Kochi was my first stop in Kerala. Kochi dates back to at least 1102, and in 1503, was captured by the Portuguese, thus becoming the first European colony in India. Over the years Kochi passed from Portuguese into Dutch, and then British hands, before becoming part of India in 1947. It is the third largest city in Kerala with a population of almost 600,000. The most attractive part of Kochi, is Fort Cochin which is just a fifteen minute journey over the harbour from the Ernakulam district, where I am staying. Ernakulam itself is unremarkable, only the thing that really strikes me about it is at there is a complete lack of dogs! Street dogs are everywhere in India from North to South, East to West, but I haven't seen a single one in Kochi. On
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