Referred
to as "God's Own Country," Cochin, also Kochi, has emerged as
the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. Cochin is also referred
to as the Gateway to Kerala. Located in Kerala, Cochin is one of the
principal sea ports of the country and is perhaps the second most
important city on the west coast of India after Mumbai.
Demographics
As per 2001 census, Kochi had a population of 650,000 with an extended
metropolitan population of over 1.6 million. This makes it the largest
urban agglomeration and the second largest city in Kerala. The
female-to-male ratio is 1024:1000, significantly higher than the
all-India average. Kochi's literacy rate is 94.3%. The female literacy
rate is behind that of males by 1.1%, amongst the lowest such gaps in
India.
How to reach Cochin?
The city has good connectivity with all the southern cities as well as
rest of India.
- Air : The city has its own airport, domestic as
well as international. International flights regularly leave for Abu
Dhabi, Bahrain, Dhahran, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Singapore and
Sharjah from Cochin International Airport.
- Rail : Cochin does not have any intra-city rail
transport system. The inter-city rail transport system in the city
is administered by the Southern Railway division of the Indian
Railways. There are two main railway stations - The Ernakulam
Junction and The Ernakulam Town.
- Road : Public transportation within the city
is largely dependent on private buses. Narrow roads and the mix of
vastly differing types of vehicles have made traffic congestion a
major problem in the city. Intended to considerably ease congestion,
a sky bus service is planned for the city.
Important Tourist Destinations in Cochin
| Backwaters in Cochin |
Bolghatty Palace Green |
Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi |
| Cochin International Airport |
Cochin Port |
Mangalavanam - Mangrove forest |
| Edapally Palace |
Thrikkakara - Temple |
Santa Cruz Basilica |
| Pedestrian Bridge along Marine Drive
|
Education in Cochin
There are large number of schools and colleges in the city either run
by the government or by private trusts and individuals. The Cochin
University is situated in the city. Most of the colleges are affiliated
either with Mahatma Gandhi University or Cochin University. Other
national educational institutes include:
- The Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering
Training.
- The National University of Advanced Legal Studies.
- The National Institute of Oceanography.
- The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.
Economy of Cochin
- Cochin's economy is classified as business economy with emphasis
on the service sector.
- Trading industry is one of the most important industries in
Cochin.
- The city is the headquarter of the Southern Naval Command.
- Kochi is a major destination for IT and ITES companies. It is
ranked by NASSCOM as the second-most attractive city in India for
IT-based services.
- Categorised as "The Queen of the Arabian Sea", Kochi
provides ample scope for sea trading. The Cochin Shipyard in Kochi
is the largest shipbuilding facility in India. The Cochin fishing
harbour is a major fishing port in the state and supplies fish to
local and export markets.
- Eloor, situated 17 km north of the city, is the largest
industrial belt in Kerala, with more than 250 industries
manufacturing a range of products.
- Exports and allied activities are important contributors to the
city's economy.
- Kochi city is a major exporter of spices and is home to the
International Pepper Exchange, where black pepper is globally
traded.
- The Spices Board of India is also headquartered in Kochi.
Major industries in Cochin
- Ship Building
- Handicrafts
- Petrochemical Refining
- Spice Trading
- Gold and Textile Retailing
|
- Information Technology (IT)
- Tourism
- Health Services
- Fishing Industry
- Seafood Exports
|
Corporates in Cochin
- Kochi Refineries Limited
- International Pepper Exchange
- Indian Rare Earths
- Hindustan Machine Tools
- Carborandum Universal
- Hindustan Insecticides
- Forest Industries of Travancore
- Indian Aluminium Company
- Modern Bakeries
- Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited
