3-Hour Fort Kochi & Mattancherry Walking Tour
About this activity
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
3 Hours
English
Overview
Explore the beautiful Fort Kochi and Mattancherry on foot. Notice the local fishermen & their Chinese fishing nets. Visit the ancient Jewish Synagogue, churches & palace built by the Portuguese.
Highlights
- See Kochi fishermen with their Chinese nets
- Visit Santa Cruz Basilica & St Francis Church
- View Mattancherry Palace & Paradesi Synagogue
- Learn about the intriguing past from a guide
Description
Get on a short & sweet walk tour across Fort Kochi, a charming seaside area. First off, you will see the local fishermen who use Chinese fishing nets or Cheena vala for catching fish. These types of nets were introduced due to traders in the 14th century. Till this, fishermen have continued their usage.
Next, you'll enter St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. It is also the original resting place of famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama & hundreds of Portuguese soldiers. After that, your guide will bring you to Santa Cruz Basilica, one of the nine basilicas in Kerala. Thousands of tourists visit this fine church every year.
Thereafter, you'll see the Mattancherry Palace, a stunning palace that dates back to the 14th century. It was built by the Portuguese as a compensatory gift for destroying temples in the Cochin Kingdom. Following this, we'll move on to the Paradesi Synagogue which is the oldest active Jewish synagogue in South India. Enter the nearby Jewish neighborhood & listen to the interesting stories about Jewish settlements in Kochi.
Inclusions
- Entrance fees
- Tour guide (English speaker)
Exclusions
- Personal expenses
- Cruise ship
- We meet all travelers at a starting point
- Jewish Synagogue & Mattancherry Palace is usually closed on holidays, Friday, & Saturday.
- It is advised to arrive at least 5 minutes before the departure time.
