshore that seems to be pulled straight out of the | | | | politico-military institutions and resulted in the dominance |
| 16th century with narrow, winding, canal-lined streets, | | | | by the colonial powers. Religion was also liberally used |
| 500 year-old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese | | | | to consolidate colonial hold resulting in numerous |
| fishing nets lining the northwest shore of the island, a | | | | conversions primarily by the European powers and to |
| 16th century synagogue surrounded by 'Jew Town,' | | | | Islam by Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. These |
| which was once home to the flourishing Indian Jewish | | | | conversions resulted in a fragmentation of the native |
| population, the oldest church in India and a palace that | | | | mind and this enabled the erstwhile powers to continue |
| was built by the Portuguese, renovated by the Dutch, | | | | their exploitation of the natural resources of the state |
| and eventually was given to the Indian Raja of Cochin. | | | | as well as its manpower. |
| The most famous symbol of Kochi is the row of | | | | Contemporary Kochi: |
| Chinese fishing nets at the mouth of the harbor leading | | | | In 1949, Travancore-Cochin state came into being with |
| to the Arabian Sea in Fort Kochi, the oldest part of the | | | | the merger of the erstwhile Cochin and Travancore |
| city. In Ernakulam, where modernity has ushered in | | | | states. Travancore-Cochin was in turn merged with |
| skyscrapers and shopping malls, the old quarter -- the | | | | the Malabar district of the Madras State. Finally, the |
| Fort Kochi area and Mattancherry area -- maintains a | | | | Government of India's States Re-organisation Act |
| colonial air and has building that have been designated | | | | (1956) inaugurated a new state - Kerala - incorporating |
| as a part of Kochi's heritage. | | | | Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks |
| Vasco House in Fort Kochilocated on Rose Street, is | | | | (smaller administrative unit) which were merged with |
| believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in | | | | the contemporary state of Tamil Nadu), Malabar |
| India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. | | | | District, and the taluk of Kasaragode, South Kanara. |
| This house features European glass paned windows | | | | On 1 November 1967, exactly eleven years since the |
| and verandahs. Da Gama reached India in the autumn | | | | establishment of the state of Kerala, the corporation of |
| of 1524, but he died in Kochi only three months after | | | | Cochin came into existence. The merger leading to the |
| his arrival. Even in death, Da Gama remained a | | | | establishment of the corporation, was between the |
| traveller. Though his remains were removed from | | | | municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort |
| Kochi and buried in Goa, it was subsequently removed | | | | Kochi, along with that of the Willingdon Island, four |
| and sent to Portugal to be interred in the Church of | | | | panchayats (Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally), |
| Vidigueira. However, the coffin remained there until | | | | and the small islands of Gundu and Ramanthuruth. |
| 1880, and it was finally transferred to a marble | | | | A growing centre of shipping industries, international |
| sepulcher in the church of the Monastery of the | | | | trade, and tourism and information technology, Kochi is |
| Jerónimos at Belém, outside Lisbon. | | | | the commercial hub of Kerala, and one of the fastest |
| Kochi had the honour of hosting the great | | | | growing second-tier metros in India. Kochi's economic |
| explorer-colonist and the fact that his final exploration | | | | growth was accelerated after the introduction of |
| of another world began here associated the city with | | | | economic reforms in India by the central government in |
| him forever. Despite the forward march of modernity, | | | | the mid-1990s. Since 2000, the service sector has |
| the city retains its distinct colonial heritage and is a | | | | revitalized the city's stagnant economy. The |
| lovely blend of tradition and modernity. | | | | establishment of several industrial parks based on |
| Etymology: | | | | Information technology (IT) and other port based |
| Etymologically, many theories exist pertaining how | | | | infrastructure triggered a construction and realty boom |
| Kochi derived its name. Ancient travellers and | | | | in the city. Over the years, Kochi has witnessed rapid |
| tradesmen referred to Kochi in their writings, variously | | | | commercialization, and has today grown into the |
| alluding to it as Cocym, Cochym, Cochin, and Cochi. | | | | commercial capital of Kerala. |
| According to some accounts, traders from the court | | | | Kochi is now a major destination for IT and ITES |
| of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan gave Cochin the | | | | companies, ranked by NASSCOM as the |
| name of their homeland. The Chinese connection | | | | second-most attractive city in India for IT-based |
| seem to obvious from the trademark fishing nets | | | | services. Availability of cheap bandwidth through |
| prevalent in the area known as china-vala or Chinese | | | | undersea cables and lower operational costs |
| nets. Another theory is that Kochi is derived from the | | | | compared to other major cities in India has been turned |
| word Kachi meaning 'harbor'. Accounts by Italian | | | | to its advantage. Various technology and industrial |
| explorers Nicolo Conti (15th century), and Fra Paoline in | | | | campuses including the government promoted Info |
| the 17th century say that it was called Kochchi, named | | | | Park, Cochin Special Economic Zone and KINFRA |
| after the river connecting the backwaters to the sea. | | | | Export Promotion Industrial Park operate in the |
| After the arrival of the Portuguese, and later the British, | | | | outskirts of the city. |
