Fort Kochi situated in the south-western region of Ernakulam city is a historically significant town. It bears the mark of each and every colonial power that existed there. It is a still preserving cultural blend of colonialism. Many major cities of India still have artifacts and architectures of British rule and their never-ending influence on our oriental culture, yet Fort Kochi’s heritage is not limited to British culture. Fort Kochi has an amalgamation of the early Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch cultures before the spread of British rule in the 18th Century.
This quaint city takes us back to each and every chapter of colonial history in Kerala. The essence and charm of the city are dotted with colonial buildings, churches, European architecture etc. It makes us feel like a small town in southern Europe. Upon walking through the K. J. Herschel Road in Fort Kochi, one gets the fascinating view of the Fort Immanuel, built in 1503 by the Portuguese people indicating the strong alliance between the Portuguese and Cochin Rajas.
Further down the road, one could see a Dutch cemetery with lots of graves belonging to the ancient Dutch Colonists resting peacefully in our lands. If you keep going you could see Thakur House, a colonial-style bungalow, St. Francis Church, the European style church, Vasco house, the place in which Vasco-da-Gama, the explorer, lived in Kochi, etc. These Portuguese, Dutch, and British ancient buildings take us back to another world. The margin between different eras seems to fade away once you stepped into the grounds of Fort Kochi. Visit Fort Kochi to get the vibe of a charming city that holds onto the essence of ancient colonial architecture and culture. This seaside town welcomes you with warming food cuisines, handmade shops, heritage buildings and art galleries.
