During pre-colonial era of Kerala, Fort Kochi was merely nondescript fishing net area with least historical significance.
It was basically a fishing village with a major trade destination in Kochi. The area still continues with fishing in centuries old fashion. The landscape
of Fort Kochi region marked with huge Chinese fishing nets all over offering an enchanting sight for the travellers. It is believed that Chinese
travellers introduced Chinese fishing nets to Kochi city during the reign of Kublai Khan. The area that is now known as Fort Kochi was handed
over to the Portuguese by the king of Kochi in 1503 AD. The area came to be known as Fort Kochi because earlier there was a fort in the area.
Later on, the Dutch, when invaded the city, destroyed the fortification in Kochi city. It was the Portuguese who built their settlement behind
Fort Kochi and also constructed a wooden church over there. This church, known as St. Francis Church, is still there and attracts a large
cache of tourists.
Fort Kochi, one of the splendid places to visit, is known for the well preserved history of all times having colonial roads, tree-lined avenues, quaint lands and seashore. It comes under the district of Ernakulum and is the heart of Kochi city. Mention of Fort Kochi will naturally make one to imagine an ancient walled city or a fortress but actually it’s none of them. It is precisely a region in Kochi city that has a lot of things and spots to explore. The Fort Kochi is actually a fortified city. It is a laid back region that has a chilled out vibe. The region has an unbelievable blend of the Dutch, Portuguese, and French feel adding to which is the feel of Malabar giving it a beautiful blend.
Fort Kochi region is home to several historical monuments and pleasant sights. One of the most prominent places to visit in Fort Kochi area is
St. Francis Church, a beautiful & historical & religious piece of architecture. The Chinese fishing nets are next best thing to observe here.
It is an unusual and specific-only-to-Fort Kochi- area scene. Mattancherry Palace, also called Dutch Palace, and Jews Town with
Pardesi Synagogue are other gorgeous places to explore in the region and indulge in some serene moments steeped in history. The best mode to explore Fort Kochi
area is to walk around leisurely and pay attention to every little bit pieces of history. The area is also known for institutions promoting
Kerala’s very own classical dance form Kathakali. Watching Kathakali here is an exotic experience. Being in Fort Kochi area and exploring
various facets of the region, is like a journey through various phases of times. There are few shops in Fort Kochi that sell various craft
items and specialities of Kerala. These shops need to be visited to buy articles of one’s choice to take them home as a souvenir.
One of the oldest Portuguese buildings to visit in the Fort Kochi region is Vasco House. Bishop House is also monument kind of historical building to explore. David House, Vasco De Gama Square, Pierce Leslie Bungalow etc are some other attractions of the epic Fort Kochi. Dutch Cemetery, Thakur House, Fort Immanuel and Hill Bungalow are other set of places to explore and have a splendid time exploring the architectural gems belonging to 16th Century to recent times. Visiting & exploring Fort Kochi area thoroughly & leisurely will at least require a full day sightseeing.
In nutshell, top things to do in Fort Kochi region are visiting Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace), Jew Town &
Pardesi Synagogue, St Francis Church, Bolgatty Palace, Dutch Cemetery, Fort Emmanuel, Santa Cruz Basilica; enjoying Sunset Cruise & Kathakali
dance performance; and observing specimens of street art on dilapidated building. Another feature of the region is being home to several
restaurants offering authentic Kerala cuisines.
There is no entry fee to enter Fort Kochi region but some of the monuments within the area do issue tickets on nominal charges. Best time to visit Fort Kochi in Cochin is from October to March, the duration when the weather remains pleasant. The nearest railway station is Ernakulum railway station. Cochin International airport is the nearest airport from Fort Kochi. A visitor should surely get ready for sun, smiles and sea waves at Fort Kochi. The vibes of the place is unmatched with any other place in India. One will surely have the best time exploring all these places in Fort Kochi.