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Kerala
Kerala-Ernakulam
With a history stretching back to the time of king Solomon when it was known as the Queen of the Arabian sea Kochi has been a hot stop. Arab, Phoenocian & Chinese traders stopped in search of spices while Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama, Dutch East India Companu & the British followed.
Curling around water Kochi is made up of several islands and 2 main centers. Ernakulam & Fort Kochi/ Mattancherry. Highly cosmopolitan, people live together between Chinese fishing nets architecture dominated by Dutch & British styles and the mood heavy Jew Town.
Tourist Attractions : Alwaye, 21 km away from Ernakulam is an ideal place for swimming in the River Periyar. The annual Shivarathri festival is held on die banks of the river and is a colourful celebration. The centre of attraction is the Shiva Lingam on the sand river bank. Devotees stay awake die whole night in prayer returning home the next morning
St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin : This Protestant Church was built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and it is believed to be the first church built by the Europeans in India. Vasco-da -Gama was buried here. Fourteen years later, his mortal remains were taken to Portugal.
Pazhur : Situated 25 kms towards the southeast of Kochi, near Piravom, is the legendary Pazhur. It is believed that the Siva temple here is nearly 1800 Years old. The Muvattupuzha river flowing west ward from the east changes direction on reaching the temple, otherwise the temple would have been washed away. The place is famous for astrologers who believed to have been blessed with divine powers.
The Hill Palace Museum : 13 km from Ernakulam this museum displays the erstwhile wealth and prosperity of the royal family of Cochin, including the King`s throne and crown. Also on show are other trappings of royalty like majestic beds, paintings, carvings and samples of epigraphy. Tripunithura is also known for the nearby Chottanikara Temple and the Tripunithura Poornathraessa Temple
Bolgatty Island : This is the site of the Bolgatty Palace built by the Dutch in 1744. Later it became the seat of the British Resident of Cochin. Today it is a hotel run by the KTDC. The grounds have a small golf course and several vantage points for lovely views of the harbour and the sea.
Chennamangalam : Chennamangalam presents a rare geographical combination of rivers, seven inlets, a hillock and a vast expanse of green plains. It is located 5 Kms from north Paravur, north-west of Ernakulam. The place is surrounded by rivers on all 3 sides, Chennamangalam was the abode of the famous Achans of Paliam who were hereditary prime ministers to the Raja of Cochin Kottayil Kovilakam.
The hillock presents an unusual sight of a Hindu temple, a church and a Jewish Synagogue all closely located next to each other, There is a seminary built in 1075 by Jesuit Priests, It was here that printing first began in Kerala in 1577. Another attraction of the place is the Malanappara made up of holders lying one over the other resembling an elephant from a distance.
Chinese Fishing Nets : The entrance to the Cochin harbour is dotted by die Chinese Fishing Nets called Cheena Vala in Malayalam . There are large nets which hang from bamboo or teak posts and are still used by local fishermen in Fort Cochin to catch fish attracted by the lights suspended above the net. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochin`s waterfront.
Cochin Boat Rides : The highlight of Cochin is a boat ride through the backwaters to all the islands. The most beautiful of all the islands is Bolgatty built by the Dutch. Today it has been converted into a hotel run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Gundu Island : With an area of 5 acres, Gundu Island is the smallest island around Cochin.
Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry : Built in 1568 AD, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles arc of interest. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. There are also several finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.
Kalady (Pilgrim Centre) : Situated on the banks of River Periyar, 45 km from Kochi is Kalady a pilgrim centre and the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian Philosopher of the 8th century AD. There are two shrines in memory of Adi Sankaracharya, one dedicated to him as Dakshinamurthy and the other to the goddess Sharada maintained by Sringeri Mutt.
On the same premises there is also a spot (Brindavan) where Adi Sankaracharya`s mother Aryamba was cremated. In addition to it there is an ancient Shri Krishna Temple close by which was me family temple of Adi Sankaracharya. Another temple known as the International Temple dedicated to Shri Ramakrishna Deva has been built with the hope that it would ultimately become a temple for all religions and an abode of peace. Kodungalloor : Kodungalloor (Cranganore) 32 km away was formely called Muziris. This was in olden times the premier sea port on India`s West Coast. It was the capital of Cheraman Perumal, King of Kerala whose famous palace Allal Perumkovilakam was situated near the great pagoda at Tiruvanchikulam. St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Muziris in 52 AD.
