An all time tourist favorite, Kochi is the commercial capital of Kerala. It has to offer palaces, forts, beaches, backwaters, old churches, snakes boat races, Kathakali, museums and the convenience of the big city.

Kochi is just about the center of Kerala. It is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas. Ernakulam is the commercial center and forms the mainland. The two main railway stations and the bus stands are located here. Fort Kochi & Mattachery, form an elongated island west of Ernakulam. Willingdon island which houses the Airport, Port & Naval base lies between Ernakulam & FortKochi. Jos junction in Ernakulam is considered as the nerve center of the city.

Kochi was founded in 1341, when a flood created a natural safe port, replacing Muziris as the chief harbour on the Malabar coast. In 1405, the royal family made it their new base, after which the city expanded rapidly, attracting Christian, Arab and Jewish settlers from the Middle East. Its name probably derives from kocchazhi, meaning new, or small, harbour.
European involvement in Kochi began in the early 1500's with the Portuguese - followed by the Dutch and British, all wanting to control the port and its lucrative spice trade. In 1800, the state of Cochin became  part of the British Madras Presidency and from 1812 until independence in 1947, was administered by a sucession of diwans, or finance ministers. In the 1920's the British expanded the port to make it suitable for modern ocean-going ships and Willingdon Island, between Ernakulam and Fort Cochin, was created by extensive dredging.
 

Being situated very close to the sea, Cochin has a moderate climate. Heavy showers are experienced during the months of June, July and August due to the south-west monsoon. The north-east monsoon brings light rainfall during the months of September to December. December to February is pretty cool.