Kochi

Kochi(/ˈkoʊtʃi/KOH-chee,Malayalam:[kotˈt͡ʃi]),formerly known asCochin(/ˈkoʊtʃɪn/KOH-chin),is a major port city along theMalabar Coastof India bordering theLaccadive Sea. It is part of thedistrict of Ernakulamin the state ofKerala. The city is also commonly referred to asErnakulam. As of 2011, theKochi Municipal Corporationhad a population of 677,381over an area of 94.88 km, and the largerKochi urban agglomerationhad over 2.1 million inhabitants within an area of 440 km, making it the largest and themost populousmetropolitan areain Kerala. Kochi city is also part of theGreater Cochindevelopment regionand is classified as a Tier-II city by theGovernment of India. The civic body that governs the city is theKochi Municipal Corporation, which was constituted in the year 1967, and the statutory bodies that oversee its development are theGreater Cochin Development Authority(GCDA) and theGoshree Islands Development Authority(GIDA).
Nicknamed the Queen of theArabian Sea, Kochi was an important spice trading center on the west coast of India from antiquity. The port ofMuziristraded with the Romans, Persians, Arabs, and Chinese.From 1503 to 1663, the Portuguese establishedFort Kochi(Fort Emmanuel), before it was taken over by theDutchin 1663. The Dutch thenceded the areato the United Kingdom. Kochi remained under the control of theKingdom of Cochin, which became aprincely stateof theBritish. Today, Kochi is known as thefinancial,commercialand industrialcapital of Kerala. Kochi is the only city in the country to have awater metro system, which has been described as the world's largest electric boat metro transportation infrastructure.Kochi also successfully conducted the test flight for Kerala's first seaplane service.TheCochin International Airportis the first in the world to operate solely onsolar energy.Kochi was one of the 28 Indian cities among the emerging 440 global cities that will contribute 50% of the world GDP by 2025, in a 2011 study done by theMcKinseyGlobal Institute.In July 2018, Kochi was ranked the topmost emerging future megacity in India by global professional services firmJLL.
Kochi's rich cultural heritage has made it a popular tourist destination among both domestic and international travellers. It has been hosting India's first art biennale, theKochi-Muziris Biennale, since 2012, which attracts international artists and tourists.TheChinese fishing nets, introduced during the 14th century by the Chinese, are a symbol of the city and a popular tourist attraction in themselves.Other landmarks includeMattanchery Palace,Marine Drive,Venduruthy Bridge,Church of Saint FrancisandMattanchery Bridge.The city ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala.The city was ranked the sixth best tourist destination in India according to a survey conducted by theNielsen Companyon behalf of theOutlook Traveller magazine.In October 2019, Kochi was ranked seventh inLonely Planet's list of top 10 cities in the world to visit in 2020.In November 2023, the British Luxury travel magazineCondé Nast Travellerrated Kochi as one of the best places to go in Asia in 2024.
Ancient travellers and tradesmen referred to Kochi, variously alluding to it asCocym,Cochym,Cochin, andKochi.TheCochin Jewish communitycalled CochinKogin(Hebrew:קוגין), which is seen in the seal of the synagogue owned by the community.TheArabmerchants called this placeKashi, which is seen in the books such asTuhfat Ul Mujahideen.The origin of the nameKochiis thought to be theMalayalamwordkochu azhi, meaning 'small lagoon'. Accounts by Italian explorersNicolo Conti(15th century), and Fra Paoline in the 17th century say that it was calledKochchi, named after the river connecting thebackwatersto the sea.After the arrival of the Portuguese, and later the British, the nameCochinstuck as the official appellation. The cityrevertedto a closer transcription of its originalMalayalamname,Kochi, in 1996. This change in name was challenged by the city municipal corporation, but the court later dismissed the plea.
Muziris, a port somewhere north of Kochi (mostly identified withKodungallurinThrissur district), was the centre of Indianspice tradefor many centuries, and was known to theArabs,Yavanas(GreeksandRomans) as well asJews, Syrians, and Chinese sinceancient times.Kochi rose to significance as a trading centre after the portMuzirisaroundKodungallur(Cranganore) was destroyed by the massive flooding ofPeriyarin 1341.The earliest documented references to Kochi occur in books written by Chinese voyagerMa Huanduringhis visit to Kochi in the 15th centuryas part of AdmiralZheng He's treasure fleet.There are also references to Kochi in accounts written by Italian travellerNiccolò Da Conti, who visited Kochi in 1440.The ruler ofPerumpadappu(nearPonnani) fled toKodungallurin the early medieval period, when theZamorinof Calicut annexedPonnaniregion, afterTirunavayawar.They later moved to Kochi and established theKingdom of Cochin.WhenVasco Da Gamalanded atKozhikodeand the Zamorin of Calicut fought against the Portuguese withKunjali Marakkar, the ruler of Cochin aligned with the Portuguese.
On theMalabarcoast during the early 15th century,Calicutand Kochi were in an intense rivalry, so theMing dynastyof China decided to intervene by granting special status to Kochi and its ruler known asKeyili(可亦里) to the Chinese.Calicut had been the dominant port-city in the region, but Kochi was emerging as its main rival.For the fifthMing treasure voyage, AdmiralZheng Hewas instructed to confer a seal uponKeyiliof Kochi and enfeoff a mountain in his kingdom as theZhenguo Zhi Shan(鎮國之山, Mountain Which Protects the Country).Zheng He delivered a stone tablet, inscribed with a proclamation composed by theYongle Emperorhimself, to Kochi.As long as Kochi remained under the protection of Ming China, theZamorinof Calicut was unable to invade Kochi and a military conflict was averted.The cessation of theMing treasure voyagesconsequently had negative results for Kochi, as the Zamorin of Calicut would eventually launch an invasion against Kochi.In the late 15th century, the Zamorin occupied Kochi and installed his representative as the king of the port-city.
According to many historians, the precursor state toKingdom of Kochicame into existence in the early 12th century, after the fall of theChera Kingdom.The reign of the Kingdom was hereditary, and the family that ruled over the region was known as thePerumpadappu Swaroopamin the local vernacular.
