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Ernakulam is the mainland portion of Kochi in Kerala. This region happens to be the most urbanised part of Kochi and is home to Kerala High Court, the Office of the Corporation of Kochi and the Cochin Stock Exchange. This city is located 220 kms away from state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The past capital of the Kingdom of Cochin, modern day Ernakulam is a tourist hub for reasons more than one. Places to visit in Ernakulam are a mixed bag of many different aspects. Ernakulam sightseeing includes the Dutch Palace, Maritime Museum, Indo-Portuguese Museum and many churches and cathedrals. When it comes to best tourist places in Ernakulam, one must make a mention of the Dutch Fort. Also known as Mattancherry Palace, this fort is a remnant from the Portuguese era of Ernakulam. Built by them in 1545, this fort is actually an appeasement effort by the Europeans to Veera Kerala Varma, the then King of Kochi. Some of the Portuguese people vandalised a temple in the vicinity and they had to make up for it by building this fort. The fort houses a temple dedicated to goddess Bhagavathy, the king’s family deity. Despite being a Portuguese gift to a Hindu king, this fort is known as Dutch Fort because the fort was renovated by the Dutch in later times. The murals that cover the walls and ceilings of this fort are real work of art. The Archaeological Survey of India holds that the paintings in this fort can cover an area of 300 metres! The tales from the Ramayana are often depicted in these paintings. Stories related to Lord Shiva, Krishna and Vishnu also find artistic representation here. It also houses a museum that has a collection of portraits of the Kochi royal family.
After a whole day spent walking around Fort Kochi, exploring its heritage, the best way to unwind is by attending a local performance at the end of the day. Head to the Kerala Kathakali Centre, located near the Santa Cru...more
The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1545 AD, for Veera Kerala Varma, the then King of Kochi, as compensation for plundering a temple in the vicinity. They even built a shrine to the goddess Bhagavathy,...more
The Maritime Museum is housed in INS Dronacharya, the Gunnery school of the Indian Navy at Fort Kochi. The museum is located in two magazines used for storage of ammunition by the British during World War II, and display...more
Fort Emmanuel was the name given to the fort that the Portuguese built at Kochi. Today, the town is called Fort Kochi, but little remains of the fort itself. There are a few portions of the fort still standing, but they ...more
The Portuguese, it is said, built many churches in Fort Kochi, among which, only two were left standing by the Dutch. One was the St. Francis Church and the other was the Santa Cruz Cathedral. While the former remained a...more
When we think of ancient churches in India, we think of Old Goa. However, did you know that the first church built by Europeans in India is in Fort Kochi? Christianity was already prevalent in the region, thanks to St. T...more
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