About Cochin or Kochi
Cochin has now been renamed Kochi. Kochi comprises 10 islands in the midst of the Arabian Sea and the-backwaters. Vembanad Lake also meets the sea at Kochi. Kochi is the beauty port of Kerala. On the Malabar coast Dutch, Portuguese and British architecture find their best expressions in the construction of Kochi port. Kochi emerged in the floods of 1341. In 1405 the Mujiris settled here coming from Kodangalur 50 km north. The town came up quite fast. The Arabs, Jews and the Christians also came from West Asia to settle at Kochi The place came to be known as Kocchazh (means new) and later Cochin. People of all religions-be they Hindus, Muslims, Jews or Christians-live here side by side. Kochi is the second most important port in West India after Mumbai. Ships from foreign countries are found in the berths at Kochi port.
Cochin is divided into three parts. Dredging had been done in 1920 to get a draught of II metres at the port. The soil thus removed was used by British sculptor Lord Willingdon to build the Willingdon Island. The southern fleet of the Indian Navy, Airport, Railways and Government of India's tourist office are based at Willingdon. On the other side of the island is the main commercial town of Ernakulam. It is connected with the rest of the country by roadways and railways. It is the place for markets, State Tourism office, hotels, etc. On the outer side of the coast stands the once museum town of Fort Cochin. WilJingdon, Bolaghati and Gundudwip in fact fall in the orbit of the port. Fort Cochin or Mattancherry is located in the subisland on the west side. Opposite to this is Bapeen Island. The Portuguese built a fort in 1503. The place can be reached in half an hour by bus, autorickshaw or by taxi. Some 18 km off Bapeen is the calm, quiet and beautiful place of Cherai Beach, good for swimming. Dolphins are found here......more about cochin >>
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