2 Days in Kochi (Cochin), India
Kochi, with Cochin as its colonial name, is the biggest city in the state of Kerala. This port city has been an important spice-trading center on the west coast of India since the 14th century. Malayalam is the official language of Kerala state and English is widely spoken. The people here practice a variety of religions with the population including Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Jews, and Sikhs.
Tuk-Tuk Tour
We found that the easiest way to get around and see Fort Kochi was by tuk-tuk. It didn’t take very long before a tuk-tuk driver approached us and offered to take us to all the top sites in the area. It only cost $20 for the 4 of us to be toured around all day by our awesome tuk-tuk driver! He drove us all over Fort Kochi stopping at all the popular tourist sites. He new all the best places to go and told us about the history of the places we went. He took us to a little clothing shop where the “best henna designer” was and to a great coffee shop called Qissa Café! When we were shopping, eating, or exploring he always waited for us. I highly recommend touring to city this way!
Princess Street
Princess Street, also known as Loafer’s Corner, is a popular street in Fort Kochi for tourists to visit. This street is a mix of modern and traditional with European styled buildings and homes. It is the place to go in Kochi for shopping, cafes, bookstores, people watching, and more! In the shops you can find clothing, souvenirs, and handicrafts. There is a store called Handmade Indian Musical Instrument Shop that sells traditional and handmade musical instruments – some you will have never seen before. We went to a cute café called Loafer’s Corner. They have the most amazing passion fruit lemonade and banana pancakes! Get a tuk-tuk driver to drop you off at Princess Street and spend a few hours exploring, shopping, and eating in one of the oldest areas of Kochi.
Chinese Fishing Nets
The Chinese fishing nets, called Cheenavala in Malayalam, are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kochi. These nets were established on the Kochi shores between 1350 and 1450 and believed to have been introduced in the city by Chinese explorer Zheng He. These stationary lift nets, stretching out more than 20m, are lowered into the water, left for a few minutes, and raised back up in hopes that something has been caught. Our tuk-tuk driver walked us right onto one of the nets where we were able to get a closer look. Other people that visited them paid the fisherman a small fee to walk on and see how the nets are used. Definitely worth a visit!
St. Francis Church
St. Francis Church is one of the oldest European-build churches in India. It was built in 1503 by the Portuguese as a Roman Catholic Church. It was first built with wood and mud and reconstructed in 1516 with stone and tile. The wood beams can still be seen inside this beautiful church. St. Francis Church, known for its architecture and ambiance, has an impressive façade with an arched entrance and stunning windows. This church was the original burial place for the explorer Vasco da Gama who was the first European to reach India by sea.
Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
Santa Crus Cathedral Basilica is a beautiful gothic style church in Fort Kochi. The Portuguese built the original structure in 1505. It was later demolished and rebuilt by the British in 1887. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the church a Basilica in 1984. The famous Italian painter Fra Anotonio Moscheni decorated the roof and columns with large gothic style murals. Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica has a white exterior with pastel-coloured interior. I loved the stained glass windows and the different blues throughout the Basilica.
Mattancherry/Dutch Palace
The Mattancherry or Dutch Palace was built in 1555 by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja (King) of Kochi, Verra Kerala Varma, with the hope of establishing trading relations with the kingdom. This two-storied palace was built in the traditional Kerala naalukettu (quadrangular) style. There are four separate wings opening into a central courtyard and wooden balconies. It is also called the Dutch Palace since the Dutch carried out renovations in 1663. Brass cups and wood-carved floral designs were used to decorate the ceilings of the palace. The palace now serves as an art gallery where guests can pay 5 rupees to visit. The art murals on various walls depicting scenes from Hindi and Puranic legends amazed me. Visitors are not allowed to take photos so unfortunately I do not have any pictures of the artifacts or murals but click here to learn more about this stunning palace.
Spice Markets
There are many different spice markets in Kochi and I highly recommend visiting one. Our tuk-tuk driver took us to the Street Organic Spice Market in Fort Kochi. I can clearly remember the amazing aromas of fresh and flavourful spices! There was cinnamon, turmeric, fennel, fenugreek, curry powder, and much more! The ladies working let us smell and taste a few different spices. It is nice to have the opportunity to try something before buying it. All the prices were very reasonable and the options are endless!
Birds of India
India is a global birding hotspot with more than 1250 different species of birds! In all of North America, there is only around 950 bird species. Pulling into port was incredible with hundreds of birds flying around us and over the ship – many that I had never seen before. The national bird of India is the India Peafowl or Peacock. Throughout my travels I saw dozens of peacocks and their peachicks! I was also lucky enough to spot great egrets, white-tailed tropicbirds, red-footed boobies, black kites, and dozens of others that I couldn’t name. Thank you to my friend Amanda (amandaabroad.blog) for providing some of these awesome bird photos! India is definitely a birdwatchers paradise!
One Response
So amazing to read about your adventures. Xoxox