12:48 PM
KOCHI CITY – ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. Spread over a cluster of islands on Vembanad lake & mainland (Ernakulam). Backwater tours.
Fort Kochi – Historic town influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and British.
Jewish synagogue –Built in 1568. Has scrolls of Old Testament, copper
plates recording grants by Kochi rulers & hand painted blue Chinese
ceramic tiles. Jew Town – Street leading to synagogue has curio shops.
St. Francis Church – Built by Portuguese around 1546. Has crypts &
tombstones of Portuguese nobles. Has Vasco da Gama’s grave stone, as
he was first buried here. Mortal remains were later taken to Portugal.
Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) – Built by Portuguese and gifted to
Cochin Raja in 1555. Renovated by the Dutch in 1663. Has beautiful
murals depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharatha.
Chinese Fishing Nets – Huge cantilevered fishing nets, originally brought here by
traders from the court of Kublai Khan.
Santa Cruz Basilica – Present building was commissioned in 1887 and has a grand
interior. Originally built in 1558 by Portuguese.
Pallipuram Fort – On the northern fringe of Vypeen island. Built in 1503 by Portuguese,
first fort built in India by Europeans. Hexagonal shaped & three storeyed.
Bolghatty Palace – Built in 1744 by the Dutch is now a heritage hotel run by Kerala
Tourism Development Corporation. Located on Bolghatty island.
GUNDU ISLAND – Small island, coir products factory. Taj Group to develop resort.
Cherai Beach (45 km) – Near Vypeen island, ideal for swimming.
THRIPPUNITHURA (9 km) – Was the seat of the Cochin Rajas.
Hill Palace Museum - Paintings, epigraphy, furniture of the royal family are displayed.
Poornathreyesa (Vishnu) Temple – Masterpiece of Chola architecture.
Chottanikkara Bhagawathi Temple (15 km; near Thrippunithura) – Deity is
worshipped as Saraswathi, Bhadrakali and Durga at different times of the day.
Museum of Kerala History (10 km; Edappally) – Has statue of Parasurama, the sage
who is said to have created Kerala. Life size figures depict important landmarks of
civilization from neolithic age to modern era in Kerala. One hour sound and light shows.
ALUVA (21 km) –Pilgrim centre & summer picnic site on left bank of river Aluva.
Chovvara – Old summer palace of erstwhile Cochin royal family, on right bank of Aluva.
Kodanadu (30 km from Kottayam) – Elephant training centre under forest department,
amid high ranges near Perambavoor. Elephants trained for safari are provided to tourists.
THATTEKKAD Bird Sanctuary (20 km from Kothamangalam) – Between branches of
Periyar river. Has 200 bird species Boat cruises from Bhoothathankettu to Thattekkad.
BHOOTHATHANKETTU (50 km) – Popular picnic & trekking spot, close to Thattekkad
Bird Sanctuary. Boating in reservoir of Periyar Valley & Idamalayar irrigation project dams.
MALAYATTOOR (52 km) – St. Thomas Church on Malayattoor peak (609 m ASL). Has
life-size statue of St. Thomas & imprint of his feet on a rock. He is said to have prayed here.
CHENNAMANGALAM (42 km) –A historical Jewish centre. Has remains of Oriental Jewish
Synagogue in the old Jewish colony. Nearby are ruins of Vypeenkotta Seminary built by
Portuguese (16th cen.) and ancient Syrian Catholic Church (13th cen.).
KALADI (45 km) – Birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, on the banks of river Periyar.
Temples to Sri Sankara, Sarada Devi, Sri Krishna, International Temple (abode of peace).
Kothamangalam (55km) – 14 centuries old St. Thomas & St. Mary’s churches.
Kanjiramattom Mosque (30 km) - Erected over mortal remains of Sheikh Parid/Farid.
Caparisoned elephants, traditional Muslim art forms like Oppana & Mappilappattu, pilgrims
carrying sandalwood paste are highlights of Kodikuthu festival (Dec/Jan).
