Fort Kochi and Mattancherry,Fort Kochi–Mattancherry is a historic waterfront quarter with narrow streets, old churches, synagogues, Dutch and Portuguese-era buildings, spice warehouses and charming cafes. Chinese fishing nets line parts of the shore, while art galleries and boutique hotels occupy restored mansions. Visitors stroll through lanes seeing St. Francis Church, the Dutch Cemetery, Mattancherry Palace and the Jewish Synagogue, experiencing a rare blend of European, Arab, Jewish and Malabar influences in one compact area.
About this place
History & highlights
Kochi’s history as a port exploded after the breakup of the old port of Muziris and the arrival of the Portuguese in the late 15th–early 16th century. They built Fort Emmanuel, churches and trading posts. Later the Dutch took over, followed by the British, each layer leaving buildings and institutions. The Jewish community, Arab traders and local rulers all shaped Mattancherry’s cosmopolitan character. After Independence, many communities migrated, but the built heritage survived and has been adapted for tourism and art festivals (like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale), preserving Kochi’s identity as a historic Indian Ocean trading city.
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