Cochin is the second largest city of Kerala state of south India. Known as Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin (former name of Kochi) is part of District Earnakulam, time and again Kochi is referred as Earnakulam. Graded B-1 by Indian government Kochi is second largest city of Kerala after Thiruvananthapuram the capital. In olden days Kochi was a famous spice trading center located on Arabian Sea. It was the first European colony of India, taken over by Portuguese in the year 1503. Presently Kochi is the headquarters of Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. It also hosts the Indian Coast Guards Air Squadron 747. It is the Head Quarters of Port of Kochi the maritime related facility. The Kochi Shipyard and Kochi Refineries are located here. Many chemical industries are present in Kochi as FACT, TCC, IREL, HOCL etc. Special industrial zones like Kochi Special Economic Zone and Info park for IT companies.
Kochi has a typical tropical monsoon climate, its temperature has a small range from 23 degrees to 31 degrees only. It has heavy rains from south west monsoon clouds as it lies in the windward side of Western Ghats. It receives fewer rains from North East monsoon as it lies on the leeward side. The total annual rainfall of Kochi is 3200 mm.
Kochi hosts the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in the center of city. A wide range of mangrove type are found here and it reproduction home to many migrant birds. Now Kochi is generally referred to as a trade hub of Kerala. It has the only Stock Exchange of Kerala, Fresh water; Power, Long Shoreline, Backwaters, Good Banking services, convenience to main port, container trans-shipment terminal, port terminal, and an international Air Terminal are some of the factors which accelerated the industrial growth in the city. Kochi port is one of the leading ports where International Cursers call on regularly. Kochi Marina attracts large number of yatch totters.
Real estate is also one business which is rising fast in cochi. Exports and related activities are also the contributors to the citys economy. The IT and linked industries are rising up in Kochi.
Kochi is well linked with rest of nation and globally by air from its International airport at Nedumbassery. It is major airport in state of Kerala, fourth busiest international airport in India in terms of international passengers and seventh busiest airport in general. By roads Kochi is connected to all the neighboring cities and states. Primary local transport is provided by private operators. Private Taxis and Auto rickshaws are available for hire all the times. Railways have a very busy section at Kochi. Trains run from Kochi to all the major stations in the country. A bullet train service is being probed on Chennai-Bangalore and Coimbatore-Ernakulum route, also Kochi metro is awaiting central approval.
