About Kochi
It is the capital of spice trades in India since the ancient times. It is located at the western cost along the Arabian Sea and one of the major harbors for trade.
Places to visit in Kochi
The main tourist attractions in Kochi include the Kochi fort, Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church, Mattancherry palace, Synagogue, Bolghatty Island, Willingdon Island. The costal city of Kochi is one of the first cities where foreign establishments took place like the Dutch, British. Thus, their influence is visible on the architectural and other faces in and around the city. The Fort in the city is one such example. If you wish to explore the many facets of the city, you can do so on foot or in a hired vehicle.
The Chinese fishing nets are one of the best kept traditions in the modern day period. These sticks are erected on the teak wood or bamboo sticks along the coast, to catch the fish. These fishing nets can be seen being erected or lowered along the sea from a narrow promenade that runs along the beach. The St Francis church is a quaint Portuguese church which has its root in the fifteenth century when it was built. The remains of Vasco Da Gama before being moved to Portugal were buried in this church.
The Mattancherry palace was built by the Portugese and gifted to Raja Veera Kerala Varma. Here many artifacts like the Mural paintings, Dutch maps of old Kochi etc are put up for public display. The Synagogue is another noteworthy place to visit when in Kochi. The Bolghatty and the Willingdon Islands provide a respite to the tired mind. The Bolghatty Island is famous for its palace and is nowadays run by the Kerala tourism. The Willingdon Island is a man made one and boasts of some of the best back waters. Many a resorts, hotels and trading centers are present here.
The other places of noteworthy for visit include Vallarpadam church, Hill palace museum, museum of Kerala history, M.N.F. gallery of paintaings and sculptures, Mangalavanam and the Chitram art gallery. These places include the secondary tourist destinations which tell the city’s rich history and heritage.