The port atKozhikodeheld superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, whileKannur,Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.The Portuguese arrived atKappadKozhikodein 1498 during theAge of Discovery, thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to India.Portuguese navigator,Pedro Álvares Cabralfounded the first European settlement in India at Kochi in 1500.From 1503 to 1663,Fort Kochi(Fort Emmanuel) wasruled by Portugal. This Portuguese period was a harrowing time for theSaint Thomas Christians,MuslimMappilas, and theJews, as theInquisitionwas active inPortuguese India. The ruler of theKingdom of Tanur, who was a vassal to theZamorinof Calicut, sided with the Portuguese, against his overlord atKozhikode.As a result, theKingdom of Tanur(Vettathunadu) became one of the earliest Portuguese Colonies in India. The ruler ofTanuralso sided withCochin.Many of the members of the royal family of Cochin in 16th and 17th centuries were selected fromVettom.However, theTanurforces under the king fought for the Zamorin of Calicut in theBattle of Cochin (1504).However, the allegiance of theMappilamerchants inTanurregion still stayed under the Zamorin of Calicut.Kochi hosted the grave ofVasco da Gama, the first European explorer to set sail for India, who was buried atSt. Francis Churchuntil his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539.The Portuguese rule was followed by that of the Dutch who renamed Fort Immanuel as Fort Stormsburg. In meantime, the Royal Family of Kochi relocated the capital of Kochi Kingdom toThrissur, leaving nominal authority over Islands of Kochi. In 1664, Fort Kochi Municipality was established by Dutch, making it the first municipality in Indian subcontinent, which got dissolved when Dutch authority got weaker in the 18th century. The remaining part of Kochi were governed by governors of Kochi Kingdom. By 1773, theMysorerulerHyder Aliextended his conquest in theMalabar regionto Kochi forcing it to become a tributary ofMysore. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Kochi held by thePaliath Achansended during this period.
Meanwhile,the Dutch, fearing an outbreak of war on theUnited Provinces, signed theAnglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814with the United Kingdom, under which Kochi was ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange for the island ofBangka, east ofSumatra. However, there are evidences of English habitation in the region even before the signing of the treaty.In 1866,Fort Kochimunicipality was reinstalled.Fort Kochi, which was a part ofMalabar Districtuntil 1956, was made a municipality on 1 November 1866, along withKannur,Thalassery,Kozhikode, andPalakkad, according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)of theBritish Indian Empire. Its firstMunicipal Councilseating contest was conducted in 1883. In 1896, H.H.Rama Varma XV, TheMaharajaof Cochin, initiated local administration by forming town councils inMattancherryandErnakulam. In 1907, the Governor of the Madras Presidency, SirArthur Lawleyand his brother,Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock, Governor of Madras, 1891 to 1896, left for an official tour of Cochin andTravancore, which lasted from 25 January to 14 February. On 26 January, they were met by His Highness the Rajah of Cochin who gave a State Dinner in their honour atErnakulam.By the 1870s, the capital of Kochi Kingdom was relocated again to Kochi Suburb ofTripunithura. In 1910, Ernakulam became the administrative capital of Kochi Kingdom with establishment of Royal Secretariat and State Durbar. The offices of the Diwan and High court were soon moved into Ernakulam.
In 1925, Kochi legislative assembly was constituted due to public pressure on the state. Towards the early 20th century, trade at the port had increased substantially, and the need to develop the port was greatly felt. Harbour engineerRobert Bristowwas brought to Kochi in 1920 under the direction ofLord Willingdon, then the Governor ofMadras. In a span of 21 years, he transformed Kochi as one of the safest harbours in the peninsula, where ships berthed alongside the newly reclaimed inner harbour equipped with a long array of steam cranes.
In 1947, when India gained independence from theBritish colonial rule, Cochin was the firstprincely stateto join India willingly.In 1949,Travancore–Cochinstate came into being with the merger of Cochin andTravancore. The King of Travancore was theRajpramukhof the Travancore–Cochin Union from 1949 to 1956. Travancore-Cochin, was in turn merged with theMalabar districtof theMadras State. Finally, theGovernment of India'sStates Reorganisation Act(1956) inaugurated a new state—Kerala—incorporating Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks which were merged withTamil Nadu), Malabar District, and thetalukofKasargod,South Kanara.On 9 July 1960 theMattancherrycouncil passed a resolution—which was forwarded to the government—requesting the formation of amunicipal corporationby combining the existing municipalities ofFort Kochi,Mattancherry, andErnakulam. The government appointed a commission to study the feasibility of the suggested merger. Based on its report, theKerala Legislative Assemblyapproved the corporation's formation. On 1 November 1967, exactly eleven years since the establishment of the state of Kerala, theKochi Municipal Corporationcame into existence. The merger leading to the establishment of the corporation, was between themunicipalitiesof Ernakulam, Mattancherry andFort Kochi, along with that of theWillingdon Island, fourpanchayats(Palluruthy,Vennala,VyttilaandEdappally), and the small islands ofGunduandRamanthuruth.The Kochi andErnakulamdistricts formed on 1 April 1958 carving areas of the erstwhile Travancore-Kochi-Malabar regions. A major portion of the district is from the Kochi kingdom.
The city's economic growth gathered momentum aftereconomic reforms in Indiaintroduced by thecentral governmentin the early 1990s. Since 2000, theservice sectorhas energised the city's economy. The establishment of several industrial parks based onITand other port based infrastructure triggered a construction and realty boom in the city. Over the years, Kochi has witnessed rapid commercialisation, and has today grown into the commercial hub of Kerala.
Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at9°58′N76°13′E﻿ / ﻿9.967°N 76.217°E﻿ /9.967; 76.217, with a corporation limit area of 94.88 km(36.63 sq mi).Over the years, the city has expanded considerably outside the corporation limit set in 1967, although the official city limits haven't been changed.The city straddles the backwaters, encompassing the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and a portion of the mainland. To the west lies theLaccadive Sea, and to the east is the urbanised region in the rest of the mainland area. Much of Kochi lies at sea level, with a coastline of 48 km.
