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The diverse city of Kochi that is an urban jungle but yet has pockets of local culture is a cosmopolitan city to visit in Kerala. A place of financial importance as it houses one of the largest commercial ports of India, the city with its embracing nature and sense of familiarity.
Catch a glimpse of Cochin’s rich history and heritage, showcasing the mixed Dutch, Portuguese, British and Jewish influences that make the city unique and feel its pulse.
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If you are charmed by colourful bazaars; if you like discovering local food and culture, you will thoroughly enjoy an exploration of Ernakulam's Broadway area – the traditional nerve-centre of business in the city, which appeals due to its knack of selling everything under the sun and its proximity to one of Cochin’s most popular promenades - Marine Drive.
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Cochin was the epicentre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, well-known to the Greeks as well as Romans, Jews, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times. Its port rose into prominence in the mid-1300s, when the nearby port of Cranganore was flooded. Its rulers often changed hands – the Portuguese arrived in 1500AD but they were overthrown by the Dutch in 1663. Eventually, Cochin was ceded to the British in 1814, and it joined India at Independence.
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Island farms in the Kuttanad region backwaters are accessible by sailing on country boats through the pristine backwaters. The farm that we visit has been reclaimed from the lake, typical to this region and is 2meters below lake level. The retaining dyke around the perimeter keeps the lake water from entering the farm. En route an amazing insight is gained in Southern Indian village life.
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Muziris, an ancient port city in Kerala traded in spices, silk, and precious stones; with exports to Rome, Greece, Egypt, etc. Enriched by trade contacts, it became a melting pot of world cultures, seeing the earliest Jewish settlers in India. This is where St. Thomas the Apostle is said to have first landed in 52AD, bringing Christianity with him. The first ever mosque in India was also built here. Old churches, synagogues, mosques and temples attest to the great confluence of cultures that Muziris was. The monuments and bazaars of Muziris stand as beacons even today, a testament to the harmonious co-existence of multiple faiths on the Malabar Coast.
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The legendary history of Kerala’s Jews goes back to the time of King Solomon (10th century BC), when trade in exotic Indian items – peacocks, ivory, sandalwood and spices flourished. Having first landed centuries ago, Cochin’s Jewish community grew significantly during the 1500s with an influx of Sephardic Jews primarily from Spain, Portugal and Holland, escaping the Inquisition. But, after Israel’s formation in 1948, the Cochin Jews migrated to the Promised Land. Only a handful of Jews still live in Kerala today – however, their synagogues, cemeteries, houses and streets bear witness to their 2000-year old association with India.
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