Mattanchery
The Mattanchery Dutch Palace was built by the Portuguese as a gift for the
local king. But the Dutch repaired it, and the name just stuck. Now a
museum, the palace, like many others in Kerala, boasts of a hall full of
murals narrating stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There are
also old colonial maps of Kochi and royal memorabilia. The unique thing
about this palace is that although the style of architecture is Portugal,
the construction pattern is traditional Kerala style. The palace has two
stories, which is built around a central courtyard. This style is known as "nalukettu".
The palace has round-headed windows and doors and sloping tiled roof.
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Wellingdon Island
This island between Ernakulam and Fort Kochi is home to the Southern Naval
Command. The island is entirely manmade. It was dredged out of the
backwaters and the sea. It is connected to the mainland by the Venduruthy
Bridge. The view from the bridge is spectacular. |
On the Ernakulam side, you
can see the tall crane of the Kochi Shipyard, one of the major ship building
yards in India and on the island side one can see the Navy vessels.
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Bolgatty Palace
Bolghatty Palace is a beautiful monument located on the Bolghatty Island
just off the coast of Cochin. It is easily accessible with the help of the
ferry services. The Bolghatty Palace is now converted into a heritage hotel
and has a beautiful golf course amidst stunning and serene surroundings.
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The Bolghatty Palace of Kochi was once the home of the British Governors. It
was built in 1744 by the Dutch and is still preserved in its best form and
maintained by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
It is located amongst lush green tropical environs, complete with fantastic
scenery of the backwaters. The place has a quiet laid-back charm about it.
The palace building has two stories that are tastefully done and decorated.
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The Jewish Synagogue
The Jewish Synagogue in Kochi was built in 1568 AD. The Synagogue Jewish
Monument stands out as an evidence of mutual harmony in the state for
centuries. The synagogue still has rolls of Old Testament and also the old
copper plates that have records of the grants and privileges bestowed upon
the rulers of Kochi. The interiors are beautifully decorated with Belgian
chandeliers and grand lighting. |
The synagogue is covered with beautifully painted Chinese tiles. The amazing
fact is that no two tiles resemble each other.
The synagogue has a collection of
the souvenirs that were presented to the kings of Kochi as a token of love
and affection. These souvenirs include the beautifully carved crowns in
wrought gold and silver that were gifted by various patrons who visited the
place. The synagogue is an important symbol of the religious and cultural
heritage of the Jews.
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Fort Kochi
Fort Cochin is a small community in itself. Since it is a natural harbor and
one of the most important trade centers in south of India, Kochi fort of
Kerala is one of the most important towns in the state. One can see a unique
blend of European, Dutch and Portugal lifestyle in fort of Cochin. |
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That is because European, Dutch and Portuguese rulers occupied Cochin for
many years.
In pre-colonial Kerala, Kochi was just an insignificant fishing village. The
Maharaja of Cochin granted this territory (now known as Fort Kochi) later to
the Portuguese in 1503. The Portuguese built a fort around the waterfront to
protect their premises and that is how Cochin Fort got its name. Fort Cochin
is known as the "Queen of Arabian Sea" in tourist literature.
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St. Francis Church
St. Francis Church, originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron Saint
of Portugal, is the first European Church in India. Situated in Fort Cochin,
this church is a living historical monument.
The history of this ancient church reflects the colonial struggle of the
European powers in India, from the 15th through 20th century. The church was
originally a wooden structure dedicated to St Bartholomew by the Portuguese.
In AD 1506, the Portuguese Viceroy Dom Francisco Almedia was permitted by
the Cochin Raja to reconstruct the buildings in stone masonry. In 1516 A.D
the new church was completed and it was dedicated to St. Antony. |
The church became a protected monument in April 1923 under the Protected
Monuments Act of 1904. The Cenotaph in memory of the residents of Cochin who
fell in the First Great War was erected in 1920.
The facade is impressive, flanked on either side by a stepped pinnacle.
There is a bell-turret on the summit of the gable-front, divided into three
compartments. Inside the chancel is divided from the nave by a plain arched
opening and the top of the chancel roof is crowned by two stepped pinnacles.
It exhibits an architecture of arch.
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Chinese fishing nets
The Chinese fishing nets are fixed land installations for an unusual form of
fishing — shore operated lift nets. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out
horizontal nets of 20 m or more across. Each structure is at least 10 m high
and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea
and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end.
Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen. |
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The system is sufficiently balanced that the weight of a man walking along
the main beam is sufficient to cause the net to descend into the sea.
The net is left for a short time, possibly just a few minutes, before it is
raised by pulling on ropes. The catch is usually modest: a few fish and
crustaceans.
The system of counterweights is most ingenious. Rocks are suspended from
ropes of different lengths. As the net is raised, some of the rocks
one-by-one come to rest on a platform thereby keeping everything in balance.
The Chinese fishing nets are a very popular tourist attraction, their size
and elegant construction is very photogenic and the slow rhythm of their
operation is quite hypnotic.
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