Fort Kochi – Historic town influenced by Portuguese, Dutch and British.
Jewish synagogue –Built in 1568. Has scrolls of Old Testament, copper
plates recording grants by Kochi rulers & hand painted blue Chinese
ceramic tiles. Jew Town – Street leading to synagogue has curio shops.
St. Francis Church – Built by Portuguese around 1546. Has crypts &
tombstones of Portuguese nobles. Has Vasco da Gama’s grave stone, as
he was first buried here. Mortal remains were later taken to Portugal.
Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace) – Built by Portuguese and gifted to
Cochin Raja in 1555. Renovated by the Dutch in 1663. Has beautiful
murals depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharatha.
Chinese Fishing Nets – Huge cantilevered fishing nets, originally brought here by
traders from the court of Kublai Khan.
Santa Cruz Basilica – Present building was commissioned in 1887 and has a grand
interior. Originally built in 1558 by Portuguese.
Pallipuram Fort – On the northern fringe of Vypeen island. Built in 1503 by Portuguese,
first fort built in India by Europeans. Hexagonal shaped & three storeyed.
Bolghatty Palace – Built in 1744 by the Dutch is now a heritage hotel run by Kerala
Tourism Development Corporation. Located on Bolghatty island.
GUNDU ISLAND – Small island, coir products factory. Taj Group to develop resort.
Cherai Beach (45 km) – Near Vypeen island, ideal for swimming.
THRIPPUNITHURA (9 km) – Was the seat of the Cochin Rajas.
Hill Palace Museum - Paintings, epigraphy, furniture of the royal family are displayed.
Poornathreyesa (Vishnu) Temple – Masterpiece of Chola architecture.
Chottanikkara Bhagawathi Temple (15 km; near Thrippunithura) – Deity is
worshipped as Saraswathi, Bhadrakali and Durga at different times of the day.
Museum of Kerala History (10 km; Edappally) – Has statue of Parasurama, the sage
who is said to have created Kerala. Life size figures depict important landmarks of
civilization from neolithic age to modern era in Kerala. One hour sound and light shows.
ALUVA (21 km) –Pilgrim centre & summer picnic site on left bank of river Aluva.
Chovvara – Old summer palace of erstwhile Cochin royal family, on right bank of Aluva.
Kodanadu (30 km from Kottayam) – Elephant training centre under forest department,
amid high ranges near Perambavoor. Elephants trained for safari are provided to tourists.
THATTEKKAD Bird Sanctuary (20 km from Kothamangalam) – Between branches of
Periyar river. Has 200 bird species Boat cruises from Bhoothathankettu to Thattekkad.
BHOOTHATHANKETTU (50 km) – Popular picnic & trekking spot, close to Thattekkad
Bird Sanctuary. Boating in reservoir of Periyar Valley & Idamalayar irrigation project dams.
MALAYATTOOR (52 km) – St. Thomas Church on Malayattoor peak (609 m ASL). Has
life-size statue of St. Thomas & imprint of his feet on a rock. He is said to have prayed here.
CHENNAMANGALAM (42 km) –A historical Jewish centre. Has remains of Oriental Jewish
Synagogue in the old Jewish colony. Nearby are ruins of Vypeenkotta Seminary built by
Portuguese (16th cen.) and ancient Syrian Catholic Church (13th cen.).
KALADI (45 km) – Birth place of Adi Sankaracharya, on the banks of river Periyar.
Temples to Sri Sankara, Sarada Devi, Sri Krishna, International Temple (abode of peace).
Kothamangalam (55km) – 14 centuries old St. Thomas & St. Mary’s churches.
Kanjiramattom Mosque (30 km) - Erected over mortal remains of Sheikh Parid/Farid.
Caparisoned elephants, traditional Muslim art forms like Oppana & Mappilappattu, pilgrims
carrying sandalwood paste are highlights of Kodikuthu festival (Dec/Jan).
0 comments:
Post a Comment