Introduction
Kerala, the blessed land, owes its richness to the very soil and climate. Often referred to as the land that reaps gold suggesting its fertility, is mainly due to the rich pepper cultivation. Other aromatic spices too have opened avenues for Kerala in the global market. The dense forests, mountain ranges, the valleys, plains and the coastal areas are the gifts of nature to this land. Besides these the backwaters, different types of soil and appropriate climate for cultivation are significant from the geographical point of view. Bestowed with fascinating landscapes, enchanting greenery and natural resources Kerala undoubtedly is God’s Own Country.

Territory
Kerala State lies between 8018' and 12048' North Latitude and between 74052' and 77024' East Latitude. It has a total area of 15,002 sq.miles (38,855 sq.km) and a Coastline, which is nearly 360 miles long. The land of Kerala comprises the narrow coastal strip bounded by the Western Ghats on the East and the Arabian Sea on the West in the southern part of the Indian peninsula. Kerala shares its border with Karnataka in the North and Tamilnadu in the East. The territory of the state may be broadly divided into three natural divisions, viz., the highland, the midland and the lowland. The Western Ghats, which range along the eastern border, constitute the highland. The low land stretches along the coastal plain on the western side of the state. Sand-witched between the lowland and the highland is the midland.

Coast
Kerala has a Coastline, which is nearly 560 Kms long. Diverting from the usual set direction, a little to the west, is a peculiarity of the Kerala coast. Close to the Coastline are visible rocks and low hills. These range from 3-29 metres in height. The bottom of the sea contains Laterite layers.The sea has been a permanent and decisive factor in the history of Kerala. It has invested the state with a maritime tradition of its own. The extensive Seacoast has attracted foreign traders from Europe and Asia from very early days. The isolation to which Kerala was subjected to by the Western Ghats lying on its eastern borders was more than compensated by the extensive foreign contacts facilitated by its long sea coast on the west.

High Land
Around 56% of the total land area of Kerala is constituted by HighLand. The inter state contacts are facilitated by gaps or passes in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats include high hills like Nilgiris, Anamala and Pazhanimala and the less elevated Varshanad and Aandippatti ranges. The Western Ghats present their highest elevation in Anamudi in Munnar area, which is the highest peak in Kerala (around 2,817 meters) and the second highest in India. The mountain peaks in the north end of Kerala extend up to Vaval Hills. It again extends a little towards north and then to south to end at Vadamala, north of Palakkad mountain pass. The hills extended to the south of Palakkad pass reach the maximum height at Anamala. The mountains in the highrange area to the south of Anamala take the form of an Amphi Theatre.Palakkad pass is about 20 miles broad and connects Kerala with Tamilnadu. Another important pass in the Ghats is the Arayankavu pass, which provides easy access by road and rail from Kollam to Chengotta in Tamilnadu. Kambam pass in the east of Kumali also connects Kerala with Tamilnadu. The most extensive area in Southern India is Wynad, an elevated and exceedingly picturesque mountain plateau. The average height of the plateau is around 900-950 metres above the sea level. The regions bordering North Wynad, which forms the southeastern portion of the Cannanore district and is a continuation of Mysore plateau run into a chain of low hills of easy slopes. The Nilgiri Kunda range is on the eastern side of the South Wynad Taluk. A part of the western mountain range stretches through the Thodupuzha Taluk to Aluva in the West. Further west these hills turn plateaus.The Western Ghats have prevented large-scale incursions into Kerala by aggressive powers from beyond as a natural wall of protection.

Low Land
The land area 4-6 metres above sea level are generally regarded as low land. It stretches along the coastal plain on the western side of the state. Between the backwaters and the sea it is a narrow and long stretch of sand. It is low and generally swampy. The coconut tree grows abundantly in this area and dominates the landscape. Several parts of low land are liable to be flooded during monsoon inundations. The area receives drainage of numerous streams descending from the Ghats.