The eastern part of Kochi is mainly known asErnakulam, while the western part of it after theVenduruthy Bridgeis called as Western Kochi. The current metropolitan limits of Kochi include the mainland Ernakulam,Fort Kochi, the suburbs ofEdapally,Kalamassery,Aluva,Perumbavoor,AngamalyandKakkanadto the northeast;Tripunithurato the southeast; and a group of islands closely scattered in theVembanad Lake. The state government and the GCDA have plans to includeMalaandKodungallurin Thrissur district.PiravomandKolencheryin Ernakulam district,ThalayolaparambuandVaikomin Kottayam andCherthalain Alappuzha district within Kochi metropolitan limits. The newly formed metropolis would be put under the charge of a new authority called Kochi Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.However,The Hindureported that the state government is yet to take any concrete steps in this regard.
Soil consists ofsedimentssuch asalluvium, teris, brown sands, etc. Hydromorphicsaline soilsare also found in the areas surrounding the backwaters.
Predominant rock types found here areArchaean-basicdykes,CharnockitesandGneisses. An ecologically sensitive area, theMangalavanam Bird Sanctuaryis located in the central part of the city. It has a wide range of mangrove species and is a nesting ground for a vast variety of migratory birds.
Kochi's water needs are entirely dependent on ground water and the two rivers flowing through the district viz.,PeriyarandMuvattupuzha. Periyar serves the entire northern part of the citywhereasMuvattupuzhariver under the JnNurm project covers the western part.
Under theKöppen climate classification, Kochi features atropical monsoon climate(Am). Kochi's proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 23 and 31 °C (73 and 88 °F) with the record high being 36.5 °C (97.7 °F), and record low 16.3 °C (61.3 °F).From June to September, thesouth-west monsoonbrings in heavy rains as Kochi lies on the windward side of theWestern Ghats. From October to December, Kochi receives lighter (yet significant) rain from the northeast monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 3,014.9 mm (118.70 in), with an annual average of 124 rainy days.
The city isgovernedby theKochi Corporation, headed by amayor. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 74wards,from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. Earlier;Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Ernakulam were the three Municipalities in Cochin area, which was later merged to form the Cochin Corporation. The corporation has its headquarters in Ernakulam, and zonal offices atFort Kochi, Mattancherry,Palluruthy,EdappallyandPachalam.The general administration of the city is handled by the Personnel Department and the Council Standing committee Section.Other departments include that oftown planning, health, engineering, revenue and accounts. The corporation is also responsible forwaste disposaland sewage management. The city produces more than 600 tons of waste per day and a large portion of waste is decomposed atBrahmapuram Solid Waste plantinto organic manure. The supply ofpotable water, sourced from thePeriyar Riveris handled by Kerala Water Authority with support of Water works department of Kochi Corporation.Electricity is provided by theKerala State Electricity Board.
TheGCDAandGIDAare the government agencies initiating and monitoring the development ofGreater Cochinarea, mainly in developing infrastructure facilities for the city.
Kochi is the seat ofHigh Court of Kerala, the highest judicial body in the state of Kerala. TheKochi City Policeis headed by aPolice Commissioner, anIndian Police Service(IPS) officer. The city is divided into five zones and each zone under a circle officer. Apart from regular law & order, the city police comprises the Traffic Police, Narcotics Cell, Riot horse, Armed Reserve Camps, District Crime Records Bureau and aWomen's Police station.It operates 19 police stations functioning under the Home Ministry ofGovernment of Kerala. Ananti-corruptionbranch of theCentral Bureau of Investigationalso operates out of the city.CISFmaintains 3 squadrons for providing security to various central and state heavy industries, airport and seaport zones. Other major central agencies areNIA,DRIandIndian Customsdue to the presence of major port. According toNational Crime Records Bureau(NCRB), Kochi reported significant increase of 193.7 per cent IPC crimes in 2010 compared to 2009, and reported a crime rate of 1,897.8 compared to the 424.1 in whole Kerala.However, the citypolice commissionerdefended that in major crimes such as murders and kidnapping, the city registered a low crime rate even behind other cities in the state.
Kochi is part of theErnakulam Lok Sabha constituencyinIndian Parliament.The current elected Member of Parliament representing the constituency isHibi EdenofIndian National Congress.The Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency elects seven members to the state Legislative Assembly, one each fromErnakulam,Kalamassery,Kochi,Paravur,Thrikkakara,ThrippunithuraandVypin.
Kochi is widely referred to as the financialand commercialcapital of Kerala.Federal Bank, the fourth-largestPrivate-sector bank in Indiais located inAluvawhich is a suburb of Kochi. Being a major online trading centre in the country, Kochi has a newly openedSEBIoffice.
Availability of electricity, fresh water, long coastline, backwaters, good banking facilities, presence of a major port, container trans-shipment terminal, harbour terminal and an international air terminal are some of the factors which accelerated the industrial growth in the city and its adjoining district.In recent years the city has witnessed heavy investment, thus making it one of the fastest-growingsecond-tier metro citiesin India.Sales taxincome generated in the Kochi metropolitan area contributes heavily to state revenue.
The district contributes 15.1% of the state GDP.Construction and manufacturing industries combined contributes 37% of the district's total GDP, and trade, tourism and hospitality industries together provides another 20%. Major business sectors include construction, manufacturing,shipbuilding, transportation/shipping, seafood and spices exports, chemical industries, information technology (IT), tourism,health services, and banking. Kochi is recognised as one of the seventeen major industrial cities of India by the World Bank Group. However, in the 2009 rankings of ease to start and operate a business, among the 17 Indian cities selected, Kochi was rated as the second most difficult city to start business and was ranked 16th, above Kolkata.
