Kochi (also known as Cochin) is a city in southwest India's coastal Kerala state. It has been a port since 1341, when a flood carved out its harbor and opened it to Arab, Chinese and European merchants. Sites reflecting those influences include Fort Kochi, a settlement with tiled colonial bungalows and diverse houses of worship. Cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, typical of Kochi, have been in use for centuries
It houses everything from numerous beautiful temples to holy mosques and ancient churches. Some of the must-visit religious sites in the city include: Santa Cruz Basilican: Counted amongst the oldest churches in Kerala, Santa Cruz Basilican is the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin.
