Mattanchery
Built by the Portugese in 1555 palace was presented to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma(1537-61).
The palace is open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm.Photography is not permitted.
Originally constructed in 1568, the synagogue was destroyed by shelling during a Portugese raid in 1662 and was rebuilt two years later when the Dutch took over Kochi (Cochin).The area around the synagogue is known as Jewtown and is one of the centres of the Kochi (Cochin) spice trade.
The synagogue is open Sunday to Friday, from 10am to noon and from 3 to 5pm.
Ernakulam
This museum contains 19th centuary oil paintings, old coins sculptures and Mughal paintings. It’s open Tuesday to sunday from 10am to 2.30 pm. and from 2 to 4.30pm.
Ferries shuttle across the narrow strait from Fort Cochin to Vypeen island. The island boasts a lighthouse at Ochunthuruth(open from 3 to 5pm daily), good beaches , and the early 16th century Palliport Fort (open Thursdays). Gundu, the smallest island in the harbour , is close to Vypeen. It has a coir factory making doormats from coconut fibre.
Around Kochi (Cochin)
Numerous stories attest to the early history of this 10th century temple, where tormented devotees found solace in the diety, Bhagavathi. Today it remains one of the most popular pilgrim sites in Kerala, devotees still floak here seeking liberation from torment. Sometimes they dance themselves into a flenzy in their battle between the demons and the deities.
The Goddess at Chottanikkara is revered here in three forms; she is Saraswathi (goddess of learning) in the morning, Bhagavathi (fierce and destructive) at noon and Durga (divine mother) in the evening.
The hill Palace museum is at Tripunithura, 12km. south east of Ernakulam. The hilltop museum houses the collections of the Cochin and Travencore royal families.
It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2 to 4pm.
The Museum of Kerala History is at Edappally, 10km. north -east of ernakulam. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to noon and from 2 to 4pm.
The oigins of India’s most spectacular dance drama go back 500 years to a time when open -air performances were held in temple courtiyards or in villages.There are more than 100 different arrangements ,all of them based on stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharatha.The kerala kathakali Centre stage performances at the Cochin Aquatic Club on River Rd, Fort Cochin , near the bus stand.