Kerala is synonymous with beaches, but it is also famous for its spice production. In Cochin you can buy a wide variety of spices for preparing culinary delights.
Cochin has gained international fame for producing and exporting its spices to several countries. Today the city occupies an important place in the world spice market.
The history of spice production in the city dates back approximately 600 years. Merchants traded spices with the Arabs, Jews, Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese. Spices are an integral part of most Indian recipes. They are also used in the preparation of perfumes and medicines. Most Indian spices have healing properties and are still used by people as a remedy for a number of diseases.
The most famous spices available in the market are black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger and chilli.
Cochin Synagogue
The Jewish synagogue was built in 1568. Its existence testifies to the general harmony in the state, which has been preserved for many centuries.
The first building of the synagogue was destroyed during the Portuguese persecution of the Jews. The second synagogue, which has survived to this day, was built under the protection of the Raja of Cochin. It is called "Paradesi" ("Foreign Synagogue").
Like regular synagogues, this one also has separate sections for men and women. Inside the temple are kept scrolls of the law, Belgian chandeliers, glass, pulpit railings, copper plates, Chinese painted porcelain tiles, an oriental carpet and other valuables. A notable feature of the synagogue is the 18th century clock tower.
In 1968, the synagogue celebrated its 400th anniversary. Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, took part in the ceremony.
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Church of St. Franziska
The Church of St. Francis is the first and now the oldest church that was built by the Portuguese in India. During the time of the Portuguese it was Catholic (XVI-XVII centuries), from the 17th to 18th centuries - Dutch reformist, from the 19th to 20th centuries - Anglican. Now it is part of the possession of the Church of South India.
The temple was originally made of wood, but was later replaced with stone (1516). The building was built by Franciscan monks in 1503. After its construction, Christianity began to actively spread in India. Vasco da Gama, who died in Cochin, was buried in the temple, but 14 years later his remains were transported to Portugal.
The temple was included in the list of protected monuments in 1923. It is also protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple holds services on Sundays and memorial days, and is open to tourists on weekdays.
The Dutch Palace is also known as Mattancherry Palace. It is interesting for its interior decoration, luxurious halls and ancient frescoes.
The palace building was built by the Portuguese in 1557 for Raja Veera Kerala Varma Kothi. It is a typical two-story upper-class mansion, consisting of four wings that open onto a central courtyard.
The most beautiful thing in the palace is the coronation hall, previously used by the rulers of Cochin. The walls of the rooms are decorated with frescoes from the 17th century. They are devoted to religious and mythological themes, partly erotic. The mythological paintings depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Other relics that are kept in the palace are royal suits, turbans, weapons and other valuable antiques of the royal family.
On both sides of the palace there are temples dedicated to Krishna and Shiva.
The most popular attractions of Cochin with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Cochin on our website.
We arrived in Cochin at night, so it was pointless to immediately explore the city. It was pointless and illogical, but it had to be, the body stubbornly refused to fall asleep on an empty stomach, and our squad went in search of food. To our surprise, the city did not sleep, or at least not all of it slept. At midnight we even met workers selflessly cleaning the sewer. Although it may well be that due to the constant heat (even at night the temperature was about 28 degrees) they always work at night. Finding a power supply was not a problem for us and, having refreshed ourselves, we went to bed.
The next morning, with a clear mind and sound memory, we began to explore Cochin, the second most populous city in Kerala. Cochin is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, or rather its large harbor, which is called Lake Vembanad. The city stretches along the coast for about 50 kilometers and consists of the mainland, a peninsula, one large island and a group of small islands; in general, the map of the area here is interesting.
Cochin seemed to us more green city than Delhi and there are fewer cars on the streets:
Rickshaws here are painted yellow and black, and there are even municipal workers on the streets who clean up garbage. By Indian standards, Cochin can be called a clean city, compared to Delhi for sure.
Although Indian street cleaners work hard, the garbage on Indian streets is truly endless.
In Cochin we got acquainted with the authentic Indian sewer system. The main know-how is that it goes under open air and does not use these pipes that no one needs:
Don’t be fooled by the fact that in the photo part of the sewer is covered with concrete slabs, these are only fragments and only in some parts of the city, in all other places you can freely enjoy the murmur of water and everything that floats in it:
The sewer cover protrudes well above the ground, so sand embankments are built for vehicle access:
Cleaning your drain is as easy as it looks. In the evening, workers inspect the canals for blockages, then remove objects and excrement with insufficient fluidity that caused the blockage, then it is all dried in the sun and transported to an unknown destination:
By the way, it should be noted that all the good flows directly into Lake Vembanad, so there are no problems with aeration and purification stations, everything is practical and economical.
But let’s pay attention to other Cochin attractions, the main of which, of course, is the Fort. Fort Cochin is the first European settlement in India. The fort arose in the romantic times of sailors and the search for a sea route to India, so its founders and first inhabitants were Portuguese sailors; at one time Vasco da Gama was even buried here. Later, the Dutch and British had a hand in the development of this area.
The simplest and cheap way to get to the Fort is to use the waterway, for this we go to the port to buy tickets for the tram. The fare is nominal, only a few rupees. The captain and crew are in the public service, and the ship is state property. We did not meet any private carriers.
Pay attention to the cash register, we have never seen such a manifestation of gender segregation: boys to the left, and girls to the right. A large red sign warns that spitting is prohibited here:
The captain can be on the first or second floor:
The captain is always stern and closely monitors the situation on the water, avoiding buoys, potholes, fishermen and other boats:
Another important person on board is the mechanic, who is responsible for the operation of the engine. Everything is like in the movies, the captain gives the command “Full speed ahead”, and the mechanic pulls the switch. Commands are given using a bell, which is attached to a rope, at the other end of which is the captain. The same principle can be observed in Indian.
The active participation of the mechanic is required mainly only during mooring and sailing; the rest of the time this is the most relaxing and reading profession in the world:
View of the city from the water:
Cargo port:
We moor, go ashore and here it is - real colonial architecture:
Narrow but neat and tidy streets:
Antique tile roofs:
Another attraction of the city can be called large (up to 20m wide) fishing nets, which are called Chinese here. Local residents claim that they were introduced by the Chinese who came to Kerala in the 14th century. Finding Chinese chains is not difficult - it is the first thing you will see when you reach the Fort.
The principle of fishing is extremely simple: during high tide, the nets are lowered into the water, and during low tide they are lifted out of the water along with what has swam there.
Near each net there is a booth where fishermen are on duty:
Typically, a fishing team consists of 5 people. The most important thing can be determined by the presence of a mobile phone.
The net is lowered into the water:
And if she doesn’t go down, then you need to help her:
More than half of the work is done, now you just need to wait, but in the meantime you can recover, have a smoke, sunbathe:
Anticipating the spoils, the entire team sets off to lift the net:
This completes the process of catching fish; all that remains is to select it from the net. To do this you will need a net and two Indians; you can’t do without the second one:
Those who are not competent enough to fish from the shore fish from boats:
The local post office mainly works to send postcards, which they sell at every turn:
I bet you have solitaire open on at least one computer:
Active search for the missing letter:
Richest resident of Cochin:
The day was coming to an end and we went to the beach to watch the sunset:
And this is what Chinese networks look like at sunset:
View of the city at night:
Upon returning from the Fort, we discovered that one of our phones was missing, so we had to go in search of a new device and SIM card. There were no problems with the first task, but getting a SIM card at night turned out to be a little problematic. They seem to be selling SIM cards, but they can only be activated during business hours.
On the way to the base, we accidentally wandered into some Indian concert; it turns out that they have something similar going on every weekend, and all on a public basis:
Free entry, exotic music:
The next morning we bought bus tickets and set out to conquer the green Ghat Mountains.
In the next issues, read about the famous Indian tea plantations and the life of the Kerala mountaineers.
Cochin- a city in the Indian state of Kerala, major port Arabian Sea. 30 km from the city center is located international Airport Cochin. Population – 564,589 people (2001).
Cochin stretches for almost 50 km along the coast. The city lies on the banks of a convenient closed harbor called Vembanad Lake. This lagoon is one of the famous "inland waters" of Kerala, formed by streams flowing from the western slopes of the Western Ghats.
Ernakulam, the largest and fastest growing part of Kochi, is located on the mainland shore of Vembanad.
2 km to the west lies Willingdon Island (named at the beginning of the 19th century in honor of the Duke of Wellington), and even further - at the very exit of the harbor - are the oldest areas of the city. This is Fort Kochi and Mattanchery, adjacent to it from the south. To the north of the peninsula that these areas occupy lies a group of islands - Bolgatty, Gundu and the largest Vypeen.
Most of the city's attractions are located in the Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas, while the auto and railway stations located in Ernakulam.
Story
Since 1102 it has been the capital of a small seaside principality. In 1500, Cabral founded the first European settlement in India here, in 1502 Vasco da Gama established the first trading post in India (where he died), in 1503 Albuquerque built a Portuguese fort in Cochin. Portuguese rule lasted until 1663, when the city passed into Dutch hands. In 1795, Holland ceded Cochin to Britain in exchange for the island of Bangka.
Last changes: 02/21/2010Attractions
Fort Kochi- a cozy area of narrow streets lined with old colonial bungalows. Worth a look here:
Chinese fishing nets(china-vala) - huge (up to 20 m long) structures in the form of a net with a counterweight. They stand on the shore, to the left of the ferry crossing on Vaiping Island. During high tide, the nets are lowered into the water, and at low tide they are raised along with the sea creatures that managed to get in there. It is believed that this device was introduced to Kerala by the Chinese who arrived in the 14th century. This is the first thing you will see when you reach the Fort from the Customs Jetty.
Church of St. Francis- oldest catholic church in India, built in 1503. In 1524, Vasco da Gama was buried in the church. The tombstone of the navigator can still be seen in central nave, on the right side. The ashes were transported to Lisbon in 1539. There are many old Dutch burials. The church stands in a beautiful garden. From the Chinese networks, go south along Princess Street and turn right onto Bastion Street - you will see the church at the end of the street.
Old Dutch Cemetery- exists since 1724, Dutch and English burials from the colonial era. From St. Francis Church, walk south along Post Office Rd. to the junction with Parade Ground Rd. There are several hotels here - any of them will give you directions.
Indo-Portuguese Museum- located in the former bishop's palace. Beautiful garden. From the cemetery you can walk along Beach Rd. and Elphinstone St., from Chinese chains - straight along Post Office Rd. Large collection of temple sculpture and church utensils, interesting materials on history Portuguese India. Closed on Monday, open from 9 am to 6 pm, break from 1 pm to 2 pm.
Basilica of Santa Cruz- a beautiful temple built in 1902. From the Chinese networks you can walk along Princess St. and Peter Celli St.
Kerala Kathakali Center. Kathakali is a traditional theatrical performance based on a story from the Puranas, Ramayana or Mahabharata. Exists in Kerala since the 16th century. and is the main cultural phenomenon of the state. The center is located at the River Rd intersection. and Princess St., opposite the Chinese chains.
Mattanchery– here it is worth seeing the Mattanchery Palace, built in 1555 by the Portuguese for the Cochin Maharaja.
Not far from the palace are the Jewish quarter and the ancient synagogue Pardesi Synagogue (open from 10 to 17, except Saturdays, break from 12 to 15).
Neighborhood Cochin
To the north of the city is the Pallipuram fort (5 km, across Vaipin Island).
Chennamangalam is located 4 km from Parur. Here is the oldest synagogue in Kerala (dilapidated), a 16th-century Jesuit church and college, a Hindu temple on the banks of the Periyar River, a 16th-century mosque, and Muslim and Jewish cemeteries. Buses to Parur depart from KSRTC (every 10 minutes, 1 hour travel time).
Last changes: 02/21/2010Climate
Cochin has a very mild climate as it is located right on the coast. In June-August there is heavy rain brought by the southwest monsoon. Winter begins in December and lasts until February. In summer the temperature rises to +35*, and in winter it is +25*.
Last changes: 02/21/2010Transport
Kochi is located almost in the very center of the state and all buses plying between the north and south of Kerala pass through this city.
The main state bus station - KSRTC bus stand - is located in the eastern part of Ernakulam, between the railway and the mosque. The nearest street is Ammankovil Road. There are flights to Bangalore and even Chennai. The main private bus station - Kaloor bus stand - is located in the north-eastern part of the city, half a kilometer from the Ernakulam Town Station along NH Rd.
There are many railway stations in Kochi, but the main railway stations are Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town Station. Both are on the same line - the first in the south, the second in the north of Ernakulam. The distance between stations is about 3 km. The pre-sale ticket office is located at Ernakulam Junction. The most common train routes from Kochi are Thrissur (13 trains per day), Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram, 8 trains per day) and Calicut (4 trains per day).
The international airport is located 30 km northeast of Ernakulam. From here both internal and international flights. There are flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Agatti Island (Lakshadweep Islands), as well as to Sri Lanka and Bahrain.
Kochi is the main base for visiting the Lakshadweep Islands (Laccadive Islands). Ships sail from Kochi to the islands about once every two weeks. The schedule can be found in tourist office Lakshadweep in Kochi (www.lakshadweeptourism.com).
The waters of Cochin harbor are plied by countless regular boats and car ferries. Both public and private watercraft operate.
