Kerala and Ft. Kochi Geography

With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and networked by forty-four rivers, Kerala enjoys diverse geographical features. Kerala is divided into three geographical regions: Highlands, which slope down from the Western Ghats onto the midlands of undulating hills and valleys into an unbroken coastline with many picturesque backwaters, interconnected with canals and rivers. The Western Ghats are no more than 120 kms from the sea.

Bestowed with a pleasant and equable climate throughout the year, Kerala is a tropical land with the coast running down its entire length and the Western Ghats forming a protective barrier against the dry winds from up north. The monsoons (June-September & October-November) and summer (February-May) are the seasons markedly experienced here, while winter is only a slight drop in temperature from the normal range of 28-32°C (82-90°F).

Ft. Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India, in the southern part of Kerala. The city lies at the sea mouth of seven major rivers which start from the Western Ghats and travel through Kerala’s midlands, lowlands, and coastal areas, to drain out into the Arabian sea. Most of the islands of Kochi are very small, varying in extent from 4 square miles (10km²) to less than a square mile.

Cochin Culture

Sitting in the middle of the primary east-west spice trade route between Asia, Africa, and Europe, Kochi’s culture was enriched by successive waves of migration over several millennia. The city once had a large Jewish community known as the Malabar Yehuden, and now as Cochin Jews. A large Syrian Orthodox Christian community was prevalent in Kochi for a long time, and later replaced by Roman Catholicism when the Portuguese arrived in the 17th centurty. Today, Kochi has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting of Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Konkanis, and Buddhists, among other renomations. The population represents a mix of people from all parts of Kerala and most of India.

In keeping with its multi-ethnic diaspora, Kochi celebrates traditional Kerala festivals like Onam and Vishu, along with North Indian festivals like Holi and Diwali with great fervour. Christian and Islamic festivals such as Christmas, Easter, Eid ul-Fitr, Milad-e-sherif, and others are also celebrated.

Children making traditional pookkalam during the Hindu festival Onam

Although not as widely celebrated as in Northern India, Holi is still a festival of color in Kochi

Christmas decorations for sale in Kochi

Fort Kochi History

Kerala’s history is closely linked with its commerce, which until recent times revolved around its spice trade. Celebrated as the Spice Coast of India, ancient Kerala played host to travellers and traders from across the world including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British. Almost all of them have left their imprint on this land in some form or the other – architecture, cuisine, literature.

Arabian and Chinese traders sources spices, especially pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and sandlewood, from the Kochi region. Cultivation and trade of these valuable goods shaped the history of the region. The Arabian traders were the first to know about these spices, and they carried the highly desirable merchandize to Europe. Centuries later, they were followed by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British. Kochi was the epicenter of Indian spice trade route for centuries, earning this significant position on the world trading map after the port at Kodungallur (Cranganore) was destroyed by massive flooding of the river Periyar in 1341.

The earliest documented references to Kochi occur in the books written by Chinese voyager Ma Huan, during his visit to Kochi in the 15th century as part of the treasure fleet of Admiral Zheng He. There are also references to Kochi in accounts written by Italiand traveller Niccolo Da Conti, who visited Kochi in 1440.

The territory eventually became known as Fort Kochi, after it was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi, after the forces of Afonso de Albuquerque helped him fighting the forces of Saamoothiri of Kozhikode. The Rajah gave them permission to build Fort Emmanuel near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name “Fort Kochi” comes from this fort, which the Dutch later destroyed. The Portuguese built their settlement behind the fort, including a wooden church, which was rebuilt in 1516 as the permanent structure known today as St. Francis Church.

Fort Kochi remained in Portugese possession for 160 years. In 1683, the Dutch captured the territory from the Portuguese, destroying many Portuguese institutions, including the Catholic convents. The Dutch held Fort Kochi in their possession for 112 years until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch. Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947, with the Indian independence.

Today, Kochi is the commercial hub of Kerala, and one of the fastest growning second-tier metros in India.