Cochin - the Queen of Arabian Sea.

Welcome! Folks. This little page unfolds details about my city and its uniqueness....

COCHIN , undoubtedly the commercial hub of Kerala State ( India ) is known as the Queen of Arabian Sea. It is a city where people from all caste and creed live a jovial and sociable life. People here are very helpful and most of the time engage themselves in reading,travelling,resturants etc. 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 , namely , the two princely states of Travancore and Cochin , and the British Malabar.

In 1976, the village panchayats of Edappally, Vyttila and Palluruthy ( all are different places within the city suburb ) were merged with muncipalities of Eranakulam and Mattancherry to form the Corporation of Cochin.
Today with a natural, all-weather harbour with serene backwaters, beautiful lagoons wooded isles, and a magnificent sea side view, Cochin is indeed the Queen of Arabian Sea . In this great city I was born at Mattancherry on November 3,1978

Some facts about my city.

Malayalam, is the official language spoken . English is widely used in business circles.
Muslims account for the largest community followed by Hindus and Christians. Cochin has also a small population of Jains, Jews and Sikhs.
Major exports include Tea, Cashew Kernels, rubber , spices , coir products, coconuts and copra, lemon grass oil, coffee , fish and prawns.
Time : +5.30 hours GMT.

DOWNTOWN : The Mahatma Gandhi Road ( M.G.Road ) branching off from Banerji Road in its north end , approximately four kilometers down south, cuts through what is today the city's main commercial district. A bustling shopping centre where one can buy almost all kinds of goods on sale, including textiles, ready-made garments, jewellery, handicrafts, electronic goods, books, footwear, toys, etc. There are also half-a-dozen cinema houses for your entertainment. By nightfall, the city's main artery brightens up with colorful neon signs and is enlivened by busy shoppers or people going out to enjoy themselves. Both the Ernakulam Junction railway station and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation ( KSRTC ) bus stand are located centrally, east of M.G.ROAD. The Cochin Shipyard , the finest of its kind in India, is located south, overlooking the Willingdon Island.

OLD COCHIN : Old cochin comprising of Fort Cochin , Mattancherry and its adjoining areas is famous for several sites of historical significance. The St. Francis' Church , the Chinese Fishing Nets , the Dutch Palace and the Synagogue beckons you to the bygone era when old Cochin had cultural and trade relations with Arabian countries, Rome and China and to a vibrant history of European imperialism thereafter.
Old houses , particulary in Fort Cochin and Jew Town ( in Mattancherry ), still retain their old colonial charm of that of Dutch and Portugal.

MARINE DRIVE & BROADWAY : The Marine Drive is gradually catching up as another busy retail center. The lively Greater Cochin Development Authority ( GCDA ) commercial complex and Taj Residency, a five-star resturant, of the famous Indian Hotels Ltd., along the waterfront is an excellence in itself. Luxury apartments, business establishments,fast food and cafes are located on either side of the main Shanmugham Road. An evening stroll along the water-side is a favorite pasttime for the old and the young ages.
Broadway - narrow despite its name - running parellel to Marine Drive , is the city's oldest and busiest shopping streets, where the best buy include clothes and other food items. The main Ernakulam market is located alongside it.

WILLINGDON ISLAND : Connected to the mainland by the road-cum-railway Venduruthy Bridge, this man-made island, named after the former Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon, was created with the material dredged while deepening the Cochin port. It is about four miles long , divided into two zones-the defence and the civil. The former include the Southern Naval Command and the domestic airport controlled by the Navy. The civil side including the harbour is under the Cochin Port Trust. The customs house and many other central government establishments are situated here. The island also has a busy railway terminal named Cochin Harbour Terminals and some of the city's most luxurious hotels like the Taj Malabar and the Casino Group of Hotels beside housing colonies for the dock labourers, schools, hospitals, banks etc.

Other places of Interests.

Bolgatty island : This long narrow palm-fringed island, easily accessible from the mainland, is where the Bolgatty Palace is situated amidst 15 acres of lush green lawns. Built by the Dutch in 1744, it became the seat of the British Resident later. In 1976 the palace was converted into a hotel under the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. The palace has a golf course on its grounds.
Dutch Palace : This palace is situated in Mattancherry. This palace originally built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja Veera Kerala Varman in 1555, acquired its present name after 1663 when the Dutch carried out some extensive repairs. The Cochin Rajas held their coronation ceremonies in the Central Hall of this double-storey quadrangular building. Adjacent rooms contain breathtaking 17th century murals depicting scenes from the Puranas and the great epics- the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Jewish Synagogue , Mattancherry : Built in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, copper plates on which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded, gold and silver crowns gifted by various patrons to the synagogue and exquisite Chinese hand -painted willow patterned tiles are of Interest.
Hill Palace Musuem : This palace is situated in Tripunithura , around 8 kilometers run from Ernakulam. Set on top of a hillock, this prodigious palace-turned -museum displays 13 categories of exhibits, including paintings,carvings and other royal antiquities donated by the Cochin and Travancore royal families and the Paliam Devaswom. The Heritage Musuem, located on the rear side of the palace buildings, familiarizes you with the traditional lifestyles of ancient Kerala. As part of the establishment of a mini zoo, a deer park with spooted deer, sambar and peacocks is run by the Society for the Preservation of Hill Palace Premises. The museum premises has also been converted into a botanical garden with exotic tropical trees from central America to Australia. It is located on the Eranakulam- Chottanikara route.
St Franics Church : This church is situated at Fort Cochin, near the exquisite Chinese fishing nets. This Protestant Church , originally built by the Portuguese in 1510, is believed to be the oldest existing European church in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were sent to Lisbon, 14 years later.
St George Forane Church , Edappally : An important pilgrim center, this Roman Catholic Church was built way back in 593 AD in a plot of land donated by the Raja of Edappally. It is considered to be one of the oldest one in Kerala. The new Church beside it was built in 1080. Historical records have it that a session of the Synod of Diamper,1599, was held here. The Church is also well known for its annually held nine-day feast in May.
Lakshadweep Tourism : Package tours for tourists in this paradise island , just 7 hours away from the Maladivan Island , is also a must-go for all tourists who love those blue waters, pure sand beaches and sea foods. The package tour includes a 6 day journey by ship to and from Cochin with a 2 day and 3 night stay any one particular island - Kadmat or Kavaratti (Taratashi ). A five day Coral Reef cruise to and from Cochin includes day excursions to the three islands of Kavaratti ( Tartashi ),Kalpeni ( Coconut Groove ) and Minicoy ( Swaying Palm ). Night stay is on board of the ship. Kadmat , with some of the world's premier dive spots, has a full-fledged water sports institute.

For more Information on these exotic trips , you may contact :

The Sports
Lashadweep Tourism,
Indira Gandhi Road, Willingdon Island ,
Cochin ( Kerala State ) - 682 003. ( India. )
Telephone : 0484-668387 , Fax : 668647 .

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