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| Cochin |
(Ernakulam)
Cochin, or Kochi as it is now called, is divided into Old Cochin (comprising Fort Cochin and Mattanchery) and Ernakulam, which is a bustling metropolis and is considered the commercial capital of Kerala. It is the only district in Kerala where you can experience urban comforts on a par with other major cities in India and also the history of many centuries bygone. Cochin is the perfect amalgamation of the old and the new. |
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 History records that Cochin was a submerged mango grove forest in 8,000 BC. Around 1,000 BC, strips of land emerged forming the present coastal landscape. The land was ruled by various rulers since then and turned into a powerful kingdom. In 1341, floods in the Periyar river in Kerala resulted in the closing of other ports and saw the emergence of a new harbour, port Cochin.
Cochin, which was rich in exotic spices such as pepper, ginger, cardamom and cloves, became a point of attraction for traders worldwide. The Arabs and the Chinese are the first recorded traders to have come to Cochin. The Portuguese and the Dutch followed and Kochi’s rulers joined one or the other powerful invaders. Finally the city was overtaken by the British and was turned into their administrative headquarters in South India until India achieved independence. Needless to say today’s traveller gets to see many snippets of Cochin’s rich historical past.
Places of Interest in and around Cochin:
Top sight seeing excursions:
Santa Cruz Basilica:
This historical church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1795, the British took over Kochi and demolished the church. About 100 years later, Bishop Dom Pareira commissioned a new building on the same site which was proclaimed as a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II.
Fort Immanuel:
This bastion of the Portuguese was a symbol of the alliance between the ruler of Cochin and the Monarch of Portugal. Built in 1503, the fort was later taken over by the Dutch and then the British.
St. Francis Church:
Built in 1503 by the Portuguese, this is India’s oldest European church. Vasco Da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Portugal. The tombstone still remains.
Chinese Fishing Nets:
These huge 15th century cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of Chinese traders. These nets are set up on teak wood and bamboo poles and you can watch the nets being lowered by the fishermen from the Vasco Da Gama square along the beach.
Mattanchery Palace (Dutch Palace):
Built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the ruler of Kochi, the palace was renovated by the Dutch in 1663 and oddly is named after the Dutch.
Jewish Synagogue:
Constructed in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. It is known for mid 18th century hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs and great scrolls of the old testament.
Jew Town:
The area around the Jewish synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops and is named after the Jewish community which settled here 2,000 years back.
Willingdon Island:
Named after Lord Willingdon, a former British viceroy of India, this man-made island was created by a British engineer. The island was formed after dredging the sea to allow large ships to anchor.
Bolgatty Island:
Accessible by boat and by road, the Island is famous for a Dutch palace which was built on it named, aptly, Bolgatty Palace.
Ernakulam City:
The cosmopolitan side of Cochin, Ernakulam offers all the facilities and amenities that any major city would offer. It is ideal for shopping.
Cherai Beach:
This lovely beach bordering the Vypeen Island is located magically between the backwaters and the sea and offers a breathtaking location.
Trippunithara Hill Palace:
This palace, built in 1865, was once the residence of the Raja of Cochin and is a majestic structure set in 52 acres of green carpets. It has now been converted into a museum.
Other highlights:Athachamayam festival which marks the beginning of Onam
(August/September)
Kodikuthu festival at Kanjiramattom Mosque
(January)
Ernakulam Siva Temple festival
(January/February)
Cochin New Year Carnival |
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