Cochin (Kochi, Cochin) is a large port city and a famous tourist center in the state of Kerala, on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Cochin stretches for almost 50 km along the coast, on the shore of a convenient closed harbor called Lake Vembanad. This lagoon belongs to the famous "inland waters" of Kerala (Kerala backwaters), formed by streams flowing from the western slopes of the Western Ghats.
The city consists of several parts:
- Ernakulam is located on the mainland shore of Vembanad - the largest and fastest growing part of Cochin
- 2 km to the west lies Willingdon Island
- at the very exit from the harbor - the oldest areas of the city - Fort Cochin and Mattancherry adjacent to it from the south
- to the north of the peninsula that these areas occupy lies a group of islands - Bolgatty, Gundu and the largest Vypeen
Most of the city's attractions are located in the Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas, while the bus and railway stations are located in Ernakulam.
The unique plant of Lake Vembanad is the water hyacinth. It looks like a huge tangled ball of grass, which sometimes reaches such a size that it forms entire floating islands inhabited by egrets.
How to get to Cochin
Cochin International Airport is 29 km from the city. It receives flights from Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Doha, Manama, Kuwait, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi, Goa, Kolkata, Lakshadweep Islands and Bangalore.
You can also travel from Trivandrum by train (4-5 hours). The city has two railway stations, which are located in Ernakulam - North and South.
Shopping: shops
Clothes and jewelry can be purchased on MG road and Marine Drive. Recently, large shopping malls have been built in the city: Bay Pride Mall on Marine drive, Oberon Mall in Edapally and My Kingdom on MG Road - with air conditioning, food courts and nice coffee shops.
It’s worth bringing silk from Cochin - delicate, stunning, of all colors and shades.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions in Cochin
Fort Kochi is a cozy area of narrow streets lined with old colonial bungalows. Here is the Church of St. Francis - the oldest Catholic church in India, built in 1503, where the ashes of Vasco da Gama at one time rested. You can also stroll to the Old Dutch Cemetery, which dates back to 1724, and the Basilica of Santa Cruz.
The Indo-Portuguese Museum, located in the former bishop's palace, is interesting. The collection includes: temple sculpture and church utensils, materials on the history of Portuguese India. Working hours: 9:00-18:00, break 13:00-14:00, Monday - closed.
Mattanchery has many interesting art galleries: Draavidia Art and Performance Gallery, Kashi Art Cafe and Lila Studio. 1.5 km south is Mattanchery Palace, built in 1555 by the Portuguese for the Maharaja of Cochin. There is a portrait gallery of the rulers of Kochi at the palace (opening hours: 10:00-17:00, closed Friday, photography is prohibited). Not far from the palace are the Jewish quarter and the ancient synagogue Pardesi Synagogue (opening hours: 10:00-17:00, break 12:00-15:00, closed on Sat).
A cultural phenomenon in Kerala that has existed since the 16th century is the Kerala Kathakali Centre. A traditional theatrical performance based on a story from the Puranas, Ramayana or Mahabharata is held here.
The most popular and fun discos in Kochi: Tandav, Ava Lounge, Glow lounge bar (located at the Harbor View hotel, the wildest parties on Wednesday and Thursday), Formula 1, Loungevity, Couchyn (located at The Grand hotel, great music) and Ramada.
Mattanchery has a population of 1.5 million people. The second largest city in Kerala after the capital Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). Tourist centre, famous for its attractions.
Cochin city
Kochi stretches for almost 50 km along the low-lying sea coast. The city lies on the shores of a convenient sheltered harbor called Lake Vembanad. This lagoon belongs to the famous "inland waters" of Kerala (Kerala backwaters), formed by streams flowing from the western slopes of the Western Ghats. Ernakulam, the largest and fastest growing part of Kochi, is located on the mainland shore of Vembanad.
2 km to the west lies Willingdon (named at the beginning of the 19th century in honor of the Duke of Wellington), and even further - at the very exit of the harbor - are the oldest areas of the city. This is Fort Kochi and Mattanchery, adjacent to it from the south. To the north of the peninsula that these areas occupy lies a group of islands - Bolgatty, Gundu and the largest Vypeen.
When you sail on a boat on Lake Vembanad, huge tangled balls of some kind of water catch your eye. Sometimes they reach such sizes that they form entire floating islands inhabited by egrets. This thing is called water hyacinth.
Most of the city's attractions are located in the Fort Kochi and Mattanchery areas, while the railway stations are located in Ernakulam.
What to see in Cochin?
Sights of Fort Kochi
The Fort is a cozy area of narrow streets lined with old colonial bungalows.
