Fort Kochin - Kerala

Kochi or the erstwhile Cochin is a melting pot of cultures. A bustling port city enriched with multi ethnic inhabitants and cultures, it is made up of small islands connected by the backwaters and canals, and a central commercial town with an old Portuguese fort standing tall over the Arabian sea. 

Kochi is also the quintessential Kerala with swaying palm trees, shimmering backwaters, boats in the canals and lagoons, picturesque sunsets across the Arabian Sea, a tinge of green everywhere and much, much more

It is also a typical port city that has welcomed traders, merchants, people and cultures for more than 600 years. The Dutch, Portuguese, English, and Chinese – everyone has left their mark which is now richly embedded in the social fabric of the city. Fort Cochin and Mattancherry have an interesting mix of old houses built in medieval European style of the colonial powers from Portugal, Holland, and England, each of whom ruled Cochin for a period. Ernakulam is the modern face of Kochi. A walk through the streets will be the best way to experience the fusion of cultures.

Kochi consists of the southern peninsula of Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, the mainland city of Ernakulam, and the islands of Willingdon, Bolgatty, Gundu and Vypeen Island. All are linked by ferry services that shuttle passengers back and forth. There is a bridge from Ernakulam to Willingdon Island, and another from Willingdon Island to the Fort Cochin/Mattancherry peninsula.

Chinese Fishing Nets

Chinese Fishing Nets or Cheenavaala are huge cantilever fishing nets dotting the coastline from Fort Kochi to Vypeen is the identity of Kochi.

While some accounts mention that the nets were setup between 1350 and 1450 by traders from the court of Kubla Khan, some others say Chinese explorer Zhang introduced the nets to Kochi.

There are abour 12 nets in Fort Kochi and another 10 in Vyapeen island.

Set up on bamboo and teak poles, the nets are fixed land installations for an unusual form of fishing. These are land operated lift nets.

Huge mechanical contraptions hold out horizontal nets 20 meters or more across. Each structure is at least 10 meters high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes act as counter weighing at the other end.

Sights

• Chinese Fishing nets
• St Francis Church
• Santacruz basilica
• Mathecharyy Palace or Dutch Palace
• Pardesi Synagogue in Jew tOWN
• Jew Street – Synagogue

Nearby Destinations and attractions

• Marari Beach : 45 Km / 1+hrs
• Kumarakom : 55 Km / 1.5 hrs
• Alappuzha : 60 Km / 1.5 hrs
• Athirapally : 75 Km / 2.5 hrs
• Munnar : 132 Km / 4 hrs
• Thekkady : 161 Km / 5+hrs
• Varkala : 175 Km / 5 hrs

Travel Information
Connectivity : Kochin International Airport (45 Km / 1.5 hrs)
Best time to visit and Climate :
The best time to visit Kochi / Kerala is October - March