Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi Beach

Chinese traders from the court of Kublai Khan are believed to have introduced these huge cantilevered fishing nets in the late14th century. The nets are built of teak wood and bamboo poles. They can best be seen at sunset, on the north end of the promontory, a few metres from Fort Kochi, or from a boat tour of the harbour. Vasco da Gama square just behind the nets is an idle place to sit and savour the delicious seafood freshly caught in the nets, catered by the stalls here.

The Cochin Club

Formerly known as the English Club, this club stretches majestically between the Fort Cochin Commandant's house and the ancient Governor's residence. The club with its high roofs and arch styled windows is housed in a beautifully landscaped park and has an impressive library and a collection of sporting trophies. In the early19th century when the club was established by the British, admission was restricted to them and men only.  Today its rules are more liberal and the membership of 250 includes women as well.

Earlier known as Kunal or Hill Bungalow,

this graceful building reflects the colonial ambience of the bygone era. It was built on the land of the sea facing Gelderland Bastion, one of the seven bastions of the old Dutch fort in the late 1700s. It was home of the managers of the National Bank of India during the British reign. The present owners of the Thakur house is the tax trading firm Ram Bahadur Thakur and Company. The building has large rooms with wooden floors and bay windows, tables and shelves adorned by sparkling crystal and earthen pottery, and ancient glass lamps hang from the roof  beam. The Bungalow has a beautiful view of the Arabian Sea stretching away to the horizon.

Old Harbor House

This elegant old bungalow built in 1808 is in the possession of Carrit Moran & Co, renowned tea brokers, who now use it as their residence. The house was once a boat club.

Pierce Leslie Bungalow

Founded in 1862, this elegant colonial mansion was the office of the coffee merchants, the Pierce Leslie and Company. The structure is a blend of Portuguese, Dutch and the native building style. The mansion has arched doorways, wood panels on the roof of the ground floor, carved doors, sprawling rooms and waterfront verandahs.

Fort Immanuel

This bastion of the Portuguese in Kochi was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the monarch of Portugal, after whom it was named. Built in 1503, the fort was reinforced in 1538.By 1806 the Dutch and later the British had destroyed most of the fort walls and its bastions. Today remains of this once imposing structure can be seen along the beach.

VOC Gate

The large wooden gate facing the Parade Ground, with the monogram (VOC) of the once mighty Dutch East India Company carved on it, was built in 1740.

The Dutch Cemetery

The tombstones here are the most authentic record of the hundreds of Europeans who left their homeland in a mission to expand their colonial empires changed the course of history of land. The cemetery was consecrate 1724 and is today managed by Church of South Ind

Santa Cruz Basilica

Church was built by the Portugese and elevated to a Cathedral by PopeIV in 1558. In 1795 it fell into the hands of the British when they took over Cochin and was demolished. Over 100 years later Bishop Ferreira commissioned a new building at the same site in 1887.The church was proclaimed a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul 11.

Loafer's Corner/Princess Street

One of the earliest streets in Fort Kochi, Princess Street with its European style residences still retains its old world charm. The best view of this quaint street can be had from the Loafer's Corner, the traditional meeting Place and hangout of the fun loving people of the area.

St. Francis Church

Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan fathers this is India's oldest European church. This was initially built of timberand later reconstructed in stone masonary. It was restored in 1779 by the Protestant Dutch, converted to an Anglican church by the British in 1795 and is at present governed by the Church of South India . Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his mortal remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The tombstone still remains.

Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry

This imposing  structure was built in 1568 when the Jews settled in Mattancherry, after their expulsion from the Rahabi. They built a clock tower and paved the floor of the synagogue with 18th century hand painted willow pattern tiles brought from China. Its most important relics are the impressive copper plates recording King Bhaskara Ravi Varma's 4th century decree that guaranteed the Jewish settlers domain over Cranganore (Kodungalore) as well as the Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, great scrolls of the Old Testament etc.

The Synagogue itself is elaborately decorated with crystal chandeliers and carved wood with blue and white ceramic tiles. Located in Jew town, Mattancherry, the synagogue is open from 10 am to 12 noon; 3 pm to 5pm and closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.