Synagogue at Fort Kochi

The Synagogue at Fort Kochi,constructed in 1568, is the oldest in the Commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch.

Mid-18th century hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from Canton in China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, great scrolls of the Old Testament, ancient scripts on copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the erstwhile Cochin rulers were recorded etc., are articles of interest here.

The area around the Synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops. To know more about this street.

Getting there:
Location:The Synagogue at Fort Kochi, about 10 km from Ernakulam town, central Kerala.
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00 hours; closed on Fridays
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km from the Synagogue.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 30 km from the Synagogue.

Fort Kochi

Welcome to a 60-90 minute walking tour of the old streets of Fort Kochi. This is the ideal way to discover a historic town brimming with tales of myriad seafaring visitors who came here to trade and then stayed on to cease their work on this impressionable land. 'Walking through Fort Cochin' is a tour organised as part of the conservation and development initiatives taken up by the Corporation of Kochi.

The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century.

The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over, the town in 1795. During 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - variously as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen communities. A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St.Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from these architectural splendours, an array of restaurants serving fresh seafood are also popular among tourists.

The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.

The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul 1V in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Fort Kochi is also home to one of India's oldest churches - the St.Francis Church. This was a Roman Catholic Church during the Portuguese rule from 1503 to 1663, then a Dutch Reformist Church from 1664 to 1804, and Anglican church from 1804 to 1947. Today it is governed by the Church of South India (CSI). Another important fact about the church is that Vasco Da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here before his mortal remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later... Each and every structure, street, door, window and brick in Fort Kochi has several stories to tell.

Getting there:
Fort Kochi is accessible by bus or ferry. The bus ride from Ernakulam town, which is nearly 13 km away, takes about an hour and the ferry ride from Main boat jetty at Ernakulam about 20 minutes.
Location: About 13 km from Ernakulam town.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam about 1 1/2 km from the Main boat jetty.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km

Vasco da Gama Square

Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, the last port of Vasco Da Gama, where you will find synagogues, mosques, churches and temples side by side, is a place with a fascinating history. The huge cantilevered fishing net, the Chinese fishing nets, seen here is a legacy of its spellbinding past. The nets, set up on teak and bamboo poles, were brought by one of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast, the traders from the court of Kublai Khan.

An ideal place to watch fishermen use these nets is the Vasco da Gama square, a narrow promenade along the beach. The square, which has numerous stalls serving fresh delicious seafood, tender coconut and so on, is also perfect for a nice, relaxed evening

Mattancherry Palace

Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion - the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.

The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back waters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300 sqft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, and mythology and legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.Also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.

Getting there:
There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry. The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam town.
Visiting hours:10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Fridays.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam town.

Bolghatty Island

In the historic town of Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district, the commercial capital of Kerala, is the Bolghatty Island - your destination of the month!

This lush, lovely island is famous for its palace of the same name. The Bolghatty Palace, built in 1744 by the Dutch and later taken over by the British, is today a popular hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.

Getting there: There are regular ferry services from Kochi.

The Hill Palace Museum, Thripunithura

Highlights: Kerala's first heritage museum. Royal collections of the erstwhile Maharaja of Kochi.

The Hill Palace, the official residence of the Kochi royal family, is today the largest archaeological museum in Kerala. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the trational architectural style of Kerala, sprawled over 52 acres of beautifully landscaped terraced land which houses a deer park and facilities for horse riding. Numerous species of flora including rare medicinal plants grow here. On display in the full-fledged Ethno-archaeological museum are oil-paintings, murals, sculptures in stone and manuscripts, inscriptions, coins, belongings of the Kochi royal family and royal furniture including the simhasana (throne).

Also exhibited are over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, Kudakkallu (tomb stone), Thoppikkallu (hood stone), menhirs, granite, laterite memorials, rock cut weapons from the stone ages, wooden temple models, plaster cast models of objects from Mohanjodaro and Harappa of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art.

Location : 10 km from Ernakulam town,central Kerala.
Visiting hours : 9.00 to 12.30 hrs. and 14.00 to 16.30 hrs. on all days except Mondays.

Madhavan Nayar Foundation

Located a little distance from the crowded urban centre of Ernakulam is a quiet ethnic building hidden in the shades of huge trees. A statue of Parasurama, the sage who is said to have created Kerala, greets the visitor. This is a monument to the history of Kerala and homage to its makers. The Madhavan Nayar Foundation also called the Museum of Kerala History and its makers showcases historic episodes from the neolithic to the modern era through life size figures.

