Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is a major port city located along the Malabar Coast of India. It borders the Laccadive Sea and is situated within the Ernakulam district of the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to by its central business district name, Ernakulam.
As of 2011, the Kochi Municipal Corporation had a population of 677,381 over an area of 94.88 km2. The broader Kochi urban agglomeration exceeds 2.1 million inhabitants across 440 km2, making it the most populous and largest metropolitan area in Kerala. Classified as a Tier-II city by the Government of India, the municipality was established in 1967.
The development of the region is overseen by several statutory bodies, including the Kochi Municipal Corporation, the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), and the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA). The city serves as a key component of the Greater Cochin development region.