Kochi, formerly known as Cochin is a major city and seaport located on the south-west coast of India by the Arabian Sea in of Kerala state.Kochi was the centre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, and was known to the Yavanas as well as Romans, Jews, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times. Kochi has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting of Malayalies, Konkanies, Gujarathies, Bengalies, Punjabies, Marathies, Tamilians, Biharies and a few families of Jews among other denominations, all living in peaceful co-existence. Fort Kochi in Kochi was the first European colonial settlement in India.