Fort Kochi

ഫോർട്ട് കൊച്ചി

The old port district shaped by Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial rule. Chinese fishing nets by the sea, St. Francis Church, Jew Town and spice warehouses make it the historical and artistic heart of Kerala.

Fort Kochi is the old port district on the western peninsula of Kochi. In 1503 the Portuguese built India's first European fort here. The area was later ruled by the Dutch (1663–1795) and the British, and they left behind European-style churches, colonial residences and warehouses. Today it is a pedestrian district packed with galleries, boutique hotels and cafés. Highlights include the Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront. Known locally as Cheena vala, they are said to have been introduced by Chinese merchant ships of the Yuan and Ming dynasties or by Zheng He's fleet. These fixed nets are raised and lowered with levers and stone counterweights, and fishermen will let visitors help haul the nets for a tip. The classic picture is at sunset, against the light. St. Francis Church, built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524, and his remains were later moved back to Lisbon, though his tombstone remains. Other sights include Santa Cruz Basilica and the Dutch Cemetery. In the Mattancherry area to the south lies Jew Town. The Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568, is closed on Fridays and Saturdays and has floors laid with 18th-century Chinese blue-and-white tiles. Spice shops and antique stores line the streets nearby. Next to it is the Mattancherry Palace, known as the “Dutch Palace.” Admission is 5 rupees, it is closed on Fridays, and it displays Kochi royal artifacts and Ramayana murals. The Kerala Kathakali Centre stages a Kathakali performance every evening. Getting there: a ferry from Ernakulam takes 20 minutes (about 6 rupees), or a taxi takes 40 minutes. Explore the old town on foot or by rented bicycle. A full day is recommended: the synagogue and palace in the morning, churches and galleries in the afternoon, the fishing nets at sunset, and Kathakali in the evening. Note: when buying fish from the stalls by the nets to have a nearby restaurant cook it, agree on the price first. Cover your shoulders and knees for the synagogue. Accommodation is tight during the Biennale.

Fort Kochi

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