Ernakulam - Gods Own Country - Explore with www.Keralatraveller.org

Ernakulam

Kerala's most visited tourist destination, Ernakulam or Kochi, has one of the finest natural harbours in India around which is based an ancient history of maritime trade. The cosmopolitan city is fascinating in many ways - the beautiful sea front with Chinese fishing nets and stalls selling seafood; the traditional Fort Kochi area with its mix of Dutch, British, Muslim and Portuguese architecture; and the older city of Ernakulam steeped in Malayali culture. Built around a saltwater lagoon, the bustling seaport city on the southwest coast of India is actually a cluster of islands and peninsulas. Once an obscure fishing village, the city became a major trade centre after the port of Kodungallur was destroyed by massive flooding of the Periyar River in 1341.

While mainland Ernakulam has cosmopolitan appeal with glitzy shopping malls and modern life, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi ooze with loads of old-world charm. Well connected by bridges and ferry services, the cluster of islands together form the heart of Kochi. A rich cultural heritage, several historic monuments, a lively seaside promenade, palm-fringed lagoons and rivers in the interior, make a perfect bouquet for the tourist out to discover "God's Own Country".

Cherai Beach is just 30 km from Kochi and Cochin International Airport. The 15 km of long golden beach is very clean, shallow, and attracts swimming and sunbathing. This is one of the few places where we can see the lagoon and ocean separated only by a few hundreds of meters. One of the main events in this beach is the tourism fest during December.Best season to visit is all throughout the year barring the rainy season(June - October). Tourists can find beach resorts and cottages nearby the beach.

Bolghatty Island

The palm-fringed Bolghatty Island is a narrow strip of land just off the coast of Cochin with excellent bay views. Bolghatty Palace occupies this tiny island and is easily accessible from the mainland Ernakulam by ferry. Spread over 15 acres of lush greenery, the palace is now converted into a luxury heritage hotel run by the state government. There is a small golf course for enthusiasts of that game.

Kochi Beach

Kochi is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Spending time on the beach gives you a feel of the scenic beauty. Take a walk along the beach and observe fishermen making a catch. There are many restaurants out there who will serve you some good sea food. Every year a feast is organised in the month of December. This feast will leave you enchanted and you will surely carry back some fond memories. Tourists can also indulge in a lot of adventure sports like canoeing, catamaran sailing, kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving snorkelling and wind surfing. The beach is at a distance of 12kms from Ernakulam city.

Paradesi Synagogue

This is a Jewish synagogue which is an important landmark in Cochin. It is one of the seven synagogues still in use. It was built in the year 1568 and is preserved till today. It is the oldest synagogue. Paradesi is a word used in several Indian languages to refer to foreigners. Historically, the synagogue was built by White Jews, a mixture of Jews, Cranganore, the Middle East and European exiles. Therefore, the name Paradesi Synagogue.

There are also some interesting things on display like several gold crowns received as gifts, many Belgian chandeliers and a brass-railed pulpit. It houses the copper plates of privileges written in Tamil, given by the ruler of the Malabar Coast to Joseph Rabban, the earliest known Cochin Jew. The floor of the synagogue is composed of hundreds of Chinese, 18th century, hand-painted porcelain tiles, all of which are unique. There is also an oriental rug a gift from Haile Selassie, the last Ethiopian Emperor. The most visible part of the synagogue is the 18th century clock tower, which, along with other parts of the complex, underwent repair work between 1998 and 1999.A tablet from the earlier synagogue in Kochangadi in Kochi (built in 1344) is placed on the outer wall of the Paradesi synagogue.

Mattancherry Palace also known as Dutch Palace is located at a distance of 10km from Ernakulam city. The Palace is known for its medieval charm. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Raja of Kochi, Veera Kerala Verma. It was called the Dutch Palace after the Dutch made some renovations and extensions on it. The Palace is also known for the Kerala murals depicting Hindu temple art, other paintings and exhibits of the kings. The palace is tastefully done up with paintings depicting different mythological scenes and also scenes from great Sanskrit works like Kalidasa s Kumarasambhavam.

The Santa Cruz Cathedral

The Santa Cruz Cathedral not only happens to be one of the oldest churches in Cochin, but also in the whole of India. Counted as one of the heritage edifices of Kerala, this church is visited by tourists the whole year round.At present, Santa Cruz Cathedral is one of the eight Basilicas in India. Recently in 2004, this cathedral completed its five centuries of existence. The architecture of the basilica is a blend of the Indo-European and the gothic style. The making of the pulpit and the wooden panelling of this cathedral is very impressive. Moreover, the Italian paintings dating from the time of the original foundation of the church adorning the interiors of the Santa Cruz Basilica give it a completely magnificent look.The Church is known for its architecture and is any photographer�s delight, be it day or at night!

pulpit and the wooden panelling of this cathedral is very impressive. Moreover, the Italian paintings dating from the time of the original foundation of the church adorning the interiors of the Santa Cruz Basilica give it a completely magnificent look.The Church is known for its architecture and is any photographer�s delight, be it day or at night!