Kerala is often called God’s Own Country and Kochi (also known as Cochin) is the gateway to Kerala. We made a short trip to Kochi for some work and decided to extend our stay over the weekend to explore.
After the hustle and bustle of Pune and Mumbai, Kochi was a welcome respite. The Kochi airport itself gives you a flavor of what to expect while you are here. Instead of cold plastic chairs, the airport has comfortable sofa chairs.You will see a lot of wood and the general look and feel is of a bungalow.
The best thing about Kochi is that people are usually smiling. There is a general air of calm and life moves at its own pace. We had a lot of fun exploring Kochi, attending galas at the Kochi club in the evening and playing tourist during the day.
Here are our top seven places you can see in Kochi
Mattancherry Palace
Mattancherry Palace is also called the Dutch Palace and easily topped our list of must visit places here. The palace was built in the 1500s by the Portuguese as a present to King Veera Kerala Verma of Kochi dynasty.It holds an impressive collection of ancient coins, wall hangings, palanquins, jewelry etc. The throne room and bedchambers have stunning murals depicting scenes from Ramayana and this is the highlight of the palace.The palace also has carved rosewood wall panels and ceilings and the floor is not made of stone but a traditional composite material blended from charcoal, burnt coconut shell, egg white and other ingredients. The entire tour takes about a couple of hours and it’s totally worth it.
Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is about an hour’s drive from the airport and it has an amazing vibe. It has a laid back atmosphere with an undercurrent of fun, music and parties. You can spend your entire day relaxing at the many cafés by the sea side and soaking in the multicultural influence thanks to Kochi’s history. One of our favorite places here is KashiArt Café which fuses old school charm with local art and great food. You can also visit the Indian Naval Maritime Museum and the Indo Portuguese Museum. The Church of St. Francis used to be the former resting place of the Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama.
Santacruz Cathedral Basilica
Santacruz Cathedral Basilica is the most beautiful Church in Kochi. The interior of the church has a Gothic style architecture and the main altar was decorated by the renowned Italian painter Antonio Moscheni. Another striking feature of this church are the paintings that adorn the ceiling of the alter including the beautiful reproduction of the ‘Last Supper’ by Leonardo da Vinci. The ceiling of the rest of the church has paintings that depict scenes from the Via Crucis of Christ.
The history of Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica dates back to 1505. Built originally by the Portuguese, the Church has seen many changes, demolitions and renovations. The present day structure was consecrated in 1905. In 1984 Pope John Paul II raised the status of Santa Cruz Cathedral to Basilica.
Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town
Paradesi Synagogue is India’s oldest synagogue.The synagogue is home to many antiques and other rare artefacts. Some of the items on display that captured our attention were the marvelous glass chandeliers, four scrolls of Torah (the first five books of Old Testament) encased in silver and gold,two gold crowns presented to the Jewish Community by the Kings of Kochi and Travancore and copper plates belonging to the 4th century with inscriptions in Malayalam. The inscriptions describe the privileges granted to the community by the king and it is written in Kannadiyezhuthu script or mirror image writing.
Jew Town is a narrow street that connects the synagogue to MattancherryPalace. The road is lined with quaint shops selling antiques, Kerala crafts, aromatic spices and vintage collectibles. Laid-back outdoor cafes and artsy eateriesserve local specialties and Western fare.
Kathakali Centre
Kathakali is a traditional dance drama form native to Kerala and no trip to Kochi is complete without watching a performance. The Kerala Kathakali center has been working tirelessly to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Kerala and they put daily performances.In addition to Katahkali performance, you can also see performances ofKalaripayattu (ancient martial arts that originated in Kerala) and Mohiniyattam&Kuchipudi (South Indian classical dance forms) here.
Kathakali performers wear elaborate makeup and outfits and we recommend that you reach early so that you get a chance to see the performers adorn their complicated makeup and other artistry.
Chinese Fishing Nets
Besides the backwaters, one of the most popular photographs depicting Kerala, especially Kochi, are the sunrise or sunset pictures of the Chinese Fishing Nets. Also called Cheenavala in Malayalam, these fishing nets represent a unique form of fishing found in the cities of Kochi and Kollam. These are shore operated lift nets and each net requires a team of 4 to 6 fishermen to work on it.
This way of fishing was introduced by Chinese explorers in the 14th Century.While it’s no longer the primary method of fishing, the row of fishing nets suspended in midair is a beautiful sight and part of the cultural identity of Kochi.
We recommend making the visit at dawn. You can see the fishermen in action and also get your hands on the catch of the day.
Cherai Beach
We ended our weekend at the Cherai beach. It is clean and surrounded by coconut groves. It’s a hot spot for dolphin sightings and you can hunt for some of the prettiest sea shells. The nearby shacks provide fresh cuisine and it’s the perfect way to watch the sunset.
Kochi is a great weekend destination and its often underestimated. While it is an around the year destination, the best time to visit Kochi is either in the monsoons or during the winter season. We recommend that you plan your visit during Kochi-Muziris Biennale. This contemporary art exhibition is usually held in the months of December to April and showcases works of artists from many countries. Kochi comes alive during this time as there are a myriad of local programs such as film screenings, theatre editions, bands and regional music besides the art exhibits.
