Fort Kochi: Visit Kerala’s best kept secret

More often than not, we tend to overlook so many picturesque places that our country has to offer when we go vacationing. It’s either the usual suspects- Goa, Kashmir, Shimla or exotic places abroad-Macau, Cuba, Istanbul etc.

The list of the unconventional destinations in India that can serve as a travel sweetspot is undoubtedly a long one and thus in this new series, Business Insider will take you through one underrated location most travelers tend to forget every week.

And, what better way to start this sojourn than from the South of India?

I know what you’re thinking- Kerala?

Well yes, and no.

When we say a trip to Kerala, we immediately think of houseboat rides, clear beaches and the hills of Munnar. But, the one place we almost always forget is what has become Kerala’s best kept secret- Fort Kochi.

As of the moment, the historic town of Fort Kochi, also known as Old Kochi is an unusual blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English village implanted into the Malabar Coast as a result of all the invasions this little fishing village lay witness to.

Expect to find a 400-year-old synagogue, Portuguese houses and architecture, mosques in plenty, crumbling memories of the British Raj and a vacation that will be difficult to get over.

Exploring this island is bets advised on foot in order to soak in its thick past.

Every nook and corner of this town has something musing awaiting you- apart from retaining the specimens of the bygone era, it has also beautifully adapted itself to the modern.

There’s a lot to see and photograph. Are you ready?

The streets of Fort Kochi themselves are worth losing yourself in as they are the true showcase of the intermingling of various cultures and religions. Our picks? Burger Street, Princess Street, Rose Street, Tower Road etc.

Then there’s the sights you absolutely can’t miss, like the Fort Immanuel. Once belonging to the Portuguese, the Fort is a symbol of the strategic alliance which existed between the Maharaja of Cochin and the Monarch of Portugal, the fort’s namesake. If you walk a bit further, you’ll reach the Dutch Cemetery, where the tombstones remind the visitors of all those Europeans who left their country in order to expand their colonial empires. Don’t forget the ancient Thakur House as well. A graceful building, it was home to the managers of the National Bank of India during the British rule.

A quick walk past the Parade Ground, the four acres of ground where the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British had conducted military parades will find you face to face with the oldest European church in India- St Francis Church. Walk a little bit more through Church Road where the cool breeze from the Arabian Sea with gently caress your body.

Feeling a bit tired? The Vasco-da Gama square is nearby. Replenish your senses in this narrow promenade where stalls full of delicious seafood and tender coconuts are waiting to relax you. You can also fix on your eyes on the Chinese fishing nets, being raised and lowered. These nets have been erected by the traders from the court of Kublai Khan.

If you still have energy left, do peak at the Loafers Corner- the usual hangout of the fun and jovial locals. Walking northwards from the Loafer's corner, you come across Santa Cruz Basilica, the historic church built by the Portuguese and elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558.

End your walk by watching the sunset at the Fort Kochi Beach. There’s also the Mahatma Gandhi Beach and the Light House Beach nearby.

Or you could also take a boat journey to the Vypeen island crossing the Kochi shipping channel. An island just opposite Fort Kochi, Vypeen attracts tourists for its churches, light houses and fishing nets.

That’s not all- Fort Kochi has so much more to offer- some more museums, a visit to a synagogue and handicrafts shops maybe?

Be rest assured Fort Kochi will send you back after making you sample the most delicious seafood, visit the most wonderful sights- steeped rich in history, and ofcourse- beautiful memories.

Guess, it’s time to pack your bags, then.

Image credit: Keralatourism.net/Hellotravel.com/CNNTraveller/Fanpop.com/Lonely planet





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