COCHIN QUEEN OF THE ARABIAN SEA
If you holidaying in Kerala one place that is a must visit is Cochin. Cochin has been famous when compared to the other parts of Kerala from the ancient times. There is a common saying in Malayalam, the native language of Kerala, that “a man who has been to Cochin would not want his wife”. The saying when translated might be misleading but what it actually means is that the city is so beautiful and mesmerising that a man would even forget his dearest wife after seeing it. Cochin being situated in the south west coast of India is also called the “Queen of the Arabian sea”. The lovely seaside city has been inhabited by various nationalities that moved here on the pretext of trade and later settled here. Cochin falls in the district of Ernakulum and is easily accessible via air, rail, road and sea.
When you land at the Cochin airport, it would give you an idea of the traditional aesthetics of Kerala for it external appearance gives it a look of an old Kerala palace. Cochin has a lot of specialities and even to this day we find reminiscences of the various cultures that coexisted here in the past. St.Francis Church in Fort Cochin is known to be the oldest church built by Europeans in India. The famous Portuguese trader Vasco da Gama was initially buried in the church and the remains were later taken to Portugal. You can still find the markings of his burial place in the church. We also have the “Vasco house” the residential house of the trader at Fort Cochin.
The Jewish Synagogue and the Jew town in Mattancherry are also famous spots for sightseeing. Another interesting monument is the Dutch Palace which was originally built by the Portuguese and was later redone and gifted to the Raja of Cochin. The hill palace at Thripunithara is another tourist attraction and is about 16 km from Cochin. There are a huge fleet of stairs that lead to the palace and it has been converted to a Museum that displays the grandeur and chivalry of the Raja of Cochin. Then we have the beaches that are like feathers in the glorious hat of Kerala. The Fort Cochin beach is famous for its scenic beauty and stalls that provide dishes made of freshly caught fishes. Another unique feature of this place is the Chinese fishing nets that are unique to Cochin in the whole of India. It is believed that the Chinese traders introduced them here. The Cherai beach and Marine drive which is a coastal pathway that lines the back water are also famous. It is a picturesque site to see the boats ferrying across the back waters at sunset at the marine drive.
Cochin has many more historical places and there are a number of things you could do here. You could either be just enjoying the boat rides and the scenic beauty of the beaches or you could go about exploring the various cultural backgrounds available via the museum and monuments present here. There are also many decent hotels available here to make your vacation peaceful and complete. The “Mermaid hotel” is one of the best in Cochin that could make your stay a memorable one.
When you land at the Cochin airport, it would give you an idea of the traditional aesthetics of Kerala for it external appearance gives it a look of an old Kerala palace. Cochin has a lot of specialities and even to this day we find reminiscences of the various cultures that coexisted here in the past. St.Francis Church in Fort Cochin is known to be the oldest church built by Europeans in India. The famous Portuguese trader Vasco da Gama was initially buried in the church and the remains were later taken to Portugal. You can still find the markings of his burial place in the church. We also have the “Vasco house” the residential house of the trader at Fort Cochin.
The Jewish Synagogue and the Jew town in Mattancherry are also famous spots for sightseeing. Another interesting monument is the Dutch Palace which was originally built by the Portuguese and was later redone and gifted to the Raja of Cochin. The hill palace at Thripunithara is another tourist attraction and is about 16 km from Cochin. There are a huge fleet of stairs that lead to the palace and it has been converted to a Museum that displays the grandeur and chivalry of the Raja of Cochin. Then we have the beaches that are like feathers in the glorious hat of Kerala. The Fort Cochin beach is famous for its scenic beauty and stalls that provide dishes made of freshly caught fishes. Another unique feature of this place is the Chinese fishing nets that are unique to Cochin in the whole of India. It is believed that the Chinese traders introduced them here. The Cherai beach and Marine drive which is a coastal pathway that lines the back water are also famous. It is a picturesque site to see the boats ferrying across the back waters at sunset at the marine drive.
Cochin has many more historical places and there are a number of things you could do here. You could either be just enjoying the boat rides and the scenic beauty of the beaches or you could go about exploring the various cultural backgrounds available via the museum and monuments present here. There are also many decent hotels available here to make your vacation peaceful and complete. The “Mermaid hotel” is one of the best in Cochin that could make your stay a memorable one.