Light and sound shows are regularly organised with commentaries in English and Malayalam. There is also a gallery for paintings and sculptures, displaying over 200 original works by contemporary Indian artists.

The Centre for Visual Arts here has a collection of the authentic reproduction of select world masters and larger than life mural reproductions of Indian art.

Getting there:
Location : Just 8 km from Ernakulam town at Edappally, Ernakulam district, central Kerala.
Timings: 10:00 - 17:00 hours on all days except Mondays.
Attractions : Showcases the historic events and arts of Kerala.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 8 km from Edappaly.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam city.

Chendamangalam

A church, a temple, a mosque and the remains of a Jewish synagogue - all lying in close proximity is an ideal example of the ancient Indian tradition of religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence. At Chendamangalam, apart from these historic evidences, nature also unveils her rare combination. The place has a singular geography of three rivers, seven inlets, hillocks and vast expanses of green plains.

This land was once the abode of the Paliath Achans, the prime ministers of the Maharajas of Kochi. Their residence, the Paliam Palace represents the architectural splendour of Kerala. The Palace houses a collection of historic documents and relics. The hillocks at Kottayi Kovilakom present an unusual view of the church, temple, mosque and the synagogue.

Also interesting is a visit to the remains of the Vypeenkotta Seminary built in the 16th century by the Portuguese.

Location :About 42 km from Ernakulam town, Ernakulam district,central Kerala.

The Antique Sellers of Jew Street

It's almost a walk down the lanes of antiquity. The Jew Street is lined with shops that sell curios, antique pieces of crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, remnants of traditional houses, and jewellery. The antique sellers of these streets are the descendants of a fast dwindling population of Jews who settled down here in AD 52. Every piece that they sell has its own tale to narrate - of a palace or a home of the nobility, of travels across many lands and ages.

The Jewish Synagogue here, a mark of exceptional architecture and history, is a fascination for hundreds of visitors everyday. There are a few other Jewish settlements too in the State. But Kochi has made a name with its synagogue and the popular antique shops.

Location: About 10 km from Ernakulam town

The Museum of Kerala History

One picture can say what a thousand words cannot! That being the case, without further ado, we recommend that you pay a visit to The Museum of Kerala History in Edapally, Kochi. And once you are on the lush grounds of the museum, head straight to the MNF Gallery of Paintings and Sculptures and the Centre for Visual Arts. The unassuming gallery houses immortal creations that will give you glimpses of the glorious history and rich cultural legacy of this land. Some of the masters whose works are on display include mural maestro Mammiyoor Krishhan Kutty Nair, Raja Ravi Varma, M F Hussain, folk painter Jamini Roy, abstract painter Manu Parekh and so on.

Getting there:
Open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays and public holidays.
By road: At Edapally, 10 km north of Ernakulam city on NH 47

Dutch Palace, Mattancherry

Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace with a Bhagavathi temple in the central courtyard is built like the typical Kerala style mansion - the Nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard.

The double storeyed palace building which stands by the panoramic Kochi back waters has an exquisite collection of murals collectively covering over 300 sq ft of its walls. The themes of these murals have been borrowed from the great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha, and mythology and legends about the Hindu gods especially Guruvayurappan. Some murals depict scenes from Kumarasambhavam and other works of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. Also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.

Getting there :
Location: Mattancherry, 10 km from Ernakulam.
Visiting hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Fridays.
There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry. The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam town.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam town.

Thani Illam

This heritage structure promoted by the Grahasthali Project and approved by the Department of Tourism has preserved and maintained its traditional architecture, and way of life. This 100-year-old structure was home to the famous Malayalam writer Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, which is now owned and maintained by a couple and are the hosts to visitors coming to the Illam.

Thani Illam (short form of Thannikkatt Illam) means the original home of a Brahmin family. At the Illam visitors are served only vegetarian cuisine and no liquor is allowed inside the house. Highly flexible approach to a visitor's activity program, which depends entirely on the visitor's interests and needs, makes Thanni Illam a home away from home. The Illam currently offers two rooms viz. Thekkini and Kulappura. Thekkini is located on the South side and hence the name Thekkini (Thekk means South). The second room, Kulappura, is situated on top of the car porch. Originally, it was the room above an internal pond specifically for ladies of the house. Kulam means pond/pool and pura means room/ house.

Services Offered
Kerala Vegetarian Cuisine (No eggs, no fish and no meat), Travel Assistance, Daily site seeing trips, Washing machine at disposal (for laundry services), Direct international dialing from rooms
Address: Thani Illam, Thottuva, Koovappdy, Ernakulam- 683544, Kerala, India Ph:+91-484-2649679.