Kerala - Cochin

Cochin is the palm green commercial town Keral and one of the finest natural harbours in the world. From here, ship set sail for foreign ports, bearing Pepper, Seafood, Rubber and Coir. Cochin’s martium history began in the remote past. The enlightened rulers of Cochin with their cosmopolitan outlook, traded goods as well as knowledge with visitors from far off lands from times immemorial Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese seafarmers followed the sea rout to Cochin and left their impression on the town.

Cochin is the most picturesque places in Kerala. It has a beautiful weather, harbour and seascapes. The lagoons and wooded islands of its backwaters, Chinese fishing nets in west it with great beauty.

The pungent scent of fresh pepper has lured explorers to Cochin from as far away as King Solomon's Israel, ancient Rome, Kublai Khan's pleasure dome and colony-hungry Portugal, Holland, and England. Cochin's magnificent eclecticism is legendary: Chinese fishing nets line the harbor's mouth, Dutch-style houses cram narrow streets, and sacks of spices fill the air with the same evocative smells that intoxicated merchants and journeymen. Across the water from Fort Cochin, Pendulum plays the part of the modern alter ego; its frantic, brash streets contrast with the slow vaguely Mediterranean quality of Cochin.

Flights: Airport: 30 Km northeast of the city. Taxis run from the Ernakulam and Fort Cochin. From the Indian airlines office in town, a private shuttle transport to the passengers to the airport.Air India (MG Road) north of the Thomas Cook.

Trains: Cochin has 3 stations. Ernakulam Junction Railway station, 2 blocks east of jos junction, handles most traffic. Ernakulam town railway station, 2 km north of the junction station along Banerji Rd. , Cochine Harbour railway station, on Willingdon Island, is serviced by few trains.

Cochin can be reached by road from Kottayam 67 kms from Aleppy 63 kms. Trivandrum 219 kms. It is also connected with like Trivandrum – Ernakulam rail route. A tourist visiting places in Kerala may as well as begain his itinerary at Cochin which like Trivandrum is connected by air and rail with the major cities of India.

Wider Cochin consists of a bunch of islands around lake Vembanad and the main land city of Ernakulam. Fort cochin and mattancherry occupy a peninsula that juts into the Arabian sea nearby islands include Vypeen Island and the smaller islands of Willingdon, Vallarpadam, Gundy and Bolghatty. The central Railway, bus station and many hotels are in Ernakulam but toursts generally devote their walking hours (if not their whole stay) to Foot Cochin and the Peninsula.

Kathakali Dance: Kathakali, which means "Story Play", is one of India's four major schools of classical dance. Transformed into Gods and demons with wildly colored make-up, massive golden headdresses, and skirts bright and full enough to put any ballerina to shame, the performs blink, bound and flap expressively to tell their tale. Usually male, the actors study scripture, Kalaripayatu, Ayurvedic message and music for eight years, beginning at age 10 or 12. They then train in dance for four years. Emphasis is given to proper lifestyle and the deep understanding of archetypes portrayed in the Vedas. The dancers communicate ideas and feelings through 24 mudras, hand gestures combined with convulsive eye and face movements and the pounding of ghungroo-laden feet. by using the combination of these mudras- signifying things like "Love", "Sarcasm", "Be drinking from a lotus flowers" etc.The dancers depict stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata while piercing drums and classical vocals provide narration . Although traditional Kathakali was - and still is on special holy days - performed as part of a temple ritual, modern day shows last only an hour or so and are performed for tourists who come to "watch the Gods dance" .

Sant Cruz Basilica Fort Cochin: This Roman Catholic Church is situated close to St. Francis Church and has some very beautiful paintings on its celling.
 

Dutch Palace in Mattancherry: Built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in 1555 AD. It was here that the Papal Bull of Alexander Borgia giving the western hemisphere to spain and the eastern hemisphere to Portugal. The dutch, on defeating the Portuguese modified the structure hence its name Dutch palace in 1663. In the adjoining rooms are large size panels of the 17th century. The coronation ceremony of the Cochin Rejoys was traditionally held in its Centeral hall called the cornation Hall.

Jewish Synagogue: In Mattancherry , has an ancient Jewish synagogue. Jewish came to Kerala at king Solomon time and St. Thomas came to India 52 AD and arrived in Granganore in 55 AD. The Dutch Jewish seventy to Eighty thousand arrived on the Malabar coast in 370 AD and 26 AD, 490 AD, 508 AD 750 Ad palolins the 10th century and the Cochin.
Mattancherry Jewish synagogue, where the visit can see the firm worship as in the days of the prophets, a jewish colony, which had its beginning in Christian lines flourished here. The jews found welcome in this land of magnanimous rulers. The Synagogue was built in 1568 but was destroyed by the Portugese in 1662 and Rebuilt in 1664AD.

St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin:Fort:  The Porguese were the first Europeans to discover the sea route to India when Vascodagama landed kappadbeah at  calicut in 1498. To year later on 24 th December 1500 April Portuguese ship under the command of Admiral cabral visited Cochin and the Rajah of Cochin permitted them to engage in trade. In 1503 Alphonso Aburquerque was given permission by the Rajah to built a fort as the mouth of the river.

Willingdon Island: This manmade is land was created with the material dredged while deepening the Cochin fort. The airport and Rail terminus lie on the island which connects cochin harbour with the main land by a bridge,  frequent ferry services ply over the lake. The island serves as a clearing houses for all the Cargo traffic meant for the Cochin port. There is Southern Naval Command.

Gundu Island: The smallest island around Cochin with an area of area of 5 acres. A Coir factory run by a cooperative society is the only Building situated on this island, weavers can be observed making beautifully designed doormats out of Coconut fiber on handlooms.

Chinese Fisihing Nets: Typical of  Cochin are the Chinese fishing nets, which were introduced during the medieval ages by the traders from the court of Kublaikhan. Situated near the entrance to the badckwaters area fascinating sight.

 

Bolghatty Palace and Island: This place island can be reached by boat from high Court Boat jetty, Ernakulam. This peaceful, quiet Tourist Bungalow is an ideal place for the visitors, leisurely stay. It lies on the Balghatty island between the main land and the harbour mouth. The palace was built by the Dutch in 1744, but later become the seat of the british Resident, laying amidst singularly beautiful surroundings this old building is very attractive. Around the palace lies the golf course. It has at its disposal motar lanches which can be hired for excursions as a hotel under KTDC.