As in most of Kerala, remittances fromnon-resident Indians(NRI)s is a major source of income.Eloor, situated 13 kilometres (8.1 miles) north of the city-centre, is the largest industrial belt in Kerala, with more than 250 factories manufacturing a range of products including chemical andpetrochemicalproducts,pesticides,rare earth elements, rubber processing chemicals,fertilisers,zincandchromiumcompounds, and leather products.Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited(FACT), one of the oldest fertilizers and chemical industry in Kerala is located in Kochi.Kochi Refineriesof (BPCL) atAmbalamugalis the largeststate ownedrefineryin India.Petronet Indiahas now almost completedKochi LNG Terminal, for importing and storing natural gas, for energy and fueling needs.Central Government establishments like theCoconut Development Board, theCoir Boardand theMarine Products Export Development Authority(MPEDA) have head offices located in the city.
Kalamasserywhich is situated around 16.5 km from the City Center is one of the major Industrial areas. Leading factories likeFACT,HMTand IT/Biotechnology park likeKINFRA Hi-Tech Parkare located here. TheCochin University of Science and Technologyis located at Kalamassery.Irimpanamis another major industrial area in Kochi. TheSeaport-Airport Road(SPAP Road) passes through this place and oil giants likeIndian Oil Corporation,Bharat PetroleumandHindustan Petroleumhave plants here.
Like elsewhere in Kerala, tourism is one of the major contributors of the local economy.Ernakulam district, in which Kochi is situated, ranks first in the total number of domestic tourists visiting Kerala,and thus contributes to the economy of the city. The tourist enclave atFort Kochiand presence of several historical monuments, museums etc. as well as natural attractions like the Vembanad lake and the backwaters attract large number of tourists to the city. Presence of several leading hospitality brands have been a major source of employment for locals. The Kochi Port is one of the leading ports where international cruisers call on regularly.The city has the first marina facilityin the country,Kochi Marinawhich attracts large number of yacht-totters.
Real Estate industry is also one industry which is contributing a lot to the economy of Kochi. Many players have entered the market and have developed residential properties.
Kochi is the headquarters of theSouthern Naval Command, the primary training centre of the Indian Navy.TheCochin Shipyard, contributes to the economy of the city.The fishing harbour atThoppumpadyis a minorfishing portin the state and supplies fish to local and export markets. To further tap the potential of the all-season harbour at Kochi, an international cruise terminal was also constructed.
Exports and allied activities are also important contributors to the city's economy. TheCochin Portcurrently handles export and import of container cargo at its terminal atWillingdon Island. TheInternational Container Transshipment Terminaloperating out ofVallarpadam, is India's largest transshipment terminal.Cochin Port Trustalso planning to build an Outer Harbour nearPuthuvype.Kochi's historical reliance on trade continues into modern times, as the city is a major exporter of spices and is home to theInternational Pepper Exchange, whereblack pepperis globally traded. TheSpices Board of Indiaand World Spice Organisation are headquartered in Kochi.
TheITandITESrelated industries are growing up in Kochi. Availability of cheapbandwidththroughundersea cablesand lower operational costs compared to other major cities in India, has been to its advantage. Various technology and industrial campuses including the government promotedInfoPark,Cochin Special Economic ZoneandKINFRA Export Promotion Industrial Parkoperate in the outskirts of the city. Several new industrial campuses are under construction in the suburbs of the city.SmartCityat Kakkanad is one of the prominent projects.Cyber CityatKalamasseryis another integrated IT township SEZ being planned in the private sector.
Kochi has an established electronics hardware industry with companies such as V-Guard Industries, OEN India Limited, FCI OEN Connectors and SFO Technologies. The Government of Kerala has announced a project to build an industrial park named Electronic Cityspanning an area of 340 acres (140 ha), to cater to the electronic hardware industries. The private operator NeSTis building aSpecial Economic Zonespecifically for electronics hardware spanning an area of 30 acres (12 ha).
The Cochin International Airport is in the process of setting up anaerotropolisatNedumbassery.
Perumbavooris a major town in the Kochi metropolitan area. Spread over several panchayats like Rayamangalam, Vazhakulam, Asamannur, Vengola, Kottapadi, Koovappadi and many other places in the Perumbavoor municipality, the town is famous for Asia's Largest plywood industries. The plywood sector employs about two lakh people directly and about three and a half lakh indirectly in a sector with over 1,400 units.This industry includes units that manufacture not only plywood but also veneer and sawn or bandsaw. All the units operate within a radius of 15 km. The industry has started growing here over the past two decades. Initially, there were only 10 companies. But later, as more people entered the sector and set up more units, the business picked up. The industry witnessed a major change when rubber wood became available in abundance due to fluctuations in rubber prices.  The plywood is also imported from foreign countries like Vietnam, Loas and China. some more Eucalyptus timber is also imported from countries like Brazil. There is no market for plywood in Kerala. Places like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of North India are the biggest markets for plywood. This industry is now the backbone of Perumbavoor's economic potential. Another unique feature of the industry is that 90 percent of the workers in the units are migrants. The crisis that hit the construction industry during the period from 2003 to 2004 led to a large influx of migrant workers into the plywood industry.
The air gateway to Kochi is theCochin International Airport(CIAL) located atNedumbassery, which is about 28 km (17 mi) north of Kochi city, and handles both domestic and international flights.It is the first international airport in India to be built without Central Government fundsand is the world's first fully solar energy powered airport.
The Cochin airport provides direct connectivity to popular international destinations in the Middle East,Malaysia,ThailandandSingaporeand to most major Indian cities apart from tourist destinations likeLakshadweep. Kochi is also the headquarters of theAir India Expressservice. With a terminal area of 840,000 sq ft (78,000 m), and a passenger capacity of 2200 (international and domestic), it is the largest and busiest airport in the state.It is also the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of international passenger traffic, and seventh busiest overall.
Kochi is well connected to neighbouring cities and states via several highways. It is a node in theNorth-South Corridorof the National Highway system.The road infrastructure in Kochi has not been able to meet the growing traffic demand and hence traffic congestion is a major problem in the city.
