:: Fort Kochi

It is a historical place with tales of myriad seafaring visitors who landed at Fort Kochi for trade and stayed here for long and became the inhabitants here. The history of Fort Kochi began with a major flood in 1341 AD. Later Kochi became the trade centre and seafaring visitors from all over the world became the first European township in India when the Portuguese in the 15th century settled here.

Later Kochi was handed over in to the hands of Dutch in 1663 AD and later it became in the hands of British rule in 1795. It became the prime commercial centre and its fame soeread far and wide. It became not only a trade centre, but also a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. After all of these shuffling and reshuffling in the history, about thirteen communities stay here in harmony.

The other sites are Chinese fishing nets (the records say that the first set yp of these nets awere done between 1350 and 1450 AD), Vasco Da Gama Sqyare, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bunglow etc.

Access through:

Road: Fort Kochi is accessible by bus or ferry. The bus ride from Ernakulam town, which is nearly 13 km away, takes about an hour and the ferry ride from Main boat jetty at Ernakulam about 20 minutes.

Rail: Ernakulam about 1 1/2 km from the Main boat jetty.

Air: Cochin International Airport , about 20 km.

Tourist Places in Ernakulam District

1. Cherai Beach

MONUMENTS

1. Bolghatty Island and palace
2. Chendamangalam
3. Dutch Palace, Mattancherry
4. Fort Kochi
5. Pierce Leslie Bungalow
6. Old Harbour House
7. Koder House
8. Delta Study
9. Jewish Synagogue
10. Synagogue at Chennamangalam
11. Paliam Palace
12. Vypeenkotta Seminary
13. The Dutch Cemetery
14. Thakur House
15. David Hall
16. The Cochin Club
17. Bastion Bungalow
18. Vasco da Gama Square
19. Fort Immanuel


MUSEUMS

1. Indo-Portuguese Museum
2. Madhavan Nayar Foundation
3. Maritime Museum
4. The Hill Palace Museum
5. The Museum of Kerala History
6. Parikshith Thampuran Museum


PICNIC SPOTS

1. Bhoothathankettu
2. Kumbalangi - Model Tourist Village
3. Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary
4. Athirapally waterfalls

PILGRIM CENTRES

1. Kaladi
2. Vamanamoorthy Temple
3. Santhanagopala-Krishnaswamy Temple
4. Malayatoor
5. St. Francis Church

OTHER PLACES

1. The Antique Sellers of Jew Street
2. Kodanad
3. Thani Illam
4. Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple
5. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Lakshadweep Islands
7. Willingdon Island