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AUDITORIUMS
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Tourist spots in Cochin
Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi
The chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to
Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese
ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are
found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their
livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of
the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.
Fort Kochi beach
A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese
fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable
experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the
shoreline. The coastal stretch has loads of small stalls, which make
on demand mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught
fish.
St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi
It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd
visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached
India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried
in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to
Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has
been clearly marked out.
» St. Francis Church
Vasco House, Fort Kochi
Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the
oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have
lived here. This house features European glass paned windows and
verandahs.
Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi
The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the
Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558. The British
colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was
built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John
Paul II in 1984.
» Santa Cruz Basilica
Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town, Mattancherry
The synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese
tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament
can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in
Mattancherry.
Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Mattancherry
The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in
17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of
Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace
has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the
Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The palace is located in
Mattancherry.
Bolghatty Palace, Bolghatty Island
This Dutch palace is situated on Bolghatty island which is just a
short boat ride away from the mainland. The palace has been
converted to a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development
Corporation (KTDC). The island has a tiny golf course and the
panoramic views of the port and the harbour, makes it an attractive
picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.
» KTDC Bolghatty Palace Hotel
Hill Palace, Tripunithura
Built in the 19th century by the Raja of Kochi, this palace served
as the seat of the Raja of the Kochi province. The palace has been
converted into a museum displaying a fine collection of articles
showing the wealth and splendour of the Rajas of Kochi, including
the thone and the crown. The musuem also houses a large collection
of archaeological findings. Hill Palace is located 16km east of
Cochin in Tripunithura, a satellite town of Cochin.
Palliport (Pallipuram) Fort
It is the oldest surviving European fort in India, built by the
Portuguese in 1503. Its situated in Pallipuram on Vypeen island.
Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
Mangalavanam is a protected bird sanctuary situated right in the
heart of Kochi city. It is the home of many exotic and rare
varieties of migratory and resident birds. Mangalavanam is located
right next to the High Court of Kerala.
» Mangalavanam, Kerala Forests & Wildlife
Museum of Kerala History, Kalamassery
The museum has on display spectacular audio-visual exhibits
depicting the history and culture of Kerala along with many life
size statues of many famous personalities and several paintings
depicting Kerala history.
» Museum of Art and Kerala History
Parikshith Thampuran Museum
This Rajas of Cochin used to conduct their durbars in this
impressive building located within the Durbar Hall grounds. It was
later converted to a museum which has a treasure trove of
archaeological findings and relics including old coins, sculptures,
oil paintings and murals. The building has been taken over by the
Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy and now houses the Gallery of
Contemporary Art. All the exhibits of the museum have been moved to
the Hill Palace museum.
Cherai Beach
This lovely beach ideal for swimming is located on the north end of
Vypeen island, one of the many small islands just off the mainland.
The beach is lined by gorgeous coconut groves and paddy fields.
Vypeen can be reached by land or by boat.
Veega Land
Veega Land is South India's largest amusement park situated 14kms
from Cochin. The park includes a range of attractions including mini
castles, water theme park, ferris wheel, rides, slides, shows and
fountains. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the fun and activities.
» Veega Land
Marine Drive
A stroll along the long tree-lined coastal pathway that lines the
backwater is well worth the time spent, especially late afternoon or
dusk. The bustling backwaters, dotted with fishing boats,
speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats, can be observed from
this walkway that lines the coast.
Willingdon Island
This man-made island was created in 1933 by sand dredged while
deepening the backwaters for the Cochin Port, under the direction of
Sir Robert Bristow. A while back the Airport, Sea port and the
railway terminus (Cochin Harbour Terminus) were situated on this
island. Today, it is the home of the Cochin Port and the
headquarters of the Sourthern Naval Command. The airport continues
to be the naval air station, while the main airport has been moved
to Nedumbassery, 30kms north-east of Cochin. Most of the trains now
terminate at Ernakulam Junction instead of Cochin Harbour Terminus.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaloor
The Nehru stadium in Kaloor, has a seating capacity of 60,000 in
multiple tiers. It is the fourth largest stadium in India and the
largest in Kerala. The ground is lit by a set of unique convex pylon
floodlights that arch over the ground. The stadium is home to both
the Kerala Ranji cricket team as well as FC Kochi football team.
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