Cochin also known as Kochi, is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Cochin is located in the district of Ernakulam. Old Cochin loosely refers to a group of islands including Willingdon Island, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry. Today Cochin includes Ernakulam, old parts of Cochin, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands.

For many centuries up to and during the British Raj, the city of Cochin was the seat of the eponymous princely state. Cochin traces its history back many centuries, when it was the centre of Indian spice trade for hundreds of years, and was known to the Yavanas (Greeks and Romans), Jews, Arabs and Chinese since ancient times.

Cochin earned a significant position on the world trading map after the port at Kodungallur (Cranganore) was destroyed by massive flooding of the river Periyar in 1341 .