Kochi is served byNational Highway 66,National Highway 544,National Highway 966AandNational Highway 966B.
Severalstate highwaysalso connect Kochi with other parts of Kerala.SH 15, Ettumanoor-Ernakulam Road, connects the city toKottayam,Pala,Kumily,Changanacherry,Pathanamthittaetc.SH 41, Palarivattom-Thekkady Road, provides a corridor to the eastern parts of the district.SH 63, Vypeen Pallipuram RoadandSH 66, Alappuzha – Thoppumpady roadare coastal roads that serve the narrow sliver of land between the backwaters and the sea.
The main arterial roads of the city are theMahatma Gandhi RoadandSahodaran Ayyappan Roadin Ernakulam, constructed in 1925 & 1962 respectively which runs parallel & perpendicular to the coast and having the proposed Metro Rail connectivity. TheSeaport-Airport Roadis another major road and connects theCochin Seaportto theCochin International Airport. The Infopark Expressway inKakkanadis connected to the Seaport-Airport Road and stretches all the way toInfopark. Other major roads includeChittoor Road,Banerji Road,Shanmugham Road,Kochi Bypass,Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road,Park Avenueetc. A new ring road is proposed for Kochi city by the state government for which a project study is being currently undertaken by NATPAC.
The primary form of public transport within the city is largely dependent on privately owned bus networks. The state-run also operates its services in the city through the Thirukochi service. The major bus terminals in the city are Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Jetty and the private bus terminal at Kaloor. An integrated transit terminal namely TheMobility HubatVytillais under second phase of construction. The terminal acts as a hub for long-distance bus services away from the city centre, and also a converging point for different modes of public transport, namely bus, metro and ferry.
Kochi is one of the few cities to be granted the new-generation air-conditioned low-floor and non-air-conditioned semi-low-floor buses under theJNNURMcity transport development project. KURTC and private buses operate frequent schedules to neighbouring areas ofNedumbassery,Perumbavoor,Aluva,Muvattupuzha,Kothamangalam,CherthalaandPoochakkal. Taxis andauto rickshaws(calledautos) are available for hire throughout the day.
Development of road infrastructure not keeping pace with the increase in traffic is a major problem faced by Kochi, like most other parts of Kerala.
The city has four major railway stations –Ernakulam Junction,Ernakulam Town(locally known as theSouthandNorthrailway stations respectively),Aluva, andTripunithurafollowed by smaller stations,Edapallyand Kalamassery. There is also theCochin Harbour Terminusproviding rail connectivity to the southern segment of thePort of Kochi. The terminus is currently under renovation for the suburban rail networks in the city. The main rail transport system in Kochi is operated by theSouthern Railway ZoneofIndian Railways, and comes underThiruvananthapuram Railway division. TheSouthstation is one of the busiest railway stations in South India, with more than 128 scheduled train services daily.TheNorthstation situated on the northern side of the city, caters mostly to long-distance services that bypass theSouthstation, and also is an additional halt station for many trains.
There is also a historic station named asErnakulam Terminus(station code:ERG) situated behind theHigh Court. Great personalities likeMahatma Gandhiand TheBritish Viceroyhave visited Cochin through this old railway station. Ernakulam Terminus was the first station to serve the city but had to be abandoned in the early 1960s. Now this station operates as a goods depot of Southern Railway.
TheKochi Metrois ametro rapid transit systemserving the city of Kochi, intended to considerably ease traffic congestion in the city and its surrounding metropolitan area.It is being set up at an overall estimated cost of₹5,146 crore(US$590 million). The Phase-1 of the metro system will have 22 stations connecting the suburban towns ofAluvaand Pettah while passing through downtown.The first half of the Phase-1 ofKochi Metrowas inaugurated on 17 June 2017 by Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi. CurrentlyKochi Metrois operational fromAluvatill Maharaja's College along the Kalamassery – Edappally – Kaloor – MG Road stretch, covering a total of 18.4 km with 16 operational metro stations.
Kochi ranks among India's major seaports, partly due to being one of the safest harbours in the Indian Ocean.The port, administered by a statutory autonomous body known as theCochin Port Trust, offers facilities forbunkering, handling cargo and passenger ships and storage accommodation. The port is a complex of three islands,oneof which is man-made.
It also operates passenger ships toColomboandLakshadweep. Boat services are operated byKerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, theState Water Transport Departmentand private firms from variousboat jettiesin the city. Thejunkarferry for the transshipment of vehicles and passengers between the islands are operated between Ernakulam andVypin, and between Vypin and Fort Kochi. However, with the construction of theGoshree bridges(which links Kochi's islands), ferry transport has become less essential. The main boat jetties are Ernakulam Main Boat Jetty near Park Avenue, High Court Jetty in Banerjee Road, Embarkation Jetty in Willingdon Island and Fort Kochi Jetty.In April 2023, Kochi became India's first city to have a water metro project. TheKochi Water Metrois the first water metro project in India and the first integrated water transport system of this size in Asia connects 10 islands of Kochi through a network of 15 routes that span 76 km and 38 jetties.
Kochi has the highest population density in Kerala with 7139 people per km.
As of 2011, Kochi had a metropolitan area population of 2,117,990. The female-to-male ratio is 1,028:1,000, significantly higher than the all-India average of 933:1,000. Kochi's literacy rate is 97.5%. The female literacy rate lags that of males by 1.1%, among the lowest such gaps in India.
Kochi's major religions areHinduism,ChristianityandIslam.Jainism,Judaism,SikhismandBuddhism, with smaller followings, are also practised in Kochi. Though 44% practice Hinduism, Christianity's large following (38%) makes Kochi a city with one of the largest Christian populations in India.The majority of the city's residents areMalayalis. However, there are significant ethnic minority communities includingTamils,Gujaratis,Jews,Anglo-Indians,SikhsandKonkanisMalayalam is the main language of communication and medium of instruction for primary education, although a number of schools do offer English medium education. The higher education is invariably in English medium, and it is the preferred language in business circles.TamilandHindiare widely understood—albeit rarely spoken.
