"Kochi (Cochin) - Queen of the Arabian... " a Kochi Travel Page by FruitLover

Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) is the largest (pop. 1.4 million) city in the state of Kerala, and is its principal seaport.
The city derives its name from the Malayalam word "Kochazhi" meaning small lagoon. This was shortened to Cochin by the westerners for easy pronunciation.

Also known as "Queen of the Arabian Sea", Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam, about 220 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands which comprise Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, etc. Today Kochi includes Ernakulam city, old parts of Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands.

The Dutch Palace at Mattanchery was constructed by the Portuguese in 1557 AD. It is built in the traditional style, with the courtyard in the middle. The coronations of the Kings of Cochin were held at this palace. It contains 17th century murals depicting scenes from Indian epics.

Even after most of the Jews have left to Israel, the Jewish Synagogue at Mattanchery still remains as a reminder of the ancient diaspora. It was built in 1567 AD. Scrolls of the Old Testament are preserved in the synagogue.

St Francis Church at Fort Cochin is said to be the first church built by Europeans in India, by the Portuguese, in 1510 AD.

Fort Kochi, situated on the Fort Kochi/Mattancherry peninsula, is the historical part of the city and home to many tourist attractions, such as the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the Mattancherry Palace and the Santa Cruz Basilica.

Kochi was famous for its natural harbour and was the centre of the Indian spice trade for many centuries. It is home to a naval base and an airport, and is well connected to all the major Indian cities. Willingdon Island is a large artificial island.