This beautiful, cosmopolitan state in God's Own Country, Kerala, is more urban than you would think. It boasts of large shopping malls, skyscrapers, fancy restaurants and two airports.
A survey conducted by Indicus Analytics across 100 cities in India ranked Kochi as the best place to live in (though not necessarily the best city to earn in) due to this very reason. For the weekends, the city provides a long list of cinema halls, clubs and pubs to choose from, as well as Kathakali dance performances in the evenings. Make friends with the locals by touching upon one of their passions -- sports.
Kochi is also one of the fastest-growing second-tier metro cities in India with a GDP growth rate of 8.3 percent.
Career-wise there is scope too, with companies like OPI, TCS, Wipro, NEST, IBS and US Software having set up base there. The high literacy rate of 94 percent provides a larger resource for these industries. For those looking to move or invest, real estate here is not too expensive and the cost of living very reasonable.
But even God's own city has its drawbacks and Kochi's flaw is its rising level of pollution of all kinds.
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Photograph: Rediff Archives
Also see: Quick tips: Look your best at the last minute!
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