Located on the coast of the Arabian sea, Ernakulam district is a cluster of islands networked by lagoons and backwaters. Kochi, one of the finest natural harbours in the world, was once a major centre of commerce and trade with the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and the British. The commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Kochi is also known as the queen of the Arabian Sea.

Once a major centre of commerce and trade with the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and the British, all these foreign traders have left their mark on this beautiful island. Half the fun of visiting Kochi is moving around on the local ferries. A conducted cruise through the winding waterways will take you to several quaint spots.

Willingdon Island (Backwater) : Named after Lord Willingdon, a British Viceroy to India, this man-made island is surrounded by beautiful backwaters. The island is the site of the city's best hotels, customs and trading centres, the port trust and the headquarters of the southern naval command.

Fort Kochi : Fort Kochi is inhabited by Anglo-Indian community. The whole of the region presents a different aura and ambience. The culture is quite unique and represents the Eurasian culture. Dwelling places built by the British traders and colleges established by the Dutch are worth observing. Present in this part of the city are two art galleries with good collections.

St. Francis Church : This ancient church reckoned to be the oldest European church in India has a long history of construction and re-construction. Originally built of wood and timber by the Portuguese in 1503 the church was rebuilt by the Dutch Protestants with stone masonry in 1779 and then converted into an Anglican church by the British in 1795. It is now under the Church of South India Council. The tombstone of the great historic voyager Vasco-da-Gama can be seen here since it was here he was laid to rest in 1524 before his remains were removed to Portugal.

The Hill Palace Museum : Located at Thripunithura about 10 km from Kochi, this beautiful palace was built in 1865. This huge palace is constituted by as many as 49 extravagant buildings of traditional architectural style of Kerala. The palace has benevolently made room for an outstanding Museum in which one can relish the glory of 19th century paintings, murals, stone sculptures, manuscripts, inscriptions and a lot more. The vast area of 52 acres of terraced land around the palace has to its credit deer parks and horse riding facilities. Tripunithura is also known for the nearby Chottanikara temple and Poornathraessa temple.