The commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan of the state's cities, Kochi or Ernakulam has long been eulogised in tourist literature as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea.' That simple heckneyed phrase does little justice to the city's charms, which go beyond its stunningly different beauty and long-standing maritime importance. Strategically located on the east-west sea route, Kochi is Kerala's major port, boasting of one of the finest natural harbours in the world which forms the hub around which the city revolves-a fact the world's sea trade seems to have known for long. Today's Kochi is a fascinating blend of these alien influences. This fact is tangibly evident in the city's well-known landmarks-the Chinese fishing nets in the backwaters, Jew Town and the Jewish synagogue in Mattancherry, St. Francis Church and the Dutch Palacein Fort Kochi. All these are suffused over the fabric of Kerala's culture and heritage, providing a tapestry of rich contrasts and surprising similarities. Most of the city's commercial centres and shops are located in the mainland, the town called Ernakulam which also lends its name to the district. The backwaters extend east and south of the harbour and in them can be found tiny island formed naturally over long periods by alluvial deposits from the rivers.

Jewish Synagogue:
Also at Mattancherry is the Jewish Synagogue built in 1568 AD by the prosperous Jewish trading community whose links with Kerala begin in Kodungallor (Cranganore) in the north of the state. (Timings: 10 AM to 12 Noon and 3 PM to 5 PM. closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays) This is the oldest synagogue in India. It was partially destroyed in the war of 1662 and was rebuilt by the Dutch. In the mid-18th century the clock tower was added and the floors paved with exquisite hand-painted blue willow tiles from China. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. The interior offers more beautiful surprises: a Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, and the copper plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Kochi rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. There are also five finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons. The rabbi will normally give visitors a full account of the synagogue and the history of the Jews in Kerala. Although this ancient community of Kochi has now dwindled to a few families, strong elements of their culture and tradition as well as the Hebrew language remain in Jew Town, which is what the area surrounding the Mattancherry Synagogue has come to be called. The by-lanes that wind around Jew Town offer charming sights of houses built in Dutch, Portuguese and British styles. 

St. Francis church: 
Fort Kochi is the site of the St. Francis church which was built in 1510 by five Portuguese priests who arrived with Albuquerque. This church, said to be the oldest European church built in India, was the original burial site for Vasco da Gama in 1524 (Fourteen years later his mortal remains were exhumed and sent to Lisbon, Portugal.) Later the church was successively taken over by the Dutch in 1633, the British (when it became the Anglican Church) and, finally, the Church of South India. Telling this hoary history are gravestones inside the church as sell as an 18th century register of marriages and baptisms.

Santa Cruz Cathedral:
Also in Fort Kochi is the Santa Cruz Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church close to the St. Francis Church, also built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1795 it fell into the hands of the British when they took over Kochi, and was demolished. About a hundred years later Bishop Dom Gomez Ferreira commissioned a new building at the same site in 1887. The church was proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II. It is said to have suffered severe damage when the British fought with the Dutch to take control of Kochi. Its attractions include some beautiful paintings and a decorative ceiling. 

Kochi Shipyard: 
The biggest ship building yard in India, the Kochi shipyard is situated in the southern part of Ernakulam on the way to Willington Island. Set up with Japanese collaboration, this shipyard has a building dock for ships up to 85,000 DWT and a repair dock that can accommodate ships up to 1,00,000 DWT. Motilal Nehru, the first oil tanker made in India, was built here.

Vasco House: 
Believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama, this is one of the oldest Portuguese residences in Fort Kochi. Built in the early sixteenth century. Vasco House sports the typical European glass paned windows and balcony cum verandahs characteristic of the times.
 
Chendamangalam: 
This is a rare geographical combination of three rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and vast expanses of green plains. The Paliam Palace, abode of the Paliath Achans, hereditary Prime Ministers to the erstwhile Maharajas of Kochi, represents the architectural splendour of Kerala. The Palace houses a collection of historic documents and relics. The hillocks at Kottayil Kovilakom presents the unusual sight of a temple, a church, a mosque and the remains of a Jewish synagogue, all situated next to each other. Also interesting is a visit to the remains of the Vypeenkotta Seminary built in the 16th century by the Portuguese.

Malayatoor: 
Malayatoor is famous for the Catholic Church on the 609 m high Malayatoor hill. Thousands of devotees undertake the piligrimage to the shrine to participate in the annual festival Malayatoor Perunnal (March/April). 

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary: 
Kerala's first bird sanctuary, Thattekad is made up of moist deciduous forest on 25 Sq. Km. of peninsular land formed between the branches of Periyar River in Malayattoor Forest Division. This sanctuary, nestled in evergreen forests, was discovered by the renowned ornithologist of India, Dr. Salim Ali and is named after him. The sanctuary is notable for indigenous birds like the Malabar grey-hornhill, the woodpecker, rose-ringed and blue-winged parakeet etc. Rare birds like the Ceylon frog-moth and the Rose-billed roller are also seen here. Diverse migrant species home in here during season. Wildlife can also be sighted often.Season : September to March. 

Bhoothathankettu: 
A picturesque have situated in a vast virgin forest, this mythologically popular picnic spot lies close to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at