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| Beyond India Destinations >>Cochin |
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Cochin |
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Cochin (Ernakulam), Cochin or Kochi as it is now called, is divided into Old Cochin (comprising Fort Cochin and Mattanchery) and Ernakulam, which is a bustling metropolis and is considered the commercial capital of Kerala. It is the only district in Kerala where you can experience urban comforts on a par with other major cities in India and also the history of many centuries bygone. Cochin is the perfect amalgamation of the old and the new. History records that Cochin was a submerged mango grove forest in 8,000 BC. Around 1,000 BC, strips of land emerged forming the present coastal landscape. The land was ruled by various rulers since then and turned into a powerful kingdom. In 1341, floods in the Periyar river in Kerala resulted in the closing of other ports and saw the emergence of a new harbour, port Cochin. Cochin, which was rich in exotic spices such as pepper, ginger, cardamom and cloves, became a point of attraction for traders worldwide. The Arabs and the Chinese are the first recorded traders to have come to Cochin. The Portuguese and the Dutch followed and Kochi’s rulers joined one or the other powerful invaders. Finally the city was overtaken by the British and was turned into their administrative headquarters in South India until India achieved independence. Needless to say today’s traveller gets to see many snippets of Cochin’s rich historical past. |
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Fact Sheet |
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Area |
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2408 sq kms. |
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Population |
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3098378 (2001) |
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Altitude |
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1600 m above Sea Level |
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Language |
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Malayalam |
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Climate |
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Summer: Max 37.10c Min 36.40c Winter: Max 21.30c Min 20.60c |
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Rainfall |
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350cm annually |
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Season |
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Throughout the year |
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Clothing |
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Tropical |
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Access |
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Air: Cochin International Airport is at Nedumbassery (33 km North East of Ernakulam City). There are direct services to Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Goa, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Gulf countries. Rail: Kochi is connected by rail with many important cities. Road: Cochin is connected by road to several tourist centers and cities in india. Sea: Cochin Harbour- Periodical sevice to Lakshadweep Island. Ferry (Boat Jetty): The main Ferry Station is located one kilometre away from Ernakulam south Railway station. From here, boats are available to all islands. Local Transport: Taxis, City Buses and Autorickshaws. |
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Cochin at Glance |
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This historical church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1795, the British took over Kochi and demolished the church. About 100 years later, Bishop Dom Pareira commissioned a new building on the same site which was proclaimed as a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II. [Back] This bastion of the Portuguese was a symbol of the alliance between the ruler of Cochin and the Monarch of Portugal. Built in 1503, the fort was later taken over by the Dutch and then the British. [Back] Built in 1503 by the Portuguese, this is India’s oldest European church. Vasco Da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Portugal. The tombstone still remains. [Back] These huge 15th century cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of Chinese traders. These nets are set up on teak wood and bamboo poles and you can watch the nets being lowered by the fishermen from the Vasco Da Gama square along the beach. [Back] Mattanchery Palace (Dutch Palace) Built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the ruler of Kochi, the palace was renovated by the Dutch in 1663 and oddly is named after the Dutch. [Back] Constructed in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. It is known for mid 18th century hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs and great scrolls of the old testament. [Back] The area around the Jewish synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops and is named after the Jewish community which settled here 2,000 years back. [Back] Named after Lord Willingdon, a former British viceroy of India, this man-made island was created by a British engineer. The island was formed after dredging the sea to allow large ships to anchor. [Back] Accessible by boat and by road, the Island is famous for a Dutch palace which was built on it named, aptly, Bolgatty Palace. [Back] The cosmopolitan side of Cochin, Ernakulam offers all the facilities and amenities that any major city would offer. It is ideal for shopping. [Back] This lovely beach bordering the Vypeen Island is located magically between the backwaters and the sea and offers a breathtaking location. [Back] This palace, built in 1865, was once the residence of the Raja of Cochin and is a majestic structure set in 52 acres of green carpets. It has now been converted into a museum. [Back] |
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