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 The
port city of Kochi, set on a cluster of islands and
narrow peninsulas, is a flourishing example of Kerala's
eclecticism.
Churches old as the culture itself, mosques
at the end of winding lanes, palaces built in Portuguese
architectural style with half a century old Portuguese
houses, cantilevered Chinese nets set on Kerala's
famous backwaters, the ancient Jewish community of Jewtown,
the popular beaches on the Malabar Coast with
Fort Cochin and Matancherry as the historical sites
are there to remind the visitors of Kochi's rich historical
heritage.
The UN in lieu of Kerala's rich cultural heritage recently
declared Malayalam as a universal language.
Kochi consists of mainland Ernakulam that bustles
with life and commerce and is a one-stop destination
for banks, bus terminals, railways stations, theaters,
colleges etc; the artificial island of Willingdon;
Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbor; Fort Cochin and Matancherry in the southern peninsula
along the Lakshadweep Sea; and Vypeen Islands
north of Fort Cochin that are attractions which you
will see when you travel to Kochi, Kerala.
Ferries shuttle between the Islands that are well connected
to each other by bridges over the harbor where dolphin
sighting is a common affair.
Kathakali performances can be enjoyed at Art
Kerala, Cochin Cultural Center and Kerala Kathakali
Center. Unique to Kerala, Kathakali bridges the
gap between traditional dance norms and theatre. Based
on the stories from the great Indian epics Ramayana
and Mahabharata, it is a group performance where elaborate
gestures and character specific makeup and costumes
are used instead of dialogues. For instance, a man of
noble birth like Ram would have a green face, an angry
villain a red face and a woman a yellow face.
On your travel to Kochi, do not settle for the familiar
food from back home. It is a must to try some of the
many varieties of sea food prepared with the
local spices with coconut milk and oil.
Places to visit on your travel to Kochi:
St Francis Church -
The tombstone of Vasco da Gama, buried in the church
for 14 years before being taken to Lisbon, is present
here. Considered to be the oldest European church in
India surrounded by villages reminiscent of medieval
English County, Portugal and Holland, it was constructed
by Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503.
Santa Cruz Basilica -
This Catholic church dates back to 1902. Its large size,
spacious interiors painted in eye-catching pastel colors
and militaristically furnished inspire faith.
Indo-Portuguese Museum -
Vestments, statues, silver processional crosses and
altarpieces from Cochin diocese are some of the relics
belonging to India's oldest Catholic communities that
are being preserved in the gardens of Bishop's house
in fort Cochin. Visit this museum on your travel to
Fort Cochin, Kochi to get familiar with the Catholic
heritage.
Dutch Cemetery - North
of the St Francis Church, the cemetery established in
1724 contains graves of known and unknown Europeans.
 Mattancherry
Palace - Also known as the Dutch Palace after
being renovated by the Dutch in 1663, the palace was
gifted to the King of Cochin, Veer Kerala Varma as a
goodwill gesture by the Portuguese in 1555. It houses
some of the most magnificent murals in India set in the galleries depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranic legends. Though photography is prohibited to avoid damage similar to the cracks
that appeared on Mona Lisa, a visit to the palace on
your travel to Kochi will leave an unshakeable imprint
of the scenes on your mind's eyes.
Pardesi Synagogue -
The original synagogue, like many of the historical
places in Fort Cochin, was destroyed by the Portuguese
in 1662 to be rebuilt two years later under the Dutch
occupation. The famous hand-painted willow-patterned
tiles from China that made an appearance in Salman
Rushdie's novel The Moor's Last Sigh, is its distinctive
feature. An ornate gold pulpit and a separate balcony
upstairs for women worshippers are present inside the
sanctuary.
Jewtown - As you step
out from the still synagogue into the buzzing streets
with depilated buildings functioning as firms engaged
in spice trade, air scented with ginger, cardamom, cumin,
turmeric and cloves elevate your lungs in this ancient
Jewish settlement.
Vypeen Island - Besides
the Kerala backwaters spotted with Chinese fishing
nets, Vypeen Island has miles of surf beaches
for daring sports. Here, you can hear the powerful waves
crashing onto the boulders, the waves of resonating
thunderous sounds slowly capturing your heart with its
raw sensuality. However, for those of you wish to bathe
in the placid cool waters of the Lakshadweep Sea, Cherai
Beach is the place to be.
Janaaranya - The People's
forest in Malayalam is a project that began in the 1990s
to restore Fort Cochin as the lungs of Kochi. With over
100 species of trees, including the mangrove that have
disappeared from the Malabar Coast, are planted along
the streets and public places. The Annual Tree Festival
with an assortment of activities for the entire family,
around the 'Mother Tree' that predates the Portuguese
arrival is both educational and inspiring.
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