Like other fast-growing cities in the developing world, Kochi suffers from majorurbanisationproblems. The city was ranked tenth among Indian cities in terms of house-cost and availability, urban household crowding and household incomes.
The government has plans to make the city slum-free by 2016.According to theNational Crime Records Bureau, the city holds the fourth position in the number of recorded crimes in India.In 2009, the city recorded an average crime rate of 646.3 against the national average of 181.4.But Kochi City Police Commissioner later clarified that this anomaly was due to higher reporting rates of minor crimes in Kochi than in other Indian cities.The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) report gives further credence to this as it finds that Kochi has the fewest crime against women in the state of Kerala.According to the 2011 CII/Institute of Competitiveness report on Liveability,Kochi stands first in the state, and sixth in the country. Kochi is ranked seventh in the list of the top ten most affluent cities in India by 2009 study by Nielsen Company.Kochi was ranked the fourth cleanest city in India in theSwachch Bharatrankings for cities. It was selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as asmart cityunder Prime MinisterNarendra ModiflagshipSmart Cities Mission.
As a result of successive waves of migration over the course of several centuries, the population of the city is a mix of people from all parts of Kerala and most of India. The pan-Indian nature is highlighted by the substantial presence of various ethnic communities from different parts of the country.
Kochi has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting ofMalayalis,Konkanis,Gujaratis,Bengalis,Marathis,Punjabis,Tamilians,Kannadigas,Biharis,Anglo Indiansand a few families of Jews among other denominations. The city once had a large Jewish community, known as theMalabar Yehuden—and now increasingly asCochin Jews—who figured prominently in Kochi's business and economic strataand ownedseveral Synagoguesacross Kochi and nearby areas such asChendamangalam,ParavurorMala.
Kochi was one among the seven diocese of Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite Syrian Christian Church) in Kerala formed in 1876. The seat of the Bishop is at St George Cathedral, Karingachira. Also at Mary's Cathedral Elamkulam, seat of bishop of Simhasana churches of Jacobites is in the city. The seat ofRoman CatholicCathedral of Kerala's first ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Verapolyand the first dioceseDiocese of Cochinare located in the city. TheSyro-Malabar Church, one of the 22sui iurisEastern Catholic Churchesand a part of theSaint Thomas Christiancommunity, has its seat at Ernakulam. Prominent places of Christian worship include theSt. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, St. Francis Assisi Roman Catholic Cathedral, Ernakulam,Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam-Ernakulam,Santa Cruz BasilicaRoman Catholic Cathedral,Fort Kochi,St. Antony's ShrineatKaloor, St. George Forane Church,Edappallyand appropriate to its multi-ethnic composition, Kochi celebrates traditional Kerala festivals likeOnamandVishualong withNorth IndianHindu festivals likeHoliwith great fervour. Christian and Islamic festivals likeChristmas,Easter,Eid ul-FitrandMilad-e-sherifare also celebrated. A merry making fest called theCochin Carnivalis celebrated at Fort Kochi during the last ten days of December.
The residents of Kochi are known as Kochiites; they are an important part of theSouth Indian culture. However, the city's culture is rapidly evolving with Kochiites generally becoming more cosmopolitan in their outlook.The people are also increasingly fashion-conscious, often deviating from thetraditional Kerala wearto western clothing.
Kochiites generally partake ofKeralite cuisine, which is generally characterised by an abundance ofcoconutandspices. OtherSouth Indiancuisines, as well asChineseandNorth Indiancuisines are popular. Fast food culture is also very prominent.Being a tourist hotspot, Fort Kochi have a number of restaurants that offer international cuisine, like Italian, French, Mexican etc. Being close to the ocean and the backwaters, Kochi has an abundance of seafood, which reflects in the cuisine. Cochin is also called the official food capital of Kerala with largest number of restaurants and cafeterias in Kerala that serves every kind of delicious cuisine. A service known asYou Buy, We Cookis available at the waterfront of Fort Kochi, where the fresh seafood purchased from the nets is cooked as per the customers needs.Arabian food joints that serveShawarmaand roasted chicken are a new addition to the fast food scene in the city.
Kochi also has a number of shopping malls includingOberon Mall, Gold Souk Grande, Bay Pride Mall, Centre Square Mall,Abad Nucleus MallandLuLu Mall, which is one of the largest shopping malls in India in terms of total leasable area of 17 acres (7 ha).Various shopping malls are expected to open in the city in the near future includingForum Thomsun Mall.
Kochi is the official food capital of Kerala because of the highest number of restaurants and the varieties of foods available. Kochi serves every type of food available in Kerala. Its very famous for varieties of non-vegetarian food.Kochi also has the mostfive star hotelsin the state. These include international brands likeCrowne Plaza,Marriott International,Grand Hyatt,Sheraton,Le Méridien,Radisson Blu,Holiday Inn,Ramada,Ibis,Taj Malabar,The Gatewayetc.
Kochi was home to some of the most influential figures inMalayalam literature, includingChangampuzha Krishna Pillai,Kesari Balakrishna Pillai,G. Sankara Kurup,andVyloppilli Sreedhara Menon.Prominent social reformers such asSahodaran AyyappanandPandit Karuppanalso are from Kochi. TheKochi International Book Festivalis an annual event.
The Maharajas of Kochi (then Cochin) were scholars who knew the epics and encouraged the arts. The paintings at theHill Palaceand theDutch Palaceare testimony to their love for arts.
Kochiites are known for their enthusiasm in sports, especiallyfootballandcricket.TheJawaharlal Nehru International Stadiumin Kochi is one of the largest stadiums in India with floodlights for Cricket and Football matches.TheRegional Sports Centreis an important centre of sporting activity in the city.
Kochi is reportedly the sixth best city in India according to the livability index of 2011.
With many advanced tertiary/quaternary care facilities, Kochi has one of the best healthcare facilities in India. It is the prime destination for people seeking advanced healthcare facilities from across Kerala.
