Cochin means different things to different people. To some, it is a world-famous port, while to others it is a business centre and a glamorous mirror to Kerala/'s vivid multifaceted personality. To many travellers, however, this natural harbour is synonymous with its famous geographical hallmark-the underwater mud banks of Malabar. Cochin (also Kochi) has been an important trading port since ancient times. Today, the land of spices that attracted the European traders is a quaint blend of the old and the new, the Indian and the Western. Popularly referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin is today the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. Cochin has a moderate climate with heavy rains during the monsoon period from June to August. A visit to Cochin enriches one about the historical and cultural past of Kerala.