Mid Land
The land area around 300-600metres above sea level is generally termed as the midland. The hills of the Western Ghats stretch westwards in gentler slopes and gradually widening valleys. It is broken here and there by isolated low hills. The plains succeed the forested uplands. Intersected by numerous rivers and streams, dotted elsewhere with homesteads or farms, the plains stretch in a succession of gentle undulation towards a line of backwaters in the coast. The region is rich in agricultural produce with paddy, tapioca, spices and cashew being the important crops. Extensive tea and cardamom plantations are found in the higher elevations while pepper, rubber, ginger and turmeric flourish in the lower elevations. An important aspect is that in this region the soil is Laterite.

Mountains and Hills
Numerous elevated mountains are visible in the north of Kerala from Coorg Hills to the Wynad plateau. The Nilgiri-Kunda range in the east is having an average height of about 1825 metres. This takes the form of cliffs at Vadamala. Mountain ranges with about 1225-1525 metres height are seen at Thenmala which is a continuation of Anamala.The important mountains in Wynad plateau are Baanasuramala and Brahmagiri. Tirunnelli is the valley in between these mountains. The mountain passes in this area connects Kerala with Karnataka. The Mananthavadi-Mysore route passes through the Periyaghat pass in this range. From the mountains in the Wynad plateau gently slope dense forests which include the Kottiyoor and Kannoth reserved forests. Kanakamala, a part of the Western Ghats is 16 Kms away from the shores of Thalassery . Vavalmala in Eranadu taluk is the highest peak in the area with a height of 2339 metres. The well-known hills in Palghat district are Ananginadu, Karimala, and Paadagiri. Towards Thrissur the western mountains stand to lose in height.Mountain ranges and plateaus of great height are the highlights of Idukki district. The highest elevation in this area is presented by Anamudi (2817 metres). Beyond the Peerumedu plains the Western Ghats seem to descent in height. The hills extended towards west, as a continuation of the eastern mountain ranges is visible in the landscape structure of southern Kerala

About cochin city
Location: Southern Asia in India
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Weather: Cochin IN Weather Forecast
Population: NA
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Cochin town and major port on the Arabian Sea, west-central Kerala state, southwestern India. Also the name of a former princely state, "Cochin" is sometimes used today to refer to a cluster of islands and towns, including Ernakulam, Mattancheri, Fort Cochin, Willingdon Island, Vypin Island, and Gundu Island. The urban agglomeration includes the localities of Trikkakara, Eloor, Kalamassery, and Trippunithura.Cochin was an insignificant fishing village until the backwaters of the Arabian Sea and the streams descending from the Ghats caused the separation of the village from the mainland, turning the landlocked harbour into one of the safest ports on India's southwestern coast. The port assumed a new strategic importance and began to experience commercial prosperity. When the Portuguese penetrated the Indian Ocean in the late 15th century and reached India's southwestern coast, the Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral founded the first European settlement on Indian soil at Cochin in 1500. Vasco da Gama, discoverer of the sea route to India, established the first Portuguese factory (trading station) there in 1502, and the Portuguese viceroy Afonso de Albuquerque built the first European fort in India there in 1503. The city remained a Portuguese possession until it was conquered by the Dutch in 1663. Much Portuguese architecture still exists in the city.

RESTAURANT
FOUR FOODS-THE TRANVANCORE RESTAURANT Opp. PIONEER TOWERS, SHANMUGHAM ROAD, COCHIN-351026. PHONE:351026.
LA PIZZERIA - THE REAL ITALIAN TASTE S-5 GCDA SHOPPING COMPLEX, MARINE DRIVE, COCHIN-31. PHONE:371331.
PANDHAL RESTAURANT -Casino Group Of Hotels. M.G.ROAD ,COCHIN-682011. PHONE:367759,380561
CHIC INN- FASTFOOD AND ICE CREAMS PIONEER TOWERS, MARINE DRIVE, COCHIN-31. PHONE: 360232.
Bharat Hotel: the complete veg restaurtant!( both northindian and south indian cuisine.) P.B no.2354,Gandhi Square, DurbarHallGround, Cochin - 682016. Ph: (0484) 353501.

