Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country' (http://www.cochin.org/cochin.htm, http://www.keralatourism.org). Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Kochi is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. Southwest monsoon is the main rainy season in Kerala. This season begins by the end of May with the outset of the southwest monsoon winds. The next few months are periods of torrential rain.