Kochi,
set on a cluster of islands and peninsulas, is close
to Ernakulam, a modern bustling town on the mainland,
which is a commercial hub for merchants dealing in cashew
nuts, coir, seafood, timber, tea, coffee, rubber and
spices. This trade is what gives Kerala the appellation
'the spice coast'. The city of Kochi has the oldest
church in India along with a 16th century synagogue,
testimony to the land's diversity, besides 500-year-old
Portuguese houses. The place of origin of the exotic
Kathakali dance-drama, the older parts of Kochi is a
quaint blend of medieval Portugal and Holland, and an
old English country village.
Kochi also offers luxury hotels and conferencing facilities
of international standards, a mixture of the ancient
and modern which should make any time spent here a truly
memorable experience.
