Cochin
or Kochi is often known as the 'Queen of the Arabian
Sea'. Justifying its nickname, it has a rich past, a
vibrant present, is a port that works all the year round
and is one of the leading business hubs of the state
since long. It is divided into many parts inter-linked
with ferries that comprise of the mainland of Ernakulam;
the islands of Willington, Bolgatty and Gundu; and Fort
Cochin, Vypeen Island and Mattancherry on the southern
peninsula. The seaport has been a major cause of the
culture and lifestyle of the city being influenced by
those of visiting foreigners since the ancient times
such as the Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans. Cochin
is home to the oldest church in India, the
still-operational Chinese fishing nets, 500-year-old
Portuguese houses, Jewish synagogues, Chinese pagoda
style houses and mosques.
The serene backwaters and beautiful lagoons of Cochin
bordered by coconut palm trees and picture-perfect
tropical islands make it quite popular with the
tourists. See glimpses of medieval architecture of
Portugal, Holland and England in the old buildings of
Fort Cochin and Mattanchery situated on the Malabar
Coast. Cochin has evolved into the largest ports of
India and a major naval base nowadays. The 16th century
narrow, winding and canal-lined streets of Fort Kochi
and the Jew Town seem to create a mini Europe in India.
The spice trade flourishes even today and Cochin has
retained its title of being the Spice Capital of India.
Cochin's Prime Attractions
Dutch
Palace, Mattancherry:
Originally built by Portuguese in 1557, Mattancherry
Palace was also known as the Dutch Palace since the
time, they renovated it after gaining its control in
1663. The exteriors of the palace are stark with white
walls and sloping brown roofs. There is a small temple
of the deity Palayannur Bhagwati inside its premises and
the interiors have beautiful paintings adorning the
walls and ceilings. The Central Hall on the upper storey
had an intricately carved wooden ceiling and was used
for the coronation ceremony of the Rajas of Cochin. The
ceiling of the Dining Hall has a series of brass cups
while the one at the Assembly Hall is the best with
breathtaking murals depicting scenes from Hindu
mythology. These murals are among the best in India and
cover approximately 300 sq ft of wall. It also has a
museum showcasing regal memorabilia such as costumes,
palanquins, turbans and weaponry from the days of the
Cochin rajas.
St. Francis Church, Fort
Cochin:
Fort Cochin, the oldest European Settlement in India,
houses St. Francis Church, which was the first European
Church of India. In 1503, Rajah of Cochin gave
permission to the Portuguese Alphonso Alburquerque to
build a fort at the mouth of the river with a church of
wood dedicated to St. Bartholomew. In 1516, a new church
was built to honor St. Antony. When Dutch arrived in
1663, they demolished all the convents and churches of
the place and converted them to their Government Church.
However, the Church of the Franciscans was spared. The
church has Portuguese gravestones to its north and Dutch
gravestones to its south with the stone of Vasco da Gama.
It is now a protected monument since April 1923 under
the Protected Monuments Act of 1904. There is a cenotaph
here too erected in 1920 to honor the martyrs of Cochin
who fell in the First Great War.
Willington Island:
Lord Willington was the Viceroy of India. Willington
Island, named after him, is connected to the mainland
Ernakulam by Venduruthy Bridge and houses some of the
district's best hotels, commercial and industrial
offices. It has an airport, a shipbuilding yard, wharf,
the Southern Naval Command Head Quarters and the customs
house too along with the Government of India Tourist
Information Office. The center of all the commercial and
industrial activities, it has branches of national and
international banks, travel agencies and souvenir shops
warehouses too.
Mangalavanam:
The small bird sanctuary, Mangalavanam, in the Ernakulam
District of Kerala has Bharath Petroleum Company to the
north and the east, Emakulam Railway to its south and
Salim Ali Road 16 and Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute to its west. It has a shallow tidal lake in
the center bordered by thick mangrove vegetation, which
is connected to the backwaters by a canal. Mangalavanam
has a congregation of communally breeding birds, a
former timber and a guesthouse, which was renovated in
1986.
The Pareekshit Thampuran
Museum:
This archeological museum exhibits 19th century
paintings, pre-historic monuments, old coins, stone
scriptures, Plaster of Paris scriptures, mural paintings
and other such memorabilia that were part of the
collection from the Cochin royal family. The Durbar Hall
of Kochi Rajas is built in traditional Kerala style
where they used to greet the guests of the royalty and
organized official ceremonies and meetings. It has been
renamed after Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran, the
Family's last ruler.
Kathakali Centres:
Kerala's traditional dance drama form known as Kathakali
evolved in the 8th century from another dance form known
as 'Ramanattam' that was invented by Kottarakkara
Thampuran. The themes of Kathakali are inspired by
Indian mythology and folklore and performers are
assisted by vocal and percussion accompaniments.
Expressions of face and eyes are the key movements of
this dance. Kathakali costumes, tall headgears and
elaborately painted faces along with the elemental
masculine vigor have made it quite popular among the
visitors. Some of the noted Kathakali centres in Kochi
are India Foundation near the Ernakulam Junction Railway
station, the Cochin Cultural Centre behind Medical Trust
Hospital, Art Kerala, Valanjambalam and many others
where one can watch daily performances usually held in
the evening. One can also see Kathakali dance at the
Kerala Kathakali Centre functions at Fort Cochin.
Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry:
Perhaps the only place in India where Jews are still
residing, Kochi boasts of a Jewish Synagogue built in
1568. It is the oldest synagogue in India and was
partially destroyed in the war of 1662. Later, Dutch
rebuilt it. The clock tower was added in mid 18th
century along with the hand-painted blue willow tiles
from China that are more than two hundred years old.
None of these tiles are alike. The unique interiors
boast of a Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the
Old Testament and the copper plates that keep the
records of the grants of privilege made by the Cochin
rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. It
also has five finely wrought gold and silver crowns on
its display that were gifted to the synagogue. One can
know about the history of the Jews in Kerala from the
rabbi who lives here. One can still see Jewish culture
and tradition flourishing and hear the use of the Hebrew
language in Jew Town around the Mattancherry Synagogue.
Cochin City Facts
