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Dutch Palace |
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 As one may surmise from the name, the Dutch were not the original builders of the Mattancherry Palace. It was built by the Portuguese in 1557 as a gift to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma, partly as a compensation for a temple they'd destroyed and partly as a bribe to gain favors from the ruler. It was only in 1663, when the Dutch won over from the Portuguese, that they renovated the palace and thus, it is known as the 'Dutch palace' too.The exteriors of the Mattancherry Palace are barren with stark white walls and sloping brown roofs. A two-storied quadrangular building with a small temple dedicated to the deity Palayannur Bhagwati in the central courtyard, the interiors of the Palace are in sharp contrast with their beautiful ceilings and painted walls. The Central Hall on the upper storey, once used for the coronation ceremony of Cochin's Rajas, has a beautifully carved wooden ceiling. The Dining Hall's ceiling is ornamented with a series of brass cups but the ceiling of the Assembly Hall is perhaps the best of all. |
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Santa Cruz Cathedral |
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 The Santa Cruz Cathedral not only happens to be one of the oldest churches in Cochin, but also in the whole of India. Counted as one of the heritage edifices of Kerala, this church is visited by tourists the whole year round. It was built by the first Portuguese viceroy, Francesco de Almeida, when he arrived in Kochi way back in 1505. On 3 May that year, during the feast of the "Invention of the Holy Cross", the foundation stone of this church was laid and upon completion, it was christened as Santa Cruz Cathedral.Later on, when the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they ruined all Catholic establishments except this particular cathedral and the famous church of St. Francis. In those days, the Santa Cruz Cathedral was used as an armory. It was, however, later shattered in 1795, after the British took over the city. An elaborate granite pillar of this monumental cathedral was what remained after the destruction of the Santa Cruz Cathedral. The pillar is still kept on the southeastern corner of the present Basilica. |
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Bolgatty Palace |
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 Bolghatty Palace is located on the Bolghatty Islands, in the Cochin city of Kerala. The appeal of the palace lies in the fact that it is among the oldest existing palaces built by the Dutch in India, during the pre-British times. Kochi has long been one of the important trading centers of India, attracting traders and seafarers from far and near. In 1744, the Dutch traders built this palace, initially as a villa. Later, the villa was extended and lush green gardens were added all around it.During those days, the Bolgatty Palace sued to serve as the Dutch Governor's residence. Later, in 1909, the palace was leased to the British, who turned it into a residence for the British governors. In 1947, after India gained her independence, the Bolghatty Palace of Cochin became the property of the state and was later transformed into a heritage hotel resort. Also referred to as the Hotel Bolgatty Palace, it is now under the administration of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). |
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Poornathrayeesa Temple |
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 Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple is situated in Tripunithura, 10 km to the south-east of Kochi city, in Ernakulam District of Kerala. The temple enshrines Santhanagopala Murthy or Santhana Gopala Moorthy as the presiding deity. Santhanagopalamoorthy which literally means "savior of infants" is an incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu. Lord Vishnu is seen here in a sitting posture under the shade of five hoods of Ananthan. This is a unique pose unlike the other Vishnu temples where the Lord is usually found in a reclining posture on the divine serpent, Anantha. The folded body of the serpent itself serves as the seat for the God. The two upper hands of Lord Vishnu hold Sanku (conch) and Chakram (holy wheel) and the lower right hand holds the Padmam (Lotus flower).On the back side of Sreekovil, there is a small window from where devotees can get a close look at the idol of Santhana Gopala Moorthy of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple. |
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St. Francis Church |
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 St. Francis Church was the first European Church to be built in India. The history of this Church reflects the colonial struggle of European powers in India, from the 15th to 20th Centuries. The Portuguese Vasco da Gama was the first European to discover the sea route to India. In 1503 Alphonso Alburquerque was given permission by the Rajah of Cochin to build a fort at the mouth of the river. Within the Fort they erected a church of wood, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. A new Church was completed in 1516 and dedicated to St. Antony. The Church remained in the Order of St. Francis until the arrival of the Dutch in 1663. They demolished all the convents and churches of the place, except the Church of the Franciscans, which they reconditioned and converted into their Government Church. |
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Cherai Beach |
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 Cherai Beach is Kochi's finest beach. Located on the northern end of Vypeen Island, its picturesque setting makes it a runaway hit with locals and tourists alike. The narrow stretch of land has the sea on one side, and the backwaters on the other. Coconut palms and paddy fields add to the picture postcard effect. Often referred to as 'The Princess of the Arabian Sea', the beach has seen quite a few resorts come up in recent times. About 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the mainland Ernakulam, one can take a bus to Paravur and then an auto rickshaw to Cherai beach. For the more adventurous, we'd recommend a boat ride from either Fort Kochi or Ernakulam to Vypeen Island, and then a road transport option to Cherai on the northern tip.The 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) long beach is great for walking and enjoying the bounty of nature. Being a shallow beach, it is tailor made for a swim and is equally popular with sunbathers. Weekend revelers can often be seen enjoying a game of beach volleyball and beach cricket here. Kite flying is another popular activity. Colorful kites are easily available along with all the paraphernalia. For nature lovers, early morning is an ideal time to enjoy the peace and quiet of the beach. Due to its unique setting, the beach also draws a number of interesting birds. Bicycles are available near the bus stand, and highly recommended for those looking to explore the area. |
