This place is special to me because this happens to be my hometown!

Kerala, located in the south of India, is a land of rich green paddies, rivers and lagoons. It's often termed as " God's Own Country". The coastal plain is bordered on the east by a range of mountains in which spices such as pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom are grown for export. And this has attracted traders from all over the world. Fort Kochi is one such town in Kerala, which was ruled by the Portuguese from 1503 to 1682, followed by the Dutch till 1795, and then the British until the year India became independent. It is also home to the oldest European church in India which housed the gravestone of the explorer Vasco da Gama. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the largest art exhibition in India and the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia is held in this little heritage town.This is a heritage map taking you on a trail through the various historic structures, hidden cafes, boutique hotels and stores and the main streets of the city.