Queen of the Arabian Sea

Following are excerpts from an article by Quaied Najmi on the City of Kochi, which was chosen by ‘The Week’ as one of the ‘10 Fun Cities’ of India in its October 26, 2003 issue. 

The very sight of lush green landscape instantly puts one at ease, as the flight starts its descend on Kochi. The city today has become the gateway for tourists to Kerala with a lot to offer for its visitors.

Here modernity brushes shoulder with tradition and Kochi is doing its best to keep pace with the surging tourists that arrive by land, rail, air, chartered boats and cruises.

Aptly termed the Queen of the ‘Arabian Sea’ the cosmopolitan outlook of Kochi is today palpable with its trading community from different parts of India, Jewish settlers and a host of different communities. 

Its history slumbers at may places like the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry, the resting place of Vasco Da Gama at St. Francis Church, the Jew street of Mattancherry, the Hill Palace of the erstwhile royal family of Cochin at Thripunithura and other places.

Take a walk down the Broadway to have a whiff of spicey Kerala, or a stroll along the Marine Drive to catch the glint of the setting sun. Cruise along the backwaters of Kochi, which would take you to nearby islands like Willingdon and Bolghatty where one can experience hospitality, which is a blend of modernity and traditional warmth. 

The city of Kochi seems to be in no hurry….but its visitors are, because there are so many wonderful things to catch up with.

Courtesy: The Week, October 26, 2003