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Marine Drive |
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 Marine Drive is a popular tourist destination of Kochi. It is an awesome hangout joint for the tourists and local people. Travelers can enjoy long walks by Marine drive enjoying the surrounding beauty. The place also holds a number of shopping malls and fast food corners.The pathway of Marine Drive is extended from the High court Junction to the Rajendra Maidan in Kochi. There are a number of boat jetties situated by the walkway. Many travelers arrive in Marine Drive to see sun-rise in the earliest morning. The total area of the Marine Drive in Cochin is expanded from the Jankar Jetty in the north to the Ernakulam Boat Jetty in the south. |
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Hill Palace Museum |
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 10 km from Kochi, the Thripunithura Hill palace, the erstwhile official residence of the Kochi royal family, was built in 1865. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land with a deer park. There are facilities for horse riding. A full fledged ethno archaeological museum and Kerala's first ever Heritage museum are the main attractions. There are thirteen galleries of oil paintings. 19th century paintings, murals, sculpture in stone and plaster of paris, manuscripts and inscriptions are displayed. This gallery also has a gold crown embedded with precious stones and many valuable coins and ornaments. |
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Jewish Synagogue |
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 The prosperous Jewish trading community built the Jewish Synagogue in 1568 whose links with Kerala begin in Kodungallor (Cranganore) in the north of the state. The oldest synagogue in India, it was partially destroyed in the war of 1662 and was rebuilt by the Dutch. In the mid-18th century the clock tower was added and the floors paved with exquisite hand-painted blue willow tiles from China. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. The interior offers more beautiful surprises: a Belgian chandelier, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, and the copper plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century. There are also five finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons. |
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Jews Town |
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 The Jew Town located near Mattancheri Palace has been home to the Jewish families settled here since 379 AD. Their population has dwindled drastically after the formation of Israel, but the town still reflects their ways. A centre of Cochin's spice trade, there are scores of little companies that jostle each other in old, dilapidated buildings, filling the air with spicy aromas. Jewish names are visible all over, and there are several curio shops on the street leading to the synagogue. |
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Fort Kochi Beach |
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 The Fort Kochi Beach is 12 km from Ernakulam. A fishing village originally, which became the first European township in India, the influence of the Portugese, the Dutch and later the British can be seen from the remains of the Fort on the beach. The Fort is one place on the beach where you can enjoy peace and quiet. The New Year Eve carnival at the beach is one celebration that you cannot afford to miss if you are at Kochi or Ernakulam.Fort Kochi is a small village located near the larger city of Kochi. There are picturesque beaches along this part of the coast line. Scattered throughout the beaches are many famous Chinese fishing nets as well as many sailing ships. The effect created by such fishing necessities is quaint and relaxing. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline, since this location was where the first European settlement in India was located. This particular stretch of the coast also contains numerous small stalls which sell delicious traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish right on demand. |
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Willingdon Island |
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 Willington Island is connected to the mainland Ernakulam by road-cum-railway Venduruthy Bridge. An artificial lake that was made by the dumping of the materials that were dug out while Cochin Port was being deepened. Willington Island today plays an important role in the city of Kochi and houses some of the district's best hotels, commercial and industrial offices.Apart from these, it is here that the airport is positioned along with the shipbuilding yard, wharf, the Southern Naval Command Head Quarters and the customs house. Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industries has been strategically placed here, as is the Government of India Tourist Information Office in the vicinity of the airport. This island is a hub of activity with a number of offices, branches of national and international banks, travel agencies and souvenir shops warehouses and one cannot possibly miss visiting the place while being in the city of Kochi, if just for some necessity. |
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Princess Street |
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 Flowerpot-laden window sills, bronze stucco walls and peeling pastel – these all are the symbols of colonial style buildings. See them in Princess street – a back street.Now filled with antique shops,homestays and hotels,with out disturbing the orginality. Fort Kochi really revels in moody pastimes. This is especially easy to see in the city of Kochi on Princess Street. Numerous old colossal houses are located on this street with each being built in the style of home that was customary for a given European nation to build. The end result is a quaint street that portrays various different European destinations. Homes built in the Dutch, British, French, and Portuguese style are all there. Most of these homes allow visitors to see what they are like inside as well. |
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Chinese Fishing Nets |
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 The Chinese Fishing Nets are said to have its origin in China and were introduced by the Chinese explorer Zheng He. These cantilevered fishing nets were also brought to Cochin from the court of Kublai Khan and have stayed here ever since. The system is sufficiently balanced that the weight of a man walking along the main beam is sufficient to cause the net to descend into the sea. The net is left for a short time, possibly just a few minutes, before it is raised by pulling on ropes. The catch is usually modest: a few fish and crustaceans — these may be sold to passers by within minutes. The system of counterweights is most ingenious. Rocks, each 30 cm or so in diameter are suspended from ropes of different lengths. As the net is raised, some of the rocks one-by-one come to rest on a platform thereby keeping everything in balance. |
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