Accommodation
Avenue Regent - catering to the needs of the business traveller and the pleasure seeking tourist alike.
Hotel Abad Plaza - offering formal to casual dining options.
Hotel Fort Heritage - features a 17th century Dutch palace converted into ten rooms with dinner and barbeque services.
Hotel Presidency - suites and rooms with modern amenities.
International Hotel - information on facilities, restaurants, and reservations. Metropolitan - with a restaurant, cafe, and bar. Renaissance Cochin - amenities include banquets, conference hall, health and beauty clubs and spacious rooms and suits.
Riviera Suites - provides reservation and service information.
Sealord Hotel - offers conference and banquet facilities and service, along with daily laundry service, currency exchange counter, doctor on call, and other modern amenities.
Surya Hotel - facilities include a multicuisine restaurant and business centre with internet access.
Taj Malabar - on the waterfront.

Places to visit in Fort Cochin

Chinese Fishing Nets / Vasco Da Gama Square
A vivid legency of one of the earliest people to call on the Malabar Coast, these nets are unmistakable as one enters the harbour. Records show that they were first erected between A.D 1350 and 1450. Constructed out of Teak wood and poles, they work on the principle of balance. A net is usually owned by 5 to 10 people who may let it out. The sight of catch being brought in and the nets being lowered back into the sea, is one not to be missed. The best place to watch is from Vasco Da Gama Square, a narrow promenade that parallels the beach with little stalls that serve fresh seafood, tender coconuts and so on.

Pierce Leslie Bungalow
Price Leslie & Co. was founded in 1862. The magnificient bungalow of this trading house of coffee merchants stand at the head of Tower Street. It reflects Portuguese, and Dutch and local influence, and exemplifies the Fort Cochin colonial bungalow. Characterised by wood panelling that forms the roof of the ground floor, arched doorways with carved door and huge rooms, its wide verandahs afford a spectacular view of the waterfront and the street below. .

Old Harbour House
Built in 1808 and once used as a boat club, this elegant bungalow now belongs to Carrit Moran & Co. a vintage tea broking firm that initially had it'.% offices the ground but n "W Use, it entirely as . residence,

Koder House
This imposing building with its red colored brick-like facade, represents the transition from the colonial to the Indo-European period. It was built in 1808 by Samuel S. Koder of The Cochin Electric Company. Unique features include verandah seats at the entrance, interior floor tiles set in a chessboard pattern, a collection of wood carved furniture and a quaint wooden bridge running parallel over Rose Lane onto a seperate structure ISH across the street. The house is at present occupied by the family of Mr. Satu Koder, regarded as the patriarch of Cochin's ancient Jewish community.

Delta Study
Built in 1808, this structure later became part of the Volkart property. The large courtyard stretching out from its main block was once used as a warehouse. An example of a heritage building sensitively adapted for modern day usage, Delta Study today functions as a high school.

Santa Cruz Basilica
Built by the Portuguese, the church was elevated to a Cathedral by the Pope Paul IV in 1558. Spared by the Dutch conquerors of Cochin who destroyed many Catholic buildings in 1663, it later fell into the hands of the British who demolished it when they took over Cochin in 1795. For almost a 100 years there was no church on the site, until the Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul 11 in 1934.

Loafer's Corner / Princess Street
The aptly named Loafer's Corner, a traditional hangout for the neighbourhood's lively souls, affords a wonderful view of Princess Street one of the earliest streets laid out in Fort Cochin. It still retains it's olde worlde charm with it's European style living quarters and the houses along its sides abutting into each other.

Vasco House
Along Rose Street stands Vasco House, one of the oldest Portuguese houses in Fort Cochin built in the first half of the 16th century. Though never fully authenticated, it is believed to have been the residence of Vasco Da Gama. The straight lines of the balcony- cum- verandah with a series of typical European glass paned windows, are typical of the area's architecture.

