Kochi

The Queen of the Arabian Sea.

That's what Kochi is often called. And, why not? With the finest natural harbour in the world, man-made islands surrounding the main city, history at every step and giant Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the setting sun, can a tourist ask for more?

Though Cochin or Kochi was the oldest European settlement in India, it has seen a long line of visitors who came and were so moved by the place that they stayed on for centuries. There were the Chinese, the Arabs, the Jews, the British, the French and the Portuguese. Each left behind a part of its culture. Today, as a result, Kochi is perhaps the most cosmopolitan cities of the country. Kochi also has one of the biggest ports in the country which handles spices, rubber, coir and fish products for the world.

COCHIN : Queen of the Arabian Sea
Undoubtedly the commercial hub of Kerala, the city of Cochin is where ancient civilization gracefully mingles with modern life. Right from the early years, Cochin has had cultural and trade relations with the outside world. She had also experienced pulsating episodes of European colonial rivalry. An interesting point to note is that Cochin is probably the only city in India formed from parts of three different states, viz. the two princely states of Travancore and Cochin, and the British Malabar.

In 1976, the village panchayats of Edappally, Vennala, Vyttila, and Palluruthy were merged with the municipalities of Ernakulam and Mattancherry to form the Corporation of Cochin. Today with a natural, all-weather harbour and replete with serene backwaters, beautiful lagoons, wooded isles, and a magnificent seascape, Cochin is indeed the Queen of the Arabian Sea.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

MATTANCHERY PALACE
Mattanchery Palace is situated at Mattanchery about 10 kms from Jos Junction the centre of the City. Mattanchery has been an important trading center for the past few centuries. The town has a mixed population consisting of Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Christians and other communities.

The Mattanchery Palace known popularly as the Dutch Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1555 and later remodeled by the Dutch. The Palace is one of the oldest buildings of the Portuguese and is in Oriental style.

It is quite unique from historical & architectural point of view. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma in order to pacify him and to compensate for having plundered a temple in the vicinity of the Palace. It has served as a seat of the Royal House and important functions connected with the coronation of the Maharaja used to be held here. It was during AD 1665 that major repairs and renovation was carried but by the Dutch.

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