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India
Kerala
Cochin
Cochin/Kochi
Travel Packages -|-
Cochin Hotels
Cochin / Kochi
Altitude : 776 mts
Area
: 8700
sq. km.
Temperature :
Summer Max 35ºC, Min 22.5ºC,
Winter Max 32ºC, Min
20ºC
Language :
Kannda,
Hindi, & English
Rainfall
: 667.2 mm.
Introduction :
Kochi is a beautiful city
situated on the Western Coast of India facing the Arabian Sea, and rightfully
called the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. It has a rich network of backwaters and
is the culture and heritage centre of Kerala. Cochin known as the Queen of
Arabian Sea, is the Commercial. Capital of Kerala. An enormous potential exists
in Kerala, especially Cochin for the use of Information Technology. There are a
number of industries, a large number of export produces, 100% literacy, highly
developed social structure, and well laid-out communication facilities and
transport infrastructure. These and a few other factors provide enormous scope
for the growth of IT industry. The Kerala Government also recently announced an
IT policy and created a separate IT department under the Chief Minister to
promote IT in the state in a big way.
History :
It is not
known exactly how the name Kochi originated. But many theories exist. Some
historians believe that Cochin is a modified form of the word 'Cochazhi' which
in Malayalam means 'small sea'
Though Cochin had been an important roadstead in days gone by, it became a
natural harbor only when nature decreed it so. Muziris (present-day Kodungalloor
on the mouth of the Periyar River), 40 km north of Cochin, was the center of
trade with ancient Rome in the products like pepper and pearls, fine silks,
cotton, muslin, honey, oil, betel, tortoise shell, cinnamon leaf, black pepper,
ginger grass, and indigo. For centuries, Cochin was the battleground of European
powers for the mastery of the lucrative trade of the Indian west coast. The
fortunes of political powers in Cochin were dictated by pepper. The Portuguese
were the first to come in. Two years later, the adventurous mariner, the
legendary Vasco da Gama himself landed in Cochin. The Portuguese erected a fort
for the protection of their factory. Fort Manuel, or Manuel Kotta, named after
the King of Portugal, was the first fortress constructed by the Europeans in
India. To the Portuguese must go the credit for the extensive scientific
cultivation of coconut, ginger, and pepper, backbone of Kerala’s economy today.
Tobacco, cashew nut, and fruit cultivation were also introduced. The pineapple,
for instance, is still called prithichakka in Malayalam, meaning Portuguese
jackfruit. They were also responsible for today’s burgeoning trade in coir.
The Dutch, full of energy and zeal, were next to enter the scene and succeeded
in throwing out the Portuguese very soon. Helped by a laissez-faire policy and a
self-stipulated dictum of “at least a 100% profit,” Cochin saw a great
resurgence of trade
Tourist Attraction of Cochin
:
St Francis Church, Hill
Palace Museum, Sea Front, Museum of Kerala History, Jewish Synagogue.
How to get there :
By Air :
Cochin Airport is linked by direct services of Indian airlines and East-West
Airlines to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
By Rail :
Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town Station are connected to most
important cities
By Road :
Cochin is well connected to several important destinations. Bus
services-both government and private-are available to Alleppey, Quilon,
Trivandrum, Thekkady, Munnar, Palaghat, Calicut, Bangalore.
Cochin/Kochi
Travel Packages -|-
Cochin Hotels
Other cities of Kerala :
Kovalam,
Kochi / Cochin,
Quilon,
Ernakulam,
Alleppey,
Varkala, Munnar, Periyar, Kollam, Kannur, Kasargod more...
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