Chinese fishing nets
(china-wala). Huge (up to 20 m long) structures in the form of a net with a counterweight. They stand on the shore, to the left of the ferry crossing on Vaiping Island. During high tide, the nets are lowered into the water, and at low tide they are raised along with the sea creatures that managed to get in there. It is believed that this device was introduced to Kerala by the Chinese who arrived in the 14th century. This is the first thing you will see when you reach the Fort from the Customs Jetty.
Church of St. Francis . The oldest Catholic church in India, built in 1503. In 1524, Vasco da Gama was buried in the church. The navigator's tombstone can still be seen in the central nave, on the right side. The ashes were transported to Lisbon in 1539. There are many old Dutch burials. The church stands in a beautiful garden. From the Chinese networks you need to go south along Princess Street and turn right onto Bastion Street - you will see the church at the end of the street.
Old Dutch Cemetery . Exists since 1724, Dutch and English burials from the colonial era. From St. Francis Church, walk south along Post Office Rd. to the junction with Parade Ground Rd. There are several hotels here - any of them will give you directions.
Indo-Portuguese Museum . Located in the former bishop's palace. Beautiful garden. From the cemetery you can walk along Beach Rd. and Elphinstone St., from Chinese chains - straight along Post Office Rd. A large collection of temple and church utensils, interesting materials on the history of Portuguese India. Closed on Monday, open from 9 am to 6 pm, break from 1 pm to 2 pm.
Basilica of Santa Cruz . A beautiful temple built in 1902. From the Chinese networks you can walk along Princess St. and Peter Celli St.
Kerala Kathakali Center . Kathakali is a traditional theatrical performance based on a story from the Puranas, Ramayana or Mahabharata. Exists in Kerala since the 16th century. and is the main cultural phenomenon of the state. The center is located at the River Rd intersection. and Princess St., opposite the Chinese chains.
Sights of Mattanchery
From the Customs Pier, go left along Bazaar Rd. First (about 10 minutes from the pier) on the left side of the street you will come across Draavidia Art and Performance Gallery, behind which there should be some art galleries Kashi Art Cafe and Lila Studio. Another 1.5 km south is
Mattanchery Palace
, built in 1555 by the Portuguese for the Maharaja of Cochin. Portrait gallery of the rulers of Kochi, decorated chambers and scenes from Indian epics. Open from 10 to 17, except Friday. Photography is prohibited.
Not far from the palace are the Jewish quarter and an ancient synagogue Pardesi Synagogue(open from 10 to 17, except Saturdays, break from 12 to 15).
Other sights in Cochin.
To the north of the city is Pallipuram fort
(5 km, via Vaiping Island).
Even further, 35 km from Kochi, there is a small town Parur
with numerous religious monuments. There is a Krishna temple, a Mukambika temple, a Syrian Orthodox Christian church and a synagogue.
4 km from Parur there is a place Chennamangalam
(Chennamangalam). Here is the oldest synagogue in Kerala (dilapidated), a 16th-century Jesuit church and college, a Hindu temple on the shore, a 16th-century mosque, and Muslim and Jewish cemeteries. To Parur they depart from the KSRTC station (every 10 minutes, 1 hour on the way).
Climate and weather:
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Check out the attractions
Comments: 2
Across India - afloat
Around India - on a houseboat
About India from votpusk - Sun, 21/06/2009 - 09:29
A wonderful opportunity to get to know India from the inside is to sail through the system of canals, rivers, lakes and lagoons of the state (Kerala) - from Cochin to Kollam, Quilon. Traditionally, this waterway was used by Indians as a transportation system, for fishing and farming, and for annual traditional canoe races for locals and tourists. Lush greenery, untouched, houses and villages along the shores will make it an unforgettable experience. The cheapest way to travel along the canals is to travel between Alleppey and Kottayam, for example, on one of the public boats operated by the local water transport department. The trip takes from 2.5 hours and departs several times a day. You can also take a ferry cruise between Allepey and Kollam. This journey will take 8 hours, the ferry leaves every day at 10.30, the cost of the trip is about $5.
Travel agencies also organize group boat excursions, with prices starting at $12, which includes lunch. You can rent a traditional Kerala houseboat (kettuvallam). The best place for rent - Allepy, where you can find hundreds of offers. From Allepey you can sail to Kumarakom, Kottayam and Alinkadavu. During the day, the houseboat slowly floats about another 40-50 kilometers, which provides an excellent opportunity to explore the surrounding area from the water. Houseboats can be hired for periods ranging from one night to a week. You can use the boat only for an overnight stay and spend a relaxing night in the middle of the lake, returning it around 9-10 am the next day.
The rental price depends on the quality of the vessel and the time of year. Minimum
