Kochi (Cochin)

Kochi was an obscure fishing village that became the first European township in India. The town was shaped by the Portuguese, the Dutch and later the British. The result of these cultural influences are seen in the many examples of Indo European architecture that still exist here. Some of the well known tourist attractions in Kochi are

The Old Fort, Kochi / Cochin

Vasco da Gama, whose arrival in Kerala about 500 years ago opened up a new era of trade between India and Europe, died in Fort Kochi on Christmas eve in 1524. The house where he died is a huge Portuguese-style mansion on Rose Street, which stands close to the St. Francis Church, the first European church in India. In accordance with his last wishes, da Gama's remains were unearthed and send to Lisbon, Portugal, and reburied there in 1538.

Chinese Fishing Nets/Vasco da Gama Square

These huge cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, these nets are set up on teak wood and bamboo poles.

Pierce Leslie Bungalow

This charming mansion was the office of Pierce Leslie & Co., coffee merchants, founded in 1862.

Old Harbour House

This elegant old bungalow built in 1808 is in the possession of Carrit Moran & Co., renowned tea brokers, who now use it as their residence. The house was once a boat club.

Koder House

This magnificent building constructed by Samuel S. Koder of The Cochin Electric Company in 1808 is a supreme example of the transition from colonial to Indo-European architecture.

Delta Study

Once a warehouse, this heritage bungalow built in 1808, houses a high school today.

St. Francis Church

Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India's oldest European church. This was initially built of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry.

Santa Cruz Basilica

This historic church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558.

Loafer's Corner/Princess Street

One of the earliest streets to be constructed in Fort Kochi, Princess Street with its European style residences still retains its old world charm.

Vasco House: Believed to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama, this is one of the oldest Portuguese residences in Fort Kochi. Built in the early sixteenth century, Vasco House sports the typical European glass paned windows and balcony cum verandahs characteristic of the times.

VOC Gate: The large wooden gate facing the Parade Ground, with the monogram (VOC) of the once mighty Dutch East India Company carved on it, was built in 1740.

Parade Ground: The four acre Parade Ground was where once the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British colonists conducted their military parades and drills. The United Club: Once upon a time one of the four elite clubs of the British in Kochi, the United Club today serves two roles - as class room for the nearby St. Francis Primary School by day and as card room for the current members by evening. Until 1907, the building housed the offices of the Fort Kochi Municipality. The Bishop's House: Built in 1506 as the residence of the Portuguese Governor, the Bishop's House stands on a little hillock near the Parade Ground. Fort Immanuel: This bastion of the Portuguese in Kochi was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom it was named.

The Dutch Cemetery: The tomb stones here are the most authentic record of the hundreds of Europeans who left their homeland on a mission to expand their colonial empires and changed the course of history of this land. The cemetery was consecrated in 1724 and is today managed by the Church of South India.

Thakur House: This graceful building holds within itself a reflection of the colonial era. The Bungalow was built on the site of the Gelderland Bastion, one of the seven bastions of the old Dutch fort.

David Hall: Though built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company, David Hall gets its name from one of its later occupants, David Koder, a Jewish businessman.

The Cochin Club: The club, with its impressive library and collection of sporting trophies, is housed in a beautifully landscaped park.

Bastion Bungalow: Built in the Indo-European style way back in 1667, the Bungalow gets its name from its location on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the old Dutch fort.

Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) (Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Fridays): Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch.

Synagogue (Open 1000 - 1200 hrs; 1500 -1700 hrs. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays): Constructed in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.

Jew Town: The area around the Synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops.

Cherai Beach: This lovely beach bordering Vypeen island is ideal for swimming. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. A typical Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added attraction.