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The commercial capital of Kerala
and the most cosmopolitan. Located strategically on the east-west
route, it is also Kerala's major port. Centuries ago, traders and
sea farers from the Middle east, Persia, China, Portugal and Holland
visited Kochi to trade in spices, rubber, coir and seafood. Most of
the city's commercial centres and shops are located in the mainland,
the town called Ernakulam, which also lends it's name to the
district. Tiny islands can be found in the backwaters that extend
east and south of the harbour. Among these are Vypeen, Ramanathuruth,
Vallarpadam, Bolghatty and Gundu.Cochin is the first district in
India to obtain one hundred percent literacy.
Fort Kochi is the site of the St.Francis Church, built in
1510 by five Portugese priests who arrived with Albuquerque. Said to
be the oldest European Church in India, it was the original burial
site of Vasco-Da-Gama.The Clock on this Church was erected in the
year 1923 in memory of HAL HARRISON JONES, a former managing
director of Aspinwal. A few memorial brass plates and marble slabs
were erected in the memories of very important persons who had
contributed their own lives to this Church and the Society. The
present furniture were installed when it was under the Anglican
order of worship. Now the Church is owned by the Church of South
India (CSI).
"Sree Rajeswari Temple the unique character of this renowned
temple is that the Goddess is worshipped as saraswati in the
morning, Bhadrakali at noon and Dugra in the evening. This temple
having the reputation as a place of redemption from evil spirits,
has a temple pond known as Rakthakulam, a dip in which is believed
to remove the evil spirits from possessed individuals. |
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Ernakulam Facts |
Top |
| Area:
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87.341 sq.kms. |
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Comprising
of mainland Ernakulam, Old Cochin, including Mattancherry,
Fort Kochi, Palluruthy, and Thoppumpady, Willingdon Island,
the suburbs of Edappally and the exurbia of
Kalamassery,Thrikkakara and Kakkanad to the northeast, and
Tripunithura to the southeast. |
| Population:
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16.6 lakhs, Greater Cochin
(1991 census) |
| Location: |
Latitude, 9 degree 15 E,
The city lies between 'Itripunithura, the seat of the
eastwhile royalty to its southeast and the Eloor-Kalamassery
industrial belt to its north. To the west lies is the
Arabian sea. |
| Language:
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Malayalam, the youngest in
the Dravidian family. It is the official language of the
State of Kerala.English is widely used in business circles. |
| Religion:
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Hindus account for the
largest comrnunity followed by Christians and Muslims.
Cochin has also a small population of Jains, Jews, and
Sikhs. |
| Altitude:
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Sea level. |
| Climate: |
The warm tropical climate
recommends light cotton clothes, waterproofing is essential
during monsoons. |
| Water: |
Drink only bottled mineral
water. Drink boiled water, particularly during the monsoons. |
| Electricity: |
220 volts. You'll require
plug adapters. |
| Radio: |
Cochin FM 102.3 MHz.
(Timings: 1658 hrs to 300 hrs (all days) |
| Banking Hours:
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(Week days) 10 am -2 pm;
(Sat) 10 am- 12 noon.
Some banks have evening counters.
Banks remain closed on Sundays (with a few exceptions), and
specified bank holidays .
Certain banks also provide 24- hour ATM service. |
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