| The
commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan. Located strategically
on the east-west route, it is also Kerala's major port. Centuries ago,
traders and sea farers from the Middle east, Persia, China, Portugal and
Holland visited Kochi to trade in spices, rubber, coir and seafood. Much
of their cultures and traditions have rubbed off on the city as evident
from the Chinese nets, Jewish Town and the Synagogue. All these provide
Keralas's culture a tapestry of rich contrasts and surprising similarities.
Commerce
Most of the city's commercial
centres and shops are located in the mainland, the town called Ernakulam,
which also lends it's name to the district. Tiny islands can be found
in the backwaters that extend east and south of the harbour. Among these
are Vypeen, Ramanathuruth, Vallarpadam, Bolghatty and Gundu.
Landmarks
Fort Kochi is the
site of the St.Francis Church, built in 1510 by five Portugese priests
who arrived with Albuquerque. Said to be the oldest
European Church in India,
it
was the original burial site of Vasco-Da-Gama. His remains were later exhumed
and sent to Lisbon, Portugal. The Santa Cruz Cathedral is a Roman
Catholic and lies close to the St.Francis Church.The Dutch palace or
the Mattancherry Palace , originally built by the Portugese, was presented
to the Raja of Cochin in 1555, and was later taken over by the Dutch who
repaired it, extended it in 1663. Since then, it was called the Dutch Palace!
Today it is a portrait gallery of the Kochi Rajas. Also at Mattancherry,
is the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 AD, by the prosperous jewish
trading community.
A narrow
stretch of land, easily accessible from the mainland, Bolghatty Island
is the site of the Bolghatty Palace built by the Dutch in 1744.
Seat of the British Resident. Another
famous island is Willingdon Island, named after Lord Willingdon,
the British Viceroy of India. It sites some of the city's best hotels and
industrial houses.
Travel
Stuff
Cochin
is linked by direct air services to all major locations. Periodical ship
services plt to Lakshwadeep Islands. It is also well linked by rail and
road.
Culture
Performances
of Kathakali and Mohiniattam are held regularly in Ernakulam at these centres
- The Theosophical Society Hall, Pallimukku.
SeeIndia
Foundation, Kalathiparambil Lane.
Cochin
Darbar Hall.
The
Ernakulam Gymnasium hosts Kalaripayattu shows.
In
November/December is an 8-day ulsavom celebration at Tripunithra Temple
with a daily procession of 15 elephants, folk dance and music.Tripunithra
also hosts a grand procession called Athachamayam during the Onam
festival.
Distances
Allapuzha
- 64km
Bangalore
- 565km
Coimbatore
- 223 km
Guruvayur
- 109 km
Goa
- 848km
Kanyakumari
- 309km
Kodaikanal
- 444km
Kottayam
- 76 km
Kozhikode
- 145 km
Madurai
- 324km
Mysore
- 470km
Ooty
- 132km
Quilon
- 86km
Thiruvananthapuram
- 223km |
