5250 x 3500 px | 44,5 x 29,6 cm | 17,5 x 11,7 inches | 300dpi
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The commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan of the state s cities Cochin or Kochi has long been eulogised in tourist literature as the Queen of the Arabian Sea That simple phrase does little justice to the city s charms which go beyond its stunningly different beauty and long standing maritime importance Strategically located on the east west sea route Cochin is Kerala s major port boasting of one of the finest natural harbours in the world which forms the hub around which the city revolves a fact the world s sea trade seems to have known for long Centuries ago traders and seafarers from foreign lands like Persia and the rest of the Middle East China The UK Portugal and Holland called at Cochin to trade in pepper seafood rubber and coir Much of their different cultures and traditions have worn off on the city so that today s Cochin is a fascinating blend of these alien influences This fact is tangibly evident in the city s well known landmarks the Chinese fishing nets in the backwaters Jew Town and the Jewish synagogue in Mattancherry St Francis Church and the Dutch Palace Fort Cochin All these are suffused over the fabric of Kerala s culture and heritage providing a tapestry of rich contrasts and surprising similarities Most of the city s commercial centres and shops are located in the mainland the town called Ernakulam which also lends its name to the district The backwaters extend east and south of the harbour and in them can be found tiny island formed naturally over long periods by alluvial deposits from the rivers Among these are Vypeen Ramanathuruty Vallarpadam Bolghatty and Gundu Other important parts are Mattancherry Willingdon Island and Fort Cochin Fort Cochin is the site of the St Francis church which was built in 1510 by five Portuguese priests who arrived with Albuquerque This church said to be the oldest European church built in India was the original burial site for Vasco da Gama in 1524 Fourteen years later his mortal remains were exh