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| About Kochi |
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| Kochi is stated as the most vibrant city of Kerala, where you can witness old culture blending with the new hip-hop culture. Though it took many years to discover the true potential of Kochi, it is now one of the fastest growing cities in India. With literally three IT parks located in close proximity to each other, and one more coming up; one can easily judge how much potential this city has in terms of business as well as employment. The Rs. 1.5 billion Smart City project and the Vallarpadam container terminal project will for sure take the name of Kochi to the world. With such bright future ahead, who knows, it might not be far when Kochi will give Mumbai a run for its money to claim the title of being stated the commercial capital of India |
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| Kochi is often referred to as the gateway to the God’s own Country, Kerala. In other words, Kochi is stated as the starting point for your Kerala exploration journey. Most of the famous tourist places in Kerala, are in Kochi or are in close proximity to the city of Kochi.The historic remains of the once bustling trade; the bubbly and day-by-day growing commercial and industrial activity and the gateway to relax in nature – Kochi is a ‘mini-metro,’ fast growing to catch up with the Indian metropolitans. Located in the southwest coast of India, in Kerala, Kochi is made up of a cluster of islands and the main land. Commercial as well as industrial and tourism activities makes Kochi remain as the city of focal attention. Multiple mega projects puts Kochi in the top chart as leading center of trade in Indian and International map. Kochi’s international trade connections since centuries, attracts people from across the country and the borders to settle in the city. Due to this reason, Kochi is the epicenter of multi-cultural festivals and celebrations. The economic and the employment boom in the recent years have further increased the population flow towards Kochi. Information Technology and diverse industries has had a major role in this trend. |
People and Culture
Referred to as Keralites or Malayalees, most people of Kerala can speak, read or write more than one language. Women’s traditional attire is Neriyathu (white dhothi with a cloth draped over the shoulder along with a blouse). Nowadays, to witness a woman wearing such a dress, you have to wait for an occasion like Onam or Vishu! With people from across India and handful of foreigners residing in Kochi, it is common to find multi-codes in dressing style too. Multi-languauges too have a place, with several families of Gujarati, Jew etc origin have made Kochi their home. Marriage is a sacred and important institution for social and emotional reasons. |
Real Estate in Kochi
Shortages of space have led the real estate to witness vertical growth. Skyscrapers are now a part of Kochi. Against the previous concept, people are cheerfully moving to apartments, leaving their ages-old concept of an independent house or bungalow. The close proximity to shopping centers, schools, colleges and educational institutions further add to Kochi’s real estate value. People are also moving to city outskirts, for building their abode. |
Shopping in Kochi
Shopping in Kochi is a delight for both domestic and international tourists. Kochi is home to both local and international brands. The heart of shopping lies in and around M.G Road, where you can shop for appliances, clothes, antiques, handicrafts, jewellery – gold and diamonds, spices and paintings. Broadway is for buying clothes, books, craft accessories and spices. In the Marine Drive area, you can shop for clothes, jewellery, perfumes, watches, bags, music CD’s etc. A number of duty free shops are located here. The latest fad and addition to the shopping delight is Oberon Mall while Gold Souk is in the pipeline. |
Kerala Cuisine
Kerala Cuisine is popular the world over. Yet, the delight lies in tasting the perfect Kerala cuisine from its homeland. The perfect combination of vegetables, meat and seafood along with spices and coconuts helps achieve the delectable taste for the foods.Curries are dishes in gravy form. Those in dried form mainly include “Thoran (dried form of vegetables with coconut)” and “Mezhukkupuratty (sauted vegetables without coconut)”. Fish and meat are cooked and consumed in both dry and gravy form. Popular breakfast items in Kerala cuisine include appam (white spongy pancake), idli (round-shaped rice flour cake), dosa (tawa-made rice flour cake), masala dosa (tawa-made rice flour cake with vegetables stuffed inside), puttu (steamed rice/wheat flour-coconut) and kappa (Tapioca). Lunch is thali meals (served on a plate or banana leaves). A Thali meal contains rice, a number of dishes (sambhar, avail, rasam, dhal, fish curry, thoren, kaalan, pachadi and a sweet dessert like payasam) and one or two chappathis (roti). |
