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There are three distinct areas in Cochin -- the mainland and two islands.

The mainland -- Ernakulum -- is like any other city in India. Chaotic roads, crowded pavements and petrol fumes. For the tourist hardy enough to ignore the chaos, it offers posh shopping centres, excellent ethnic restaurants, lodgings catering to every budget, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) office and the two main railway stations where passenger trains from all over the country make a half. Ernakulam is where the long distance buses head out from, for other parts of Kerala, as well as to neighbouring states.

A bridge -- Venduruthy -- connects the mainland of Ernakulam to the first island called Willingdon, which in turn is connected by another bridge to the second island, Mattancherry.

Willingdon is a man made piece of land built during British times and was conceived by the then chief engineer, a man named Robert Bristow. Bristow's isle now cradles the Indian Navy's southern command, Port Trust's headquarters, huge areas given over to container facilities for incoming ships, Cochin airport for domestic flights and a couple of luxury hotels. Unlike Ernakulam, Willingdon's hustle and bustle is restrained. But it remains a busy hive of activity, differing vastly from its nearest neighbour , Mattancherry, where the old, quiet way of life continues to thrive.

Mattancherry is the original Cochin. This includes Fort Cochin, which is basically the tip of Mattancherry -- the beachhead where the Portuguese set up their bastion when they arrived 500 odd years ago. In the olden days, Mattancherry was not only the place where invaders and trader from far off places landed, it was also the destination for local settlers keen on making a fortune.

Today, it is the favoured spot for tourists seeking bits of history and remnants of a bygone era. European churches, broken down forts, the oldest synagogue in the country, giant Chinese fishing nets, ancient palaces, colonial style house... it's all there in Mattancherry.

Aside from these two main islands, there are various smaller ones like Vypin, Bolghatty, Gundu, which have some good beaches and are connected by ferry to the mainland.

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