VOC Gate
Past Vasco House and facing the Parade Ground is a large wooden gate with the initials VCO carved onto it representing the monogram of the once mighty Dutch East India Company which had its offices here for almost 150 years. The inscription also indicates that it was built in the year 1740.

Parade Ground
Covering more than four acres, the Parade Ground was used during the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British 'colonial periods predominantly for conducting military drills and parades. Some of the fine old buildings that surround the ground housed the defence establishments of these powers. Today it is the largest open green iii Fort Cochin, serving as a sports ground where Cricket, Hockey, Football and other improvised games are played.

United Club
This is one of the four clubs of the British period registered in Fort Cochin. Until 1907, this building housed the offices of the Fort Cochin Municipality. It is presently used as a classroom for the nearby St. Francis Primary School, during the day; and in the evenings, for card playing by its present members.

Bishop's House
Standing on a gentle hillock near the Parade Ground, the Bishop's House has a circular garden path running up to to the main entrance whose front is characterised by large Gothic arches. Originally built in 1506 as the residence of the Portuguese Governador on the site of the Groningen Bastion of the old Dutch fort, the Dutch occupied it in 1663. At the conquest of Cochin by the British in 1795, it came into the posession of the Vernedes family, from whom it was acquired by Dom Jos Gomes Ferreira, the 27th Bishop of the Diocese of Cochin, whose Jurisdiction ran over Burma, Malaya and Ceylon, in addition to the whole of southern and eastern India.

Remains Fort Immanuel
Built in 1503, Fort Immanuel was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Rajah (ruler) of Cochin, who gave permission for it's construction, and the Monarch of Portugal after whom it was named. The fortress was subsequently strengthened in 1538. After the Dutch conquest of 1663 it was diminished to a third of its original proportions. Later, the British brought down the walls and most of the bastions of the fort in 1806. Its remains can still he traced along the beach.

The Dutch Cemetory
Consecrated in 1724 and now managed by the Church of South India the inscriptions found here are some of the most authentic reminders of the countless men and women who left their European houses behind to play our their roles on the colonial canvas of 17th, 18th and 19th century Fort Cochin.

Thakur House
This magnificient bungalow was built on the site of the sea facing Gelderland Bastion, one of the seven bastions of the old Dutch fort. With graceful lines that reflect the leisurely lifestyle of the colonial era, this building was earlier known as Kunal or Hill Bungalow. It later became the NBI House, accomodating the managers of the National Bank of India during the British period. Today this house is used for residential purposes by the well known tea trading firm of Ram Bahadur Thakur Company.

David Hall
Built towards 1695 by the Dutch East Indian Company, this house is associated with Hendrik Adriaan van Reed lot Drakestein, the renowned Dutch commander of the day, today more remembered for his outstanding contribution, the Hortus Malabaricus, a pioneering compilation on the botanical life along the Malabar coast. Deriving its current name from one of its later residents, David Koder, a businessman and a member of the old Jewish community, David Hall is now maintained by the foundation for the Cultural history of the Netherlands Overseas (CNO), India.

Cochin Club
Set in a beautifully landscaped park, the Cochin Club dates from the early 1900s. Once restricted to the British and men only, the club today is more liberal. With current membership of about 250, it still exudes the aura of a traditional English club, though oddly enough alcohol is not served on the premises. Found inside are an impressive library and an assemblage of sporting trophies from yesteryears St.

Francis Church
Considered India's oldest church, St. Francis was originally Roman Catholi during the Portuguese period from 1503 to 1663, Dutch Reform from 1664 to 1804, and Anglican from 1304 to 1947. Today it is governed by the Church of South India. The building was originally constructed out of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry during the 16th century. Vasco Da Gama who died in Cochin in 1524 was buried here before his remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later.

Bastion Bungalow
Located on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the old Dutch fort, the bungalow fuses beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion. Planned way back in 1667, it is Indo- European in style, sporting a tiled roof and a typical first floor verandah in wood running along its front. Though there are innumerable tales of a network of secret tunnels beneath the house, none have ever been substantiated. Today it serves as the official residence of the Sub Collector.