| the name Cochin stuck as the official appellation. The | | | | Kochi is the headquarters of the Southern Naval |
| city reverted to a closer Anglicization of its original | | | | Command, the primary training centre of the Indian |
| Malayalam name, Kochi, in 1996. However, it is still | | | | Navy. The Cochin Shipyard in Kochi is the largest |
| widely referred to as Cochin, with the city corporation | | | | shipbuilding facility in India. The Cochin fishing harbor, |
| retaining its name as Corporation of Cochin. | | | | located at Thoppumpady is a major fishing port in the |
| Geography: | | | | state and supplies fish to local and export markets. To |
| Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at | | | | further tap the potential of the all-season deep-water |
| 9°58?N76°13?E? / ?9.967°N | | | | harbor at Kochi, an international cruise terminal and |
| 76.217°E? / 9.967; 76.217, spanning an area of | | | | several marinas are being constructed. |
| 94.88 square kilometers (36.63 sq mi). The city is | | | | Exports and allied activities continue to be important |
| situated at the northern end of a peninsula, about 19 | | | | contributors to the city's economy. Kochi's historical |
| kilometers (12 mi) long and less than one mile (1.6 km) | | | | reliance on trade continues into modern times, as the |
| wide. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, and to the | | | | city is a major exporter of spices and is home to the |
| east are estuaries drained by perennial rivers | | | | International Pepper Exchange, where black pepper is |
| originating in the Western Ghats. Much of Kochi lies at | | | | globally traded. The Spices Board of India is also |
| sea level, with a coastline of 48 km. This lovely | | | | headquartered in Kochi. The Cochin Port currently |
| seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the | | | | handles export and import of container cargo at its |
| east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to | | | | terminal at the Willingdon Island. A new international |
| the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich | | | | container transshipment terminal-the first in the |
| experience of a moderate equatorial climate. It is | | | | country-is being commissioned at Vallarpadam, which |
| separated into numerous distinct areas particularly | | | | is expected to be play a vital role in India's economic |
| close to each other. These include the mainland areas | | | | aspirations. |
| of Ernakulam City (where the train stations to the rest | | | | Kochi also has an oil refinery-the Kochi Refineries |
| of India leave and arrive), Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi | | | | (BPCL) at Ambalamugal. Central Government |
| (the primary tourist enclave), Mattancherry, Kumbalangi | | | | establishments like the Coconut Development Board, |
| and outlying islands. These distinct neighborhoods | | | | the Coir Board and the Marine Products Export |
| arose as the result of a mixed past. | | | | Development Authority (MPEDA) have head offices |
| Brief History: | | | | located in the city. |
| The port city of Kochi has a very colorful and rich | | | | Highlights of Kochi: |
| history. The city occupies a very strategic position | | | | Willingdon Island: Towards the early 20th century, trade |
| geographically, being flanked by the Western Ghats on | | | | at the Kochi port had increased substantially, and the |
| the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Cochin's | | | | need to develop the port became necessary. The |
| trade links with Chinese and the Arabs is reputed to | | | | English harbor engineer Robert Bristow was brought to |
| be at least 2000 years old. Christianity in this city dates | | | | Kochi in 1920 under the direction of Lord Willingdon, |
| back to the apostle Thomas, who, as tradition holds | | | | then the Governor of Madras. In a span of 21 years, |
| and evidence suggests, landed in India in AD 54 to | | | | he transformed Kochi as one of the safest harbors in |
| spread the Gospel. Kochi was the centre of Indian | | | | the peninsula. This man-made island was created in |
| spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the | | | | 1933 by sand dredged while deepening the |
| Yavanas (Greeks) as well as Romans, Jews, Arabs, | | | | backwaters for the Cochin Port, under the direction of |
| and Chinese since ancient times. The earliest | | | | Sir Robert Bristow. A while back the Airport, Sea port |
| documented references to Kochi occur in books | | | | and the railway terminus (Cochin Harbor Terminus) |
| written by Chinese voyager Ma Huan during his visit to | | | | were situated on this island. Today, it is the home of |
| Kochi in the 15th century as part of Admiral Zheng | | | | the Cochin Port and the headquarters of the Southern |
| He's treasure fleet. There are also references to Kochi | | | | Naval Command. |
| in accounts written by Italian traveller Niccolò | | | | Marine Drive: A stroll along the long tree-lined coastal |
| Da Conti, who visited Kochi in 1440. | | | | pathway that lines the backwater is well worth the |
| It may be said to have originated as an important port | | | | time spent, especially late afternoon or dusk. The |
| in 1341 AD when the flooded Periyar River destroyed | | | | bustling backwaters, dotted with fishing boats, |
| a world-renowned port, at Kodungallur, just north of | | | | speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats, can |
| Cochin and created an all-new harbor in Cochin, which | | | | be observed from this walkway that lines the coast. |
| is today one of the finest natural harbors on the West | | | | The greatest pleasure is to stand and watch when the |
| coast of India. Cochin's busy port assumed a new | | | | monsoon lashes Kerala-it's a awesome sight by itself. |
| strategic importance and began to experience | | | | Cherai Beach: This lovely beach ideal for swimming is |
