Jew Street

Jew street in Mattancherry has numerous antique and craft stores. The antique sellers of these streets are the descendants of a fast dwindling population of Jews who settled down here in AD 52.

Scores of small firms huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the pungent aromas of cardamom, cumin, turmeric, ginger and cloves. Many Jewish names are visible on business premises and houses, but the community has diminished rapidly since Indian independence. The Jew Street is lined with shops that sell curios, antique pieces of crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, remnants of traditional houses, and jewellery.

Indo Portuguese Museum

Indo Portuguese Museum is located inside the compound of the Bishop’s House at Fort Kochi. The museum is the outcome of the untiring efforts of the late Dr. Joseph Kureethra, Bishop of Kochi.

The museum is divided into five main sections:  Altar, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life and Cathedral.

The museum showcases the Portuguese influences on Fort Kochi and the surrounding areas, especially, the western parts of Kochi.

The museum has some outstanding collections and these include a piece of the altar made in teak wood (16th century) from the Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen, Fort Kochi, Processional cross, which is a combination of silver and wood (17th century) from Santa Cruz Cathedral, Fort Kochi, Indo-Portuguese Monstrance (18-19th century), from The Church of Our Lady of Hope, Vypeen and a chasuble (19th century) from Bishop's House.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has also contributed to the collection at the Indo-Portuguese Museum. Entry is free on 1st Thursday of every month.

Visiting Hours: 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM (closed on Mondays and all Public Holidays)

Fort Kochi Beach

Fort Kochi Beach is regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Kerala. The Chinese fishing nets are one of the main attractions along the beach

It is an ideal picnic spot for people, who come here either alone or in groups. The sea food, the Vasco da Gama Square adjacent to the beach, a light house and a granite walkway are some of the other attractions. It offers a great view of the Kochi LNG Terminal and Vallarpadam Container Terminal.  The beach also gives a great view of the sunset.

The remains of the Fort Immanuel can be seen at the western side of the beach. A section of the beach is not accessible to visitors as it is under the control of the Indian Navy.

David Hall

David Hall is a Dutch bungalow built around 1695 by the Dutch East India Company, located on the north side of Parade Ground in Fort Kochi. It is believed that during the Dutch occupation it was used to accommodate military personnel.

It was the residence of the renowned Dutch governor, Hendrick Adrian Van Rheede tot Drakestein. However, the building gets its name from a later occupant, a Jewish businessman called David Koder. Since 2007 the building has been leased by CNO India to CGH Earth, an ecologically conscious hotel group.

The typical Dutch architecture is visible on all elements. The three-foot wide walls and the four-column windows are some of the characteristics of the building.

David Hall is closed on Monday.

Phone: +91 484 2218289
Website: http://www.davidhall.in/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/davidhallartgalleryandcafe

Kashi Art Café

Kashi Art Café is an Old Dutch house located at Burgher Street in Fort Kochi. It was opened in 1997. Anoop Scaria and Dorrie Younger are the former owners of the café.

It has grown into a hub where artists showed their works and had heated discussions over coffee. Railway sleepers and pebbles decorate the floor in one area while you have iron tables and chairs, as also wooden chairs, some cast iron and even granite tables.

In 2012 Edgar Pinto took ownership and worked with restoration architect Karl Damschen and designer Marc Delrome, to renovate the property whilst keeping heritage status intact, including the menu.

It is opened from 08:30 AM to 07:30 PM all days.

Phone: 0484 2215769
Website: http://www.kashiartgallery.com/