In recent times, it has attracted many patients from India, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the United States looking for relatively inexpensive advanced medical care. Kochi is the only city fromKeralathat have carried out successful heart transplantations.Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre,Sunrise Hospital,Specialist Hospital,Medical Trust Hospital, PVS Memorial Hospital,Renai medicity,Lakeshore Hospital,Lisie Hospital,Aster Medcity,Rajagiri Institute of Medical Sciencesare some of the advanced tertiary/quaternary healthcare facilities in Kochi.Other reputed institutions in the city include Ernakulam Medical Centre,KIMS Hospital, Gautham Hospital, Lourdes Hospital andSaraf Hospital. Some of the reputed fertility related treatment centres in India – like Vijaya Hospital, Bourn Hall Clinicand CIMAR – are located in Kochi.General Hospital, ErnakulamandGovernment Medical College, Ernakulamare the notable medical institutions in the government sector in Kochi.
In August 2019, a home daycare program in the district, Arike has started for extending the service of the home palliative care. Nurses who have undergone training in palliative care will be reaching out to patients at home every day on two-wheelers. The service will be available to those who have registered with the General Hospital's home palliative care programme.
The pattern of primary education is essentially the same all over the state. There are government owned schools and government aided schools, which are affiliated to theKerala State Education Board. A few privately owned schools are also affiliated to the system. Most of the schools owned by private organisations or individuals are affiliated to theCentral Board for Secondary Education(CBSE).Indian Certificate of Secondary Education(ICSE) have some schools affiliated to them as well.The state education board offers both Malayalam and English medium instruction, while the other boards offer English medium alone. There are a few schools that follow international curricula, such as IB and IGCSE.
There 34 government schools, 67 private aided schools and 31 unaided schools affiliated to the Kerala State Education Board in the city and suburbs.There are 62 CBSE Schools, 2 IGCSE and 9 ICSE Schools as well.
The notable schools in the government sector areSree Rama Varma High School, Edappally High School, Government School-Kochi and Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam. There areKendriya Vidyalaya,Chinmaya MissionandBharatiya Vidya Bhavanrun several quasi-private charter schools within the city limits, as well as in the suburbs. There are several private schools (both aided & unaided0 that are owned by secular and religious trusts which are of particular renown, such as:St. Albert's HSS, Ernakulam, St. Teresa's CGHSS, St. Mary's CGHSS Ernakulam, St. Antony's CGHSS,Model Technical Higher Secondary School, KaloorThe Delta Study, Rajagiri Public School, Campion School,Assisi Vidyaniketan,Cochin Refineries School, Gregorian Public School, Greets Public School, Toc-H Public School,Navy Children School, Global Public School,Choice School,Vidyodaya School, Mar Thoma Public School, Nava Nirman Public School and St. Pauls International School, Kalamassery, The Charter School Kochi.
TheCochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT) is a major university named after the city. Most of the colleges in Kochi offering tertiary education are affiliated either with theMahatma Gandhi Universityor with theCochin University. Kochi has one of the campuses of theIndian Maritime UniversityatWillingdon Island.Sree Sankaracharya University of SanskritinKaladyis a research-oriented university located at the outskirts. Other national educational institutes include theCentral Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, theNational University of Advanced Legal Studies, theNational Institute of Oceanographyand theCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
Kochi has some of the leading B-Schools in the region. TheIndian Institute of Management Kozhikode(IIMK) has set up its first satellite campus at Athulya building inInfoPark, Kochi.Cochin University'sSchool of Management Studies(SMS) is the first and oldest managerial education institution in South India.SCMS Cochinis one of the emerging B-Schools in the country.Another major B-SchoolXIMEis opening a new campus in Kochi.Other leading managerial institutions includeRajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi Business School, Amrita School of Business,Albertian Institute of Managementand Toc-H B school.
The city and outskirts are home to four medical schools—Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centreat Ponekkara, Cochin Medical College atKalamassery, Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, and M.O.S.C. Medical College,Kolenchery. Some of the prestigious general colleges areMaharaja's College,St. Albert's College,St. Teresa's College,Sacred Hearts College, Bharata Matha College, Aquina's College,De Paul Institute of Science & Technology (DIST)andCochin College. The major Engineering and Technology colleges in the city areSchool of Engineering CUSAT,SCMS School of Engineering and TechnologyatKalamassery,Model Engineering College,Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technologyand FISAT (Federal Institute of Science & Technology).
Being the seat of theHigh Court of Kerala, several top legal education institutes are here. TheGovernment Law College-Ernakulamis one of the oldest law schools in Kerala.TheSchool of Legal Studies (SLS),CUSATis one of the leading graduate, post-graduate, and research institutes in the country. TheNational University of Advanced Legal Studies(NUALS) is located in the city, which is a premier law university in India and the only Law college listed in CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) in Kerala.
Some of the main orphanages and rehabilitation shelters in Cochin City arePalluruthy Relief Settlementin Palluruthy Veli, Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan, Don Bosco Big Boys, Crescent Girls Orphanage,YMCABoys Home, Bal Bhavan, Valsalya Bhavan.
Palluruthy Relief Settlementis underKochi Municipal Corporationand managed in association with Peoples Council for Social Justice. There are about 300 inmates and many of them are mentally ill.The night shelter for women run by Kochi Municipal Corporation nearKerala State Road Transport Corporationbus stand provides free and safe accommodation.Peoples Council for Social Justice was found in 1985 under the patronage of JusticeV. R. Krishna Iyerwith the aim to work for human rights protection, free legal aid and to strive for social justice.
The orphanages for children underDon BoscoSneha Bhavan Cochi are Sneha Bhavan Annexe, SnehaBhavan, Valsalya Bhavan, Don Bosco and Bosco Nilayam. TheChildline Indiaproject in Cochin is taken in collaboration with Don Bosco. Children in distress and in need of help can contact in '1098' (toll free number).Sneha Bhavan Annexe is the first point of contact with children and children can stay as a safe night shelter.Sneha Bhavan is a home for the children from the streets and for those from unhealthy and risky situations. The Valsalya Bhavan centre is solely for the girls who are rescued from the streets. Runaways, street children, children of sex workers, abused children and child labourers all live here. Along with primary and high school education at a local school, the centre provides shelter, food, clothing and educational support.