| commercial prosperity after the flood. The Portuguese | | | | located on the north end of Vypeen island, one of the |
| penetrated the Indian Ocean in the late 15th century. | | | | many small islands just off the mainland. The beach is |
| Vasco da Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India, | | | | lined by gorgeous coconut groves and paddy fields. |
| established the first Portuguese factory (trading | | | | Vypeen can be reached by land or by boat. |
| station) there in 1502, and the Portuguese viceroy | | | | Parikshith Thampuran Museum: The Kings of Cochin |
| Afonso de Albuquerque built the first European fort in | | | | used to conduct their durbars (grand banquets) in this |
| India there in 1503. It was the first European fort in India. | | | | impressive building located within the Durbar Hall |
| The British settled here in 1635 but were forced out by | | | | grounds. It was later converted to a museum which |
| Dutch in 1663, under whom the town became an | | | | has a treasure trove of archaeological findings and |
| important trade center. It came under the sovereignty | | | | relics including old coins, sculptures, oil paintings and |
| of Haider Ali, the militant prince of Mysore in 1776, but | | | | murals. The building has been taken over by the Kerala |
| was surrendered by his son Tipu Sahib to the British in | | | | Lalitha Kala Academy and now houses the Gallery of |
| 1791. | | | | Contemporary Art. All the royal exhibits of the |
| There is also evidence pointing to the presence of | | | | museum have been moved to the Hill Palace museum. |
| Jews since at least AD 388. Legend holds that the | | | | Museum of Kerala History, Kalamassery: The museum |
| Jews first settled in India during the time of King | | | | takes visitors mainly through the anthropological and |
| Solomon, when there was trade in teak, ivory, spices | | | | cultural history of the geographical unit called Kerala. In |
| and peacocks between the Land of Israel and the | | | | line with modern techniques, it has on display |
| Malabar Coast, where Cochin is located. Others put | | | | spectacular audio-visual exhibits depicting the history |
| their arrival at the time of the Assyrian exile in 722 BC, | | | | and culture of Kerala along with many life size statues |
| the Babylonian exile in 586 BC or after the destruction | | | | of ancient tribal people, famous personalities and |
| of the Second Temple in 70 BC. No reliable evidence | | | | several paintings depicting Kerala history. To |
| exists, but most contemporary scholars fix the date at | | | | understand Kerala, a visit to this museum is a must. |
| some time during the early middle Ages. The earliest | | | | Palliport (Pallipuram) Fort: The first andthe oldest |
| documentation of permanent Jewish settlements is on | | | | surviving European fort in India, built by the Portuguese |
| two copper plates now stored in Cochin's main | | | | in 1503. It is situated in Pallipuram on Vypeen Island. |
| synagogue. Engraved in the ancient Tamil language, | | | | Hill Palace, Tripunithura: Built in the 19th century by the |
| they detail the privileges granted a certain Joseph | | | | Raja of Kochi, this palace served as the seat of the |
| Rabban by Bhaskara Ravi Varma, the fourth-century | | | | Raja of the Kochi province. The palace has been |
| Hindu ruler of Malabar. | | | | converted into a museum displaying a fine collection of |
| The earliest account of Kochi is derived from the | | | | royal articles displaying the wealth and splendour of the |
| records made by the Chinese traveler, Ma Huan. Even | | | | Rajas of Kochi, including the throne and the crown. |
| in other documents belonging from the same period, | | | | The museum also houses a large collection of |
| the account of Cochin history prior to the Portuguese | | | | archaeological findings. Hill Palace is located 16km east |
| rule is quite vague. As per the available information, the | | | | of Cochin in Tripunithura, a satellite town of Cochin. |
| city gained its reputation of being a port city only after | | | | Bolghatty Palace located on the Bolghatty Island: This |
| the collapse of the Kulashekhara kingdom. In 1102 CE, | | | | Dutch palace is situated on Bolghatty Island is just a |
| Kochi became the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin, a | | | | short boat ride away from the mainland. The palace |
| princely state which traces its lineage to the | | | | has been converted to a hotel run by the Kerala |
| Kulashekhara Empire. According to many historians, it | | | | Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). The island |
| came into existence in 1102, after the fall of the | | | | has a tiny golf course and the panoramic views of the |
| Kulashekhara Empire. The King of Kochi had authority | | | | port and the harbor, makes it an attractive picnic spot. |
| over the region encompassing the present city of | | | | Frequent boat service is available from the mainland. |
| Kochi and adjoining areas. The reign was hereditary, | | | | Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Mattancherry: |
| and the family that ruled over Kochi was known as | | | | The erroneously named Dutch Palace was originally |
| the Cochin Royal Family (Perumpadappu Swaroopam | | | | built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch |
| in the local vernacular). The mainland Kochi remained | | | | modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi thus |
| the capital of the princely state since the 18th century. | | | | usurping its ownership. Coronation of many Rajas of |
| However, during much of this time, the kingdom was | | | | Kochi used to be held here. The palace has a fine |
| under foreign rule, and the King often only had titular | | | | collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the |
| privileges. | | | | Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The palace |
| Occupied by the Portuguese in 1503, Fort Kochi was | | | | is located in Mattancherry. |