Fort Kochi is a beautiful seaside getaway famed for its heritage
buildings, lip smacking seafood and the Chinese fishing nets that
protrude into its emerald backwaters. Locally known as 'Cheenavala', a
whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with
these nets.
It is believed that Chinese nets were introduced by
traders who came from the court of Chinese king Kublai Khan. The sight
of fishermen using these massive nets is worth seeing. However, the huge
cost of maintenance and poor catch have forced many local fishermen to
consider other alternatives for earning their livelihood. The sight of
these fishing nets, supported by teak and bamboo poles, attracts large
number of tourists. With the help of these fixed installations,
fishermen are able to catch the fish, by operating the nets from the
shore itself. The massive structure is operated in a gradual manner by a
team of six fishermen. Usually, the catch is modest that gets sold
within no time. You can even ask for the fish to be fried on the spot.
10 Reasons To Visit Fort Kochi
A melting pot of European flavours, the tiny fishing
village of Fort Kochi has transformed into a burgeoning urban town after
being introduced to Portuguese, Dutch and British characters in the
past. Find out what made it more than just a dot on the map of Kerala…By Ruchika Vyas
If you’re looking for a laid-back town away from the city that has
more foreign tourists than Indians, then Fort Kochi is a good start.
Throw in a bunch of cosy cafes and you won’t even miss city life. And if
you’re a true-blooded traveller with the intent to explore, Fort
Kochi’s growing cultural scenario, historic churches, unique Chinese
fishing nets and innumerable homestays are sure to provide you with a
holistic experience.
1) Visit the St. Francis Church
Known
to be India’s first European church, it curiously transformed from a
Roman Catholic Church during Portuguese rule (in 1503) to a Dutch
Reformist Church (in 1664) to, finally, an Anglican Church (in 1804).
Popular as the resting ground of Vasco da Gama, who was buried here in
1524, it attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the world; even
though his remains were sent to Lisbon 14 years later.
If you’re a fan of fans, don’t forget to see the antique,
hand-operated fans used here that are worked manually with ropes on
either side.
2) Imbibe the cafe culture
Fort Kochi’s brewing café culture is overflowing. The cafés have
increased at least by 10 per cent since i last went there four years
ago. Two of my favourite cafés are Kashi Art Café on Burgher Street,
which houses a small art gallery featuring local artists, and Teapot at
Peter Celli , which displays over 100 different kinds of teapots (what
else) and authentic tea chests innovatively used as tables.
3)
Discover the arts
Visiting Kerala and not viewing a
kathakali performance is
like going to Italy and not eating pizza. Get there early so you can go
backstage and watch the performers wear their extravagant make-up and
costumes before the show begins. If you’re not pressed for time, try and
catch a concert featuring classical dance forms like
Bharatnatyam,
Mohiniyattam or
Kalaripayattu (a traditional form of martial arts) demonstration, and if you’re lucky, a religious performance of the flamboyant
Theyyam. If you’re inspired to stay on and become a professional, you could always enroll in a short class at a dance academy.
4) Stay at the Old Harbour Hotel
The first hotel in Fort Kochi, Old Harbour Hotel was built in a
distinct Dutch architectural style, and yet resonates with Portuguese
influences as well. Formerly a residence to employees of English
tea-broking firms, this heritage structure was refurbished by proprietor
Edgar Pinto together with German architect Karl Damschen. I found it
quite intriguing that the rooms are named after the many streets in Fort
Kochi.
5) The spa experience
People come to Kerala from all over the world just to soak in a
traditional Ayurvedic treatment, so make sure you don’t leave without
trying one. Since the practice originated here, the options are endless,
but one of the most popular treatments is
Shirodhara, a gentle pouring of herbal oils over the forehead to treat a variety of conditions.
6) Find out how the Chinese fishing nets work
While strolling along Vasco da Gama Square, pause for a moment and
witness the gallant Chinese fishing nets being operated by fishermen on a
daily basis. Called
cheenavala in Malayalam, they work on the
principle of balance. Fort Kochi is the only place in India that uses
them. Get there around sunset for an unparalleled view of the nets
bearing a cloak of stunning colours; you’ll thank me for it.
7) Explore nearby towns, Mattancherry and Jew Town
In Mattancherry, the Palace Museum is worth a visit. It features murals, art and royal paraphernalia of the Rajas of Kochi.