There are also people doing independent social services within the city. The Italian Sister Fabiola conducts a home atFort Kochiknown as "Ashwasa Bhavan", for young orphaned children.Br. Judson run his own "Mobile Bath Service" in his vehicle for the abandoned.
Major Malayalam newspapers published in Kochi includeMalayala Manorama,Mathrubhumi,Siraj Daily,Madhyamam,Deshabhimani,Deepika,Kerala Kaumudi,Janmabhumi, etc. Popular English newspapers includeThe Hindu,The New Indian Express,The Times of India,The PioneerandThe Deccan Chronicle. A number of evening papers are also published from the city.Newspapers in other regional languages like Hindi,Kannada, Tamil andTeluguare also available.
A number of financial publications are also published in the city. These includeThe Economic Times,Business Line,The Business StandardandThe Financial Express.
Prominent magazines and religious publications like theSathyadeepam,The WeekandVanithaare also published from the city.
Kochi houses several leading Malayalam television channels likeAsianet Plus,Flowers,Jeevan TV,Mazhavil Manorama,Kairali We,Manorama NewsandReporter TVas well as major news bureaus ofAsianet,Kairali TV,Amrita TVandDoordarshan.Prasar Bharatimaintains its earth station and broadcasting centre in Kakkanad, Kochi. Satellite television services are available throughDD Direct+,Dish TV,Airtel digital TV,Reliance DTH,Sun Direct DTHandTata Sky. FM radio channels broadcast from KochiareRainbow FM(AIR) 101.9 MHz,AIR Kochi102.3 MHz,Club FM 94.3MHz,Radio Mango 91.9MHz,Red FM 93.5MHz,Radio Mirchi104.0 MHz.
Kochi is considered to be the hub of the vibrantMalayalam movieindustry,especially contemporary Malayalam movies. The rise of Kochi to the centre stage of the entertainment industry occurred coinciding with the economic boom of the last couple of decades. Many movies are shot in Kochi every year.Kochi also has a host of state-of-the-art production and post-production facilities.Due to these reasons, major section of film personalities including of actors, technical experts and other related workers reside in Kochi.There are over 50cinema hallsthat screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. The city hosts Kerala's first cine multiplex, at theOberon Mallwith four screens. Gold Souk Grande also has a cine multiplex operated by Q cinemas with four screens.PVRwith 9 screens is another national multiplex brand that has presence in Kochi and is based out ofLuLu International Shopping Mall.Cinepolisat Centre Square Mall with 11 screens is the first international megaplex brand in the state. 16 more multiplex screens are expected in the city in the near future.
The district has the largest number of telephone connections in Kerala.Telephonyservices are provided by various private sector players likeAircel,Airtel,Idea Cellular,Vodafone,Reliance Infocomm,Tata Docomo,Jio,Tata Indicomand the state ownedBSNL. All the private sector telecom companies have their headquarters for Kerala circle located in Kochi.
Like elsewhere in Kerala,footballis arguably the most passionate sport among the locals. In theIndian Super League(ISL),Kerala Blastersrepresents the city as well as the state of Kerala. The Blasters are one of the most widely supported clubs in the country as well as the fifth most followed football club fromAsiain the social media.Kochi was also home to the now defunct football clubsFC KochinandChirag United Kerala. FC Kochin is considered as the first fully professional football club from India.Kochi was one of the six cities to host the2017 FIFA U-17 World Cupheld in India.
India's fourth largest stadium and third largest cricket stadium, theJawaharlal Nehru International Stadiumlocated in Kaloor, is a major facility for football and cricket.Kochi was home to the now defunctIndian Premier Leaguecricket team,Kochi Tuskers Keralawhich won franchise rights to play in the 2011 edition of IPL.
The Maharaja's Stadium located on MG Road in the heart of the city, is the major athletic facility in the state with synthetic tracks and turf grass as per international standards.The Ambedkar stadium, maintained byGCDA, was developed exclusively for football with funds fromGovernment of KeralaandFIFA.Spanish clubReal Madridhas proposed to set up a football school in Kochi.
TheRajiv Gandhi Sports ComplexatKadavanthrais a major indoor stadium, mainly used for conducting badminton, tennis and basketball tournaments. The 25 m X 10 m swimming poolat the centre is one of the larger water sports facility in the state, where regular swimming competitions and coaching are conducted.
The FACT Grounds at Udyogamandal, Sacred Heart's College Grounds, HMT Grounds atKalamasseryand St. Albert's College Grounds are the other major training facilities for various games like volleyball, badminton, cricket etc.
Kochi has twogolf coursesin the city, and one in the suburbs. The oldest golf club is located at Bolgatty Palace constructed in 1903, which is a nine-hole facility run by Cochin Golf Club society.The Cochin Golf and Country Club located near to Cochin Airport, operated by CIAL, is Kerala's first 18-hole golf course with a playing area of over 7,200yards. The first phase of the all-weather golf course comprising nine holes was opened in May 2010 for members and public. The expansion to an 18-hole course is progressing, which is scheduled to be open in September 2012.
Being surrounded by water bodies, the city is ideal forYachting. The Kerala Yachting Association andthe Cochin Yacht Clubare located in the city. Both organisations conduct regular yachting tournaments. Kochi was the only Indian city chosen for stopover during the2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race.
The Southern Naval Command, one of the three main formations of theIndian Navy, has its headquarters in Kochi atINSVenduruthy. It is commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief. The Southern Naval Command consists of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), a training squadron, training establishments and bases, and land forces and survey ships. It has a naval air station and a ship repair yard.
Indian Navy Day is also celebrated here. It is a week-long public event showcasing warships, planes, helicopters, and other naval equipment.
TheCochin ShipyardLimited is the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India.In 2020, it finished building the first indigenousaircraft carrierfor the Indian Navy.
Kochi istwinnedwith: