Serene Kochi has been drawing traders and explorers for its shores for over 600 years, and today stands as a living homage to a vibrant past unlike any other. Nowhere in India could you find such a melange; giant fishing nets from China, a 400 year old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses built half a millennium ago, all mixed in with the crumbling residuum of the British Raj. The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. It is a delightful place to spend some time, soak in the history, peruse art galleries and nap in some of the finest heritage accommodation in India.
We took a 5 hours flight down to Kochi which is made up of a gaggle of islands and peninsulas that includes mainland Ernakulam; the islands of Willingdon, Bolgatty and Gundu; Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the Vallarpadam Islands. All are linked by bridges amd ferry services. Upon stepping out of the arrival terminal building, we spotted our driver from the Daffodil Home Stay and off we hopped into the four-wheel drive which took us to our first accommodation situated at the Njaliparambu Junction. Since it was already past evening when we arrived, we decided to unpack our belongings, took a shower, walked out nearby for dinner and called it a day.
Next morning, we took a stroll along the streets which featured many local attractions such as St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and of course one could not miss the Chinese Fishing Net village. Since I am not writing each and every one of the places we went, today’s post center around the main attraction – “Chinese Fishing Nets” a hallmark of Cochin, speaks of the first traders, who visited this coast during 1350 – 1450 AD. These nets are built using teak wood and bamboo poles. It is where fishermen carry out their daily routine, also some set up stalls along the shore to sell their freshly caught seafood where we actually bought some fish and squid (yes, still raw) and brought them to a nearby restaurant and the chef prepared us lunch.
Here are mostly black and white photos taken from the site of the locals and their boats, and then followed by the fishing nets and us joining the fun, singing to their folk song ‘Hey Jala’ while having experienced using the traditional fishing method, in colored.
Part II of Kerala will be the traditional Kathakali dance and a few sights around Fort Cochin. Stay tuned for that, and then we will venture to part III in Alappuzha (Alleppey) where there will be photos, of course, of the magnificent Kerala backwaters.
Source: Lonely Planet Guide
Seems pretty wild to me…I remember my great-grandmother reading me Bible stories when I was very young, about how men made their living by fishing from the sea…and still today, men are still making their living from the sea.
Nice shots.
Raven
Yeah, it’s kinda hard to believe that actually many out there are still relying on fishing for a living. Thanks for the comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the shots.
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