Jew Town houses the oldest Jewish Synagogue in India. It is said that
even though Jews arrived in Kerala in 700 BC and built a prosperous
community in this little town, there are now less than 13 Jewish
residents, due to the majority’s migration to Israel. One of the prime
reasons for the migration and a decline in population is a lack of
suitable co-religious marriage partners.
8) Try a homestay
Staying with a Kerelite family is ideal for solo travellers looking
to imbibe the local culture and sample the cuisine. Who doesn’t like
home-cooked food? Fort Kochi has more than 100 homestays to fit every
budget, so poke around and ask fellow travellers for recommendations
before you make a choice. My personal recommendation is Sithara
Homestay, located on Lily Street. The rooms are spacious and clean, and
the family makes for a great host.
9) Shop!
Aside from the usual suspects like apparel, the narrow by-lanes of
Kochi are lined with curio shops selling various items such as vintage
lamps, statues, silver jewellery and handicrafts. Be sure to carry your
best bargaining skills and wear the ‘I can get this somewhere else’
look. Owing to this town’s history of spice trading, you can also take
home spices like cardamom, cloves and pepper in abundance.
10) Walk…
Fort Kochi is the perfect example of a place that is best explored on
foot. It is neither so vast that you would get lost, nor too small that
you wouldn’t enjoy the trail. Although it is a fairly popular tourist
hub—with a large number of people from international shores—it is far
less crowded than you would expect.
Fort
Kochi beach as well as the St. Francis Church attract quite a number of
tourists. The church built in 1503 is the oldest European Church in
India, where the explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried.
Fort
Kochi is full of boutique resorts, heritage hotels and homestays for
those who want to soak up some serious culture. Eateries range from
gourmet restaurants to street shacks.
For culture buffs, the
historic Mattancherry town nearby would be worth a visit. Mattancherry
houses Jew Town, once a bustling centre of spice trade, the Paradesi
Synagogue and the Dutch Palace. Jewish synagogue was built in 1568 on
the land adjacent to the Dutch Palace, given by the erstwhile king of
Cochin. If you have deep pockets, you could pick up some great antiques
and souvenirs from Jew Town. This quaint little town is also a melting
pot of migrant communities like Gujaratis, Jews and Jains.
Highlight: Since Fort Cochin was under the possession of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British at different points of time, the region still bear the influence of European architecture.
How to Reach: Once you reach Kochi City of Kerala, you can take a cab, auto-rickshaw or bus to Fort Kochi.
Even a casual stroll through Fort Kochi located in the port city of Kochi in Kerala is enough to make you feel transported to another world and time. The architectural style of the buildings and the town layout easily make Fort Cochin distinct from other cities and towns of Kerala. Since Fort Cochin was under the possession of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British at different points of time, the region still bear the influence of European architecture.
Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin is one of the three main urban regions that constitute the present day Kochi city in Kerala, India. The other two regions together comprising the Kochi city are Mattancherry and Ernakulam. Interestingly, the port city of Kochi was initially a municipal town from 1866 to 1967. It was later in the year 1967 that these three principal municipalities and few adjoining areas were joined to form the new corporation of Kochi.
Fort Cochin is counted among the major tourist attractions of present day Kochi in Kerala, but it was earlier a fishing village of no significance during the pre-colonial Kerala. It was christened as Fort Kochi after this territory was given to the Portuguese in the year 1503 by the Raja of Kochi. The Raja gave the Portuguese the permission to build a fort near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests.
The fort that the Portuguese, thus, built here was named Fort Emmanuel and it is from the name of this fort that 'Fort Kochi' derived the first part of its name. Fort Emmanuel was, however, later destroyed by the Dutch. It was behind this Fort Emmanuel that the Portuguese built their settlement and a wooden church, which was rebuilt in the year 1516 as a permanent structure world famous as the St Francis Church in the present times. Believed to be the first church built by Europeans in India, it is here that the body of Vasco Da Gama was buried initially before his remains being shipped to Lisbon in Portugal later.
Since Cochin in Kerala was an important trading zone for foreign travelers and seafarers, the ownership of the Fort Kochi region passed many hands. It, however, remained a Portuguese possession for almost 160 years until the year 1683,k when the Dutch captured the territory. They then held Fort Kochi under their possession for 112 years until the year 1795, thereafter which the British took over control by defeating the Dutch. The 444 years of foreign control of Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin finally ended with India gaining independence in 1947.
