fort kochi

The Fort of Kochi is a natural harbour and one of the most important trade centres in south of India. Kochi is known as the jewel in the crown of Kerala with its European heritage and true cosmopolitan temperament. In pre-colonial Kerala, Kochi was just an insignificant fishing village. The Maharaja of Kochi granted this territory (now known as Fort Kochi) later to the Portuguese in 1503. The Portuguese built a fort around the waterfront to protect their premises and that is how Fort of Kochi got its name. This fort was called Fort Emmanuel and was later destroyed by Dutch. The Portuguese later built a wooden church in 1516, which is now the oldest existing church in Kerala. It is now known as St. Francis Church. The Portuguese ruled for almost 160 years before the Dutch came and plundered the territory from the Portuguese and ruled Fort Kochi for almost 112 years. Kochi is now known as the "Queen of Arabian Sea". A leisurely walk through the streets is the best way to discover all that the city has to offer, you can visit the natural harbour and historical sites. Fort Kochi is a small community in itself with its natural harbor and being one of the most important trade centers in south of India. The Europeans have left a major impact on the culture and traditional heritage of Kochi. One can see a unique blend of European, Dutch and Portugal lifestyle in fort of Kochi. That is because European, Dutch and Portuguese rulers occupied Kochi for many years due to which Kochi has a modern temperament. The fact that Kochi has managed to retain its traditional background is applaud-able.