Situated on the South-West coast of India, Kochi or Cochin is a busy commercial port town with at least 600 years of trade history. Called the Queen of the Arab Sea, the city is the commercial and industrial hub of Kerala.

This cosmopolitan area, a gaggle of islands connected by ferries, has some of the finest heritage facilities, including upmarket shops, art galleries, and. Ernakulum, Jewish Town and Fort Kochi are crowded with real vintage-meet-future fashion, bars , restaurants, shopping centers and futuristic shops, while palaces, beaches, temples and heritage sites also mark their presence. Kochi is also a significant place to see Kathakali and Kalarippayattu performances as well as the annual Biennale Festival.

Formerly a palace and now a popular heritage hotel resort, Bolgatty Palace in Kochi, Kerala, is one of few existing monuments / palaces built by the Dutch in India. On the Bolghatty Island is located this 17th century old-fashioned yet charming mansion. Unsurprisingly, it also features among the oldest existing Dutch palaces in the world, of course, outside Holland.  The palace was built by Dutch traders who came to India during that ti...