Fort Kochi
Location : About 13 km from Ernakulam town

Welcome to a 60-90 minute walking tour of the old
streets of Fort Kochi. This is the ideal way to discover a historic
town brimming with tales of myriad seafaring visitors who came here
to trade and then stayed on to cease their work on this impressionable
land. 'Walking through Fort Cochin' is a tour organised as part
of the conservation and development initiatives taken up by the
Corporation of Kochi.
The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD
1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region,
turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world.
Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the
world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese
settled here in the 15th century.
The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and
later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over,
the town in 1795. During 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as
a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - variously
as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural
hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and
so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen
communities
Fort Kochi, Ernakulam
Location : About 13 km from Ernakulam town.
Welcome to a 60-90 minute walking tour of the old streets of Fort
Kochi. This is the ideal way to discover a historic town brimming
with tales of myriad seafaring visitors who came here to trade and
then stayed on to cease their work on this impressionable land.
'Walking through Fort Cochin' is a tour organised as part of the
conservation and development initiatives taken up by the Corporation
of Kochi.
The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD
1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region,
turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world.
Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the
world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese
settled here in the 15th century.
The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and
later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over,
the town in 1795. During 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as
a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - variously
as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural
hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and
so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen
communities.
A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing
nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St.Francis
Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from these architectural
splendours, an array of restaurants serving fresh seafood are also
popular among tourists.
The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles
work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set
up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow
promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the
nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.
The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church built originally by the Portuguese
and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul 1V in 1558, was spared
by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later
the British demolished the structure and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira
commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa
Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984.
Fort Kochi is also home to one of India's oldest churches - the
St.Francis Church. This was a Roman Catholic Church during the Portuguese
rule from 1503 to 1663, then a Dutch Reformist Church from 1664
to 1804, and Anglican church from 1804 to 1947. Today it is governed
by the Church of South India (CSI). Another important fact about
the church is that Vasco Da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here
before his mortal remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later...
Each and every structure, street, door, window and brick in Fort
Kochi has several stories to tell.
Getting there : Fort Kochi is accessible by bus or ferry. The bus
ride from Ernakulam town, which is nearly 13 km away, takes about
an hour and the ferry ride from Main boat jetty at Ernakulam about
20 minutes.
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam about 1 1/2 km from the Main
boat jetty.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km
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