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Kochi is probably Kerala's most famous city. As European a city as one can find in India, it has Fort Cochin built by the Portuguese on an island offshore that seems to be pulled straight out of the 16th century with narrow, winding, canal-lined streets, 500 year-old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets lining the northwest shore of the island, a 16th century synagogue surrounded by 'Jew Town,' which was |
once home to the flourishing Indian Jewish population, the oldest church in India and a palace that was built by the Portuguese, renovated by the Dutch, and eventually was given to the Indian Raja of Cochin.
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| Fort Kochi |
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Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin was the first European fort built on the Indian soil in 1530 by Portuguese with the permission of its then ruler. It was then known as 'Manuel Kotta'. Dutch gained its possession in 1663 until British wrested it from them in 1795. Situated on one of the finest natural harbors of the state, it houses first European township that soon became an important commercial centre and trade centre that flourished under the British. It soon became a major military base, cultural hub, shipbuilding centre and centre for Christianity, all in one. The highlights of this fort are VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow, Jewish Synagogue, Bolgatty Palace and Chinese Fishing nets. |
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| Tourist Attractions in Kochi |
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Dutch Palace, Mattancherry |
Dutch Palace, MattancherryAs 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.
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| Chinese Fishing Nets |
The Chinese fishing nets have become a very popular tourist attraction, their size and elegant construction is very photogenic and the slow rhythm of their operation is quite hypnotic. In addition, catches can be purchased individually and need be taken only a short distance to a street entrepreneur who will cook it. |
| Willington Island |
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Willington IslandNamed after the former Viceroy of India, lord Willington, 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.
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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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Backwaters |
While you are in Cochin, you will come across many backwater options to enchant and refresh you. Popular as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin is a group of islands on the huge expanse of the Vembanad Lake. Some of these picturesque islands are Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. The Vembanad Lake opens out into the Arabian Sea here to form one of the finest natural harbours in the world, making Cochin a fascinating blend of diverse cultures and influences. The interlinking of waterways has made Cochin a place, from where many backwater houseboat cruises begin or end.
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| Bolghatty Palace |
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A beautiful island near the Ernakulam, Bolghatty is famous for the Bolghatty Palace built by the Dutch. The Bolghatty palace, once the residence of the British resident of Cochin, is now a KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation) hotel.
Jewish Synagogue
Built in 1568, it is the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth countries. Known for mid 18th century hand printed, willow pattern floor tiles from Canton in China, Hebrew
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inscriptions on stone slabs, a dock tower, ancient scripts on copper plates etc, the Synagogue is a place worth seeing in Cochin.
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| Rocky out crop |
The steep rocky hill tract is almost mountainous in character. The cliff and ravine topography area is ideal for adventure activities that would attract people who like gliding, rope climbing, jumping and the like. There can be viewing pavilions too, as gufas in the vertical surface of the hill which would attract people for staying inside. This can be carved out of the rocks and would provide an adventurous stay. |
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