Famed for its natural harbor, one of the finest in the world. kochi has earned the sobriguet “queen of the Arabian sea” kochi is one of indian’s most interesting cities. Here you can see oldest church in india. The ancient temples, churches and synagoguesin this district are of special interestto the archeologists and historians.fro time immemorial,arabs,Chinese,dutch,british and portugueses seafarers followed the sea route to kochi and left their impression on the town. A jewish community with roots going back to 1000 AD ,a 16th century synagogue, and a palace built by the Portuguese and given to the Raja of kochi wich was later renovated by the dutch are part of kochi
Kochi port is one of the largest in india .all the islands ie willington,bolgatty,gundu,fort kochi and vypeen are connected by ferry. Bridges and road connect eranakulam with willington island, vypeen and the fort kochi,mattancherry.the Portuguese for is situated on the northern end of vypeen island at pallipuram.you can see the Chinese fishing nets in fort kochi.
DUTCH PALACE MUSEUM
At mattanchery boasts of a fabulous collection of royal weapons and cloths. There are some excellent murals too.the palace is closed on Fridays.
FORT KOCHIN
Thirteen kilometers from eranakulam town,fort kochi is a reminder of the colonial times .the architecture of the bungalows ,churches and fort reminds us of the bygone colonial era.
This was an obscure fishing hamlet an estury fomed by a cataclysmic flood in A.D1341.kochi harbor is easily accessible via this estuary of fort kochi
ST.FRANCIS CHURCH
At the notrthern end of the town in closed proximity to the Chinese fishing nets along thecoast is the church built by the Portuguese.st.francis church is reputed to the erliest eruopean –christian palace of worship in the south india. The orginal structure was made of timber in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars and later reconstructed in stone masory in 1779 by the protestant dutch .in 1775 this was converted to an Anglican church by the british .the interiors of church offer littile apart from the tombs set into the walls and floor.VASCODA GAMA was buried here in 1524 and the remains were later moved to Lisbon though the tombstone still remains.
THE DUTCH CEMETERY
Dwelling and colonization is to be seen on the tombstone. Consecrated in 1724.
SANTA CRUZ BASILICA
This catholic palace lies south of the church of st. francis. This church was built by the Portuguese and pope paul IV elevated it to acathedral in 1558.
BISHOP’S HOUSE MUSEUM
This mansion with larger gothic arches and pillars was built in 1506 as the residence of the Portuguese givernor,dom jos gomes,the 27th bishop of diocese of cochin later acquired this building.
MATTANCHERRY
Mattancherry in kochi has long been renowed as a business town where muslims ,jjewish,Christian & hindu families from the trading community.
JEWISH SYNAGOGUE
Founded in 1568,destroyed by the portugueses in 1662 and restored in 1664 the present building ic mostly a reconstruction by EZEKIA RAHABI in 1761. The corner tower has clocks on four sides in different scrits.the floor tiles,blu and white in clour were brought from the cellingss hang ornate glass chandeliers. Three scrolls of TORAH are kept in gilded and embossed containers of metal.a copper plate recording aa grant by BHASKARA RAVI VARMAN indicates the existence of keralas jewish community.
MATTANCHERRY DUTCH PALACE
The palace was built by Portuguese in 1557 for the rulers of kochi.the exterior of the palace recembles eeuropean architecture. There is an inner court inside wich stands a small shaine of hindu godess the BHAGAVATHI –a protective deity of kochi royal family. The walls of the kings bed chamers are coverd of scenes from the hindu epic RANAYANA.
THRIPUNITHRA HILL PALACE
The sprawling 18th century palace of the kochi Rajas is now a museum with a fairly good collection of paintings and specimens of antique temple carvings. The palace has deer park too and the palace architecture is of interest.
KALADY
Kalady is a pilgrim centre .it is the birthplace of ADI SHANKARACHARYA the grate Indian philosopher of 8th century.
Atirapaiiy and vazhachal water falls
These water falls are a place of greate scenic beauty near the entrance to the sholayar ranges
Cherai Beach,
Cherai Beach, a picturesque beach, located on the north-end of the Vypeen Island is ideal for swimming. Lined with luscious green coconut groves and paddy fields, this sandy beach is a unique combination of the sea and the backwaters, studded with seashells of various hues and shapes. Dolphines are occasionally seen here. Thick coconut groves and Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront are added attractions.
Kodanad - largest elephant training centres in Kerala
Elephants are an integral part of Indian mythology and culture. In God's Own Country, elephants are often referred to as the sons of the 'Sahya' (the Western Ghats). Once a part of every day life in Kerala, elephants are the most ornamental and auspicious animals here. No festival or celebration is complete without an elephant procession. Rows of majestically caparisoned elephants, replete with colourful silken parasols form the most spectacular part of any event in Kerala.
Kodanad, set on the Southern banks of the Periyar River amid the beautiful high ranges near Perumbavoor, is one of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala. Earlier elephants captured from the Malayatoor forests (the forests in the East and North of Kodanad) were trained here. Since the introduction of a ban on elephant capture Kodanad has been reduced to a training centre. The famous Malayatoor Church is near Kodanad.
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