Ayurveda & Siddha
Ayurveda prevents body ailments and cures diseases. The system follows the principle of treating a patient depending on body’s constituency – vata, pitta and kapha. Ayurveda is the best health rejuvenation programme to refresh body, eliminate toxic disparities and experience good health. Though treatments and rejuvenation programmes can be taken round the year, monsoons are the best time to rejuvenate body with medicinal plants, herbal oils. Siddha’s beginning roots back to several centuries ago. The medicine has constituents like herbs, metals, minerals and organic matters. |
| Industries and Projects in Kochi |
Cochin Shipyard
A Government of India owned company, established in 1972 is the only shipyard in India, which can build and repair the largest ships in India. Apart from this, they also build and repair tankers, bulk carriers, port crafts and passenger vessels. Cochin Shipyard also provides training to engineers. |
Cochin Port Trust
Located midway on the international trade corridor that connects Europe, Middle East and the Pacific Rim, 9001:2000 accredited Cochin Port Trust is a preferred stopover point for international tourists and also for export. The natural harbor witnesses the ever growing demand of export products. Volvo Ocean Race’s first Asian stop over was at Cochin Port Trust in Willingdon Island in December 2008. Vallarpadam International container transshipment terminal is Port Trust’s upcoming initiatives, to tap the large cargo movement. India’s longest rail bridge, 4.62 km long is also coming up to connect Vallarpadam island with the main land. |
BPCL - Kochi Refinery
Formerly Cochin Refineries Ltd., Kochi Refinery, started in 1966 is now a unit of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limitation. The company currently has production capacity of 7.5 Million Metric Tonnes per Annum. Kochi Refinery has multiple accreditations including ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems, ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System accredited company and ISO 17025 certification from National Accreditation Board for testing & Calibration of Laboratories. The company is scheduled to complete Capacity Expansion cum Modernisation Project (Phase-II) in December 2009 and the project aims to enhance the refining capacity to 9.5 MMTPA as well as produce auto-fuels with Euro-III specifications. |
Oceanarium
India’s first oceanarium, a Rs.300-crore project will be set at 40 acres in Puthuvypeen in Kochi. The oceanarium, a simulated ocean with a 300m acrylic tunnel will contain all the living organisms found in the water body. The project will attract tourists and researchers alike. Oceanarium’s construction will start in November 2009 and the project will be complete by November 2010. A marine biological research center is also being planned to help researcher study marine life at a closer level. A convention center, an amphitheatre, a musical fountain, and a food court will also be a part of the project. |
HDIL Cyber City
Kochi’s 4000 Crore project, HDIL Cyber City is proposed to come up in 70 acres of land at Kalamassery. Once implemented, HDIL Cyber City will be become Kerala’s first integrated IT township. The project will have IT/ITES organizations, residential apartments, villas, schools, shopping malls, multiplex, clubhouse, service apartments and a star hotel and is expected to generate 60,000 high-salaried jobs. |
Infopark
Located at Kakkanad, Infopark is one of the major IT parks in India since inception in 2004. Infopark is home to IT majors including Wipro and Tata consultancy services. |
Cochin International Airport
Located at Nedumbassery, 30 kilometers off Kochi city, seventy flights operate from the airport everyday. These flights connect Kochi with major cities across India and international cities including Dubai, Chicago, Singapore etc. |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
An international stadium at Kaloor, built in 1996, the stadium can hold upto 75,000 people. Said to be the fifth largest stadium in India, the stadium takes prides in being host to several international cricket and football matches. The stadium premises also are a venue for exhibition, mega gatherings of film events or political rallies. |
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