The Cheramanparambu where the King`s palace stood, the ancient Thiruvanchikulam Temple, the Bhagavathi Temple, the Portuguese Fort and the old mosque - very similar in appearannce to a Hindu temple and believed to be the first mosque built in India -are all situated nearby and worth a visit. Malayattur (Pilgrim Centre)
Curling around water Kochi is made up of several islands and 2 main centers. Ernakulam & Fort Kochi/ Mattancherry. Highly cosmopolitan, people live together between Chinese fishing nets architecture dominated by Dutch & British styles and the mood heavy Jew Town.
Tourist Attractions : Alwaye, 21 km away from Ernakulam is an ideal place for swimming in the River Periyar. The annual Shivarathri festival is held on die banks of the river and is a colourful celebration. The centre of attraction is the Shiva Lingam on the sand river bank. Devotees stay awake die whole night in prayer returning home the next morning
St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin : This Protestant Church was built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and it is believed to be the first church built by the Europeans in India. Vasco-da -Gama was buried here. Fourteen years later, his mortal remains were taken to Portugal.
Pazhur : Situated 25 kms towards the southeast of Kochi, near Piravom, is the legendary Pazhur. It is believed that the Siva temple here is nearly 1800 Years old. The Muvattupuzha river flowing west ward from the east changes direction on reaching the temple, otherwise the temple would have been washed away. The place is famous for astrologers who believed to have been blessed with divine powers.
The Hill Palace Museum : 13 km from Ernakulam this museum displays the erstwhile wealth and prosperity of the royal family of Cochin, including the King`s throne and crown. Also on show are other trappings of royalty like majestic beds, paintings, carvings and samples of epigraphy. Tripunithura is also known for the nearby Chottanikara Temple and the Tripunithura Poornathraessa Temple
Bolgatty Island : This is the site of the Bolgatty Palace built by the Dutch in 1744. Later it became the seat of the British Resident of Cochin. Today it is a hotel run by the KTDC. The grounds have a small golf course and several vantage points for lovely views of the harbour and the sea.
Chennamangalam : Chennamangalam presents a rare geographical combination of rivers, seven inlets, a hillock and a vast expanse of green plains. It is located 5 Kms from north Paravur, north-west of Ernakulam. The place is surrounded by rivers on all 3 sides, Chennamangalam was the abode of the famous Achans of Paliam who were hereditary prime ministers to the Raja of Cochin Kottayil Kovilakam.
The hillock presents an unusual sight of a Hindu temple, a church and a Jewish Synagogue all closely located next to each other, There is a seminary built in 1075 by Jesuit Priests, It was here that printing first began in Kerala in 1577. Another attraction of the place is the Malanappara made up of holders lying one over the other resembling an elephant from a distance.
Chinese Fishing Nets : The entrance to the Cochin harbour is dotted by die Chinese Fishing Nets called Cheena Vala in Malayalam . There are large nets which hang from bamboo or teak posts and are still used by local fishermen in Fort Cochin to catch fish attracted by the lights suspended above the net. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochin`s waterfront.
Cochin Boat Rides : The highlight of Cochin is a boat ride through the backwaters to all the islands. The most beautiful of all the islands is Bolgatty built by the Dutch. Today it has been converted into a hotel run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Gundu Island : With an area of 5 acres, Gundu Island is the smallest island around Cochin.
Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry : Built in 1568 AD, the great scrolls of the Old Testament, the copper plates in which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles arc of interest. Two hundred years old, no two tiles are alike. There are also several finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons.
Kalady (Pilgrim Centre) : Situated on the banks of River Periyar, 45 km from Kochi is Kalady a pilgrim centre and the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian Philosopher of the 8th century AD. There are two shrines in memory of Adi Sankaracharya, one dedicated to him as Dakshinamurthy and the other to the goddess Sharada maintained by Sringeri Mutt.
On the same premises there is also a spot (Brindavan) where Adi Sankaracharya`s mother Aryamba was cremated. In addition to it there is an ancient Shri Krishna Temple close by which was me family temple of Adi Sankaracharya. Another temple known as the International Temple dedicated to Shri Ramakrishna Deva has been built with the hope that it would ultimately become a temple for all religions and an abode of peace. Kodungalloor : Kodungalloor (Cranganore) 32 km away was formely called Muziris. This was in olden times the premier sea port on India`s West Coast. It was the capital of Cheraman Perumal, King of Kerala whose famous palace Allal Perumkovilakam was situated near the great pagoda at Tiruvanchikulam. St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Muziris in 52 AD.
The Cheramanparambu where the King`s palace stood, the ancient Thiruvanchikulam Temple, the Bhagavathi Temple, the Portuguese Fort and the old mosque - very similar in appearannce to a Hindu temple and believed to be the first mosque built in India -are all situated nearby and worth a visit. Malayattur (Pilgrim Centre)
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