Kochi is a collection of mainland, small islets and peninsulas caught between the small rivers, lakes and canals. Each area has its own distinct personality; from the mainland’s basic residential blocks to the old town’s colourful colonial houses. The colonial influence is most obvious in Kochi’s old town — once the main centre of India’s spice trade, today it’s better known as one of India‘s main ports. For several centuries India traded with Syrians, Jews, Arabs, Europe and China, leaving a host of different influences on Kochi’s physical appearance. Old Dutch architecture and Chinese fishing nets are some of the town’s iconic symbols and the only place outside of China where these unique fishing nets can be seen.
