Popularly known as Cochin, Kochi is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Kochi is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. Cochin or Kochi is mainly a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas, which are segregated into Ernakulam, Willingdon Island, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. Over the years, Kochi has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India after Mumbai. Geography and Climate Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at 9°58′N 76°13′E, with an area of 94.88 square kilometers (36.63 sq mi). The city straddles the backwaters, encompassing the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and a portion of the mainland. To the west lies the Arabian Sea, and to the east is the urbanized region of the mainland area. Most part of the port city lies at sea level, with a coastline of 48 km. Soil consists of sediments such as alluvium, teri's, brown sands, etc. Hydromorphic saline soils are also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters. Kochi features a tropical monsoon climate and its proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 23 and 31 °C (73–88 °F) with the record high being 38 °C (100 °F), and record low 17 °C (63 °F). From June to September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kochi lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kochi receives lighter (yet significant) rain from the northeast monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 3,228.3 mm (127.10 in), with an annual average of 132 rainy days. Demographics As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Kochi in 2011 is 601,574; of which male and female are 296,668 and 304,906, respectively. The city has total number of 535,318 literates of which 265,256 are males while 270,062 are females. The average literacy rate of the city is 97.49 % of which male and female literacy was 98.31% and 96.69%, respectively. The sex ratio of Kochi city is 1028 per 1000 males. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the major religions practiced in the city, while Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism and Buddhism have lesser followers. Though 47% of the total population practices Hinduism, Christianity's large following of 35% makes Kochi a city with one of the largest Christian population in India. The majority of the city's residents are Malayalis; however, there are also other ethnic minority communities which include Tamils, Gujaratis, Jews, Anglo-Indians, Sikhs, Konkanis and Tulus. Malayalam is the main language of communication and medium of instruction for primary education, although a number of schools do offer English medium education. History of Kochi Kochi has a long and memorable history like any other cities in the World; however, the origin of the name is still covered in mystery. Many conjectures exist, but none of them are strong enough to be convincing. Some historians believe that Kochi is a modified form of the word 'Cochazhi' which in Malayalam means 'small sea', while others are of the opinion that 'Kochi' was named so by the Chinese. According to them, traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan gave Kochi the name of their homeland. The peculiar Chinese fishing nets found here, the only place outside China where it has been spotted, can possibly be attributed to the heavy Chinese influence the city has had in the past. Still another theory is that Kochi is derived from the word 'Kaci' meaning 'harbor'. Kochi was the centre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the Yavanas (Greeks and Romans) as well as Jews, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times. Kochi rose to significance as a trading centre after the port Muziris around Kodungallur (Cranganore) was destroyed by massive flooding of Periyar in 1341. The Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, Italians and Portuguese helped Kochi emerge as a bustling centre of commercial activity, connecting the mainland to the rest of the world. Kochi owes a lot to great travellers, scholars and traders like Fa Hien, Vasco da Gama, Sir Robert Bristow, etc. to her growth and prosperity. The English called Kochi 'Mini England', the Dutch called it 'Homely Holland' and the Portuguese called it 'Little Lisbon' highlighting Kochi's prominence. Over the centuries, the princely state of Kochi came under numerous empires. Over time, the original local rulers were controlled by the Portuguese, Dutch , British and even the Zamorin of Kozhikode (Calicut). Around 1530 AD, under the Portuguese, Kochi grew into a prosperous town. The ruler of Kochi gave the Portuguese permission to build a fort at Kochi called 'Manuel Kotta' (Fort Emmanuel), which is the first European fort in Kochi. The Dutch invasion began around 1653 and by 1663 they emerged victorious over the Portuguese and built the Fort Williams. In the year 1814, the city was annexed by the British and came under their rule. The magnificent forts built here were destroyed by the British. Under the supervision of Sir Robert Bristow, Kochi was developed into a major harbour and Willingdon Island was created. After India gained Independence in 1947, the state of Kerala was formed in 1956 by the unification of provinces Kochi, Malabar and Travancore. The Corporation of Kochi was formed in 1967 by the merger of the towns of Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many nearby villages. Tourist Destinations in Kochi Flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west, Kochi is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of India. This port is city is a blend of both Indian and Western culture, which magnetizes the travelers from all across the globe. Being a major harbor since ancient times, Cochin has a rich legacy of forts, churches and temples. Some of the prominent attractions are: Fort Kochi Marine Drive Bolgatty Palace Cochin Backwaters Chinese Fishing Net St Francis Church Mattancherry Palace Jewish Synagogue Willingdon Island Thampuran Museum Museum of Kerala History Santa Cruz Cathedral St. George Ferona Church Poornathrayeesa Temple St. Mary's Church Fort Kochi Beach Cherai Beach Transportation Air Cochin International Airport (CIAL) located at Nedumbassery, which is about 28 km (17 mi) north of Kochi city is a major gateway to the port city. The first international airport in India to be built without Central Government funds, Cochin International Airport handles both domestic and international flights and serves as the headquarters of the Air India Express service. It offers direct connectivity to popular international destinations in the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore and to most major Indian cities apart from tourist destinations like Lakshadweep. Railways The city has two most important railway stations, namely Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town, which are locally known as the South and North railway stations, respectively. The main rail transport system in Kochi is operated by the Southern Railway Zone of Indian Railways, and comes under Thiruvananthapuram Railway division. Road The port city of Kochi is well connected neighboring cities and states via several highways as it is a node in the North-South Corridor of the National Highway system. Besides National Highways, several state highways also connect Kochi with other parts of Kerala. The primary form of public transport within the city is largely dependent on privately owned bus networks. The state-run also operates its services in the city through the Thirukochi service. The major bus terminals in the city are Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Jetty and the private bus terminal at Kaloor. An integrated transit terminal namely The Mobility Hub at Vytilla is under 2nd phase of construction. The terminal acts as a hub for long distance bus services away from the city centre, and also to provide access to the other public transport facilities. Call taxis and auto rickshaws are common means of transportation around the city, especially for tourists, which are easily available on hire.
