The History in a Nutshell :
Being a natural harbour, the city was the battleground of European powers for capturing the lucrative trade in the west coast of India. The Portuguese were the first to enter the city .The Dutch were the next to intrude into Cochin and succeeded in throwing out the Portuguese very soon. Cochin flourished as a major trade destination during that period. The city had also received great patronage during the British period. Declared as a major port in 1936, Cochin still handles a big portion of India's cargo.

Accommodation and Connectivity

The South West Moonsoon does great favour to the city as heavy rains lash the place during June-August.The annual average rainfall received is 310 cm. Cochin has a modern airport connected to most major towns and cities of India.Direct train services between Cochin and metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are also available. Cochin is at a distance of 848 km from Goa, 694 km from Madras, 565 km from Bangalore, 223 km from Coimbatore, 470 km from Mysore and 312 km from Ootacamund. Although Cochin has good accommodation facilities, the same are limited in numbers. As such, many tourists prefer to stay at nearby Ernakulam also.

Tourist Attractions

Being a place with a rich history, Cochin has a lot to offer to the tourists.

Fort Cochin

Fort Cochin leaves a strong legacy of the Europeans.The massive buttresses were put up by the British to protect against possible attacks by European rival powers.

The St.Francis church

The St.Francis church also holds a pride of place . It is here that Vasco Da Gama was initially buried in the year 1526. However, son Pedro Da Gama later shifted his mortal remains to Portugal. It is also the oldest existing European church in India.

The Dutch palace at Mattancherry

The Dutch palace at Mattancherry is another major tourist attraction. The best thing about the place are its wall murals all of which have been done using the tempera process of painting. Forty-five scenes from the Ramayana adorn the walls of this palace.

Parishath Thampuram Museum

The Parishath Thampuram Museum in Ernakulam has a very impressive collection of nineteenth century old coins, sculptures, Mughal paintings, temple models and oil paintings.

Lighthouse

There is a lighthouse at Ochanthuruth and also the 16th-century Pallipuram Fort. The beaches at the place are also an attraction.

Excursion delights

Thripunithura on the outskirts of Cochin has an attractive museum. Parur, 35 km north of Cochin, has many ancient temples to visit. 4 kms away is Chennamangalam that houses the oldest synagogue in Kerala. The Jesuit Church and ruins of a Jesuit College could also be seen there. Ernakulam celebrates an annual festival for two days known as Thalapoli Utsavam.