Cochin / Kochi

Kochi, also known as Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea, in the state of Kerala. The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world

Kochi is a place with deep roots in history and its streets exude an old-world charm; a place with beautiful monuments and a variety of linguistic and ethnic communities including Jews, Konkinis, Gujaratis and so on. Kochi as a thriving, expanding market, providing opportunities for growth and prosperity to all who knock at her doors. In short, Kochi offers a cocktail of modernity, old-world charm and a global outlook that, at the same time, facilitates continuity and change.

Kochi’s growth owes a lot to its strategic position on the northern end of the peninsula that has proximity to the Arabian Sea on the west, and the estuaries and the Western Ghats on the east. As for its geography, it is an indiscriminate mix of hilly areas, estuaries and backwaters, small islands, coastal cities like Fort Kochi and Mattancherry and plain terrains.

For centuries, Kochi had been a main port city, not only of Kerala, but also of the Indian Peninsula. Since the 14th century, Kochi, known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, has had ships from Asian and European countries visiting her port. The traders and travellered from across the globe were welcomed with open arms and minds. This greatly helped in its growth into a cosmopolitan city.

It was the vast Arabian Sea that brought Kochi in contact with countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The Sea helped the port and the city establish itself as a focal point of trade and commerce; and the sea has opened doors to many emerging tourist activities such as cruise tourism and yachting. The setting up of the International Marina is part of Kochi’s endeavours to explore the potential of these emerging trends in tourism. Cochin Port is a stopover for the yachts in the Volvo Ocean Race. The flow of cruise liners to the port is uninterrupted irrespective of the season and climate.