The commercial centre of the state Kochi is in Ernakulam. With the best natural harbour in the world, Ernakulam was a major centre of trade with a variety of traders from the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Ernakulam has the historic Fort Kochi. Before it became the first European settlement in India, Ernakulam was a small fishing village. As the days went by, the character of the village changed. It became a city of culture and the European influences can be seen from the examples of Indo-European architecture that still exist. India's oldest church, the St. Francis Church, is in Ernakulam.

Loafer’s Corner/Princess Street: One of the earliest streets to be constructed in Fort Kochi, Princess Street with its European style residences still retains its old world charm. The best view of this quaint street can be had from Loafer’s Corner, the traditional meeting place and hangout of the jovial funloving people of the area.

Vasco House: Believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama, this is one of the oldest Portuguese residences in Fort Kochi. Built in the early sixteenth century, Vasco House sports the typical European glass paned windows and balcony cum verandahs characteristic of the times.

VOC Gate:  The large wooden gate facing the Parade Ground, with the monogram (VOC) of the once mighty Dutch East India Company carved on it, was built in 1740. Parade Ground: The four acre Parade Ground was where once the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British colonists conducted their military parades and drills. The buildings around the ground housed their defence establishments. Today, the largest open ground in Fort Kochi, the Parade Ground is a sports arena.

The Dutch Cemetery: The tomb stones here are the most authentic record of the hundreds of Europeans who left their homeland on a mission to expand their colonial empires and changed the course of history of this land. The cemetery was consecrated in 1724 and is today managed by the Church of South India.

St. Francis Church:
Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India’s oldest European church. This was initially built of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry. It was restored in 1779 by the Protestant Dutch, converted to an Anglican church by the British in 1795 and is at present governed by the Church of South India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The tombstone still remains.

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