COCHIN

KOCHI - THE NAME

 Likemost cities in India, Kochi has a very long
and illustrious history. But, the origin of the
name is still shrouded in mystery. Many
theories exist, but none are strong enough to
be conclusive. Some historians believe that
Kochi is a modified form of the word 'Cochazhi'
which in Malayalam means 'small sea'. Others
are of the opinion that 'Kochi' was named so by
the Chinese. The peculiar Chinese fishing nets
found here, the only place outside China where
it has been spotted, can possibly be attributed
to the heavy Chinese influence the city has had
in the past. Still another theory is that Kochi is
derived from the word 'Kaci' meaning 'harbour'
DUTCH PALACE (MATTANCHERRY
PALACE)
DUTCH (MATTANCHERRY) PALACE 

 Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala

 Significance: Kerala Murals depicting Hindu temple
art, Portraits and exhibits of Rajas of Kochi
 Best Season :August - May

 Timings :Open 10.00 am - 5.00 pm on all days except

Fridays and national holidays, Photography not
allowed inside
 Also known as Dutch Palace, the Mattancherry 
palace with its medieval charm is situated at Palace
Road, Mattancherry,10km from Ernakulum city,
Kochi, Kerala. Built by the Portuguese and presented
to the Raja of Kochi Veera Kerala Varma (1537-65) in
1555 AD, it took on its present popular name 'Dutch
Palace' after 1663, when the Dutch carried out some
extensions and renovations in the palace. The rajas
also made more improvements to it. Today, it is a
portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for
some of the best mythological murals in India, which
are in the best traditions of Hindu Temple Art.
DUTCH PALACE (MATTANCHERRY
PALACE), MATTANCHERRY
 The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese.
Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and
presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many
Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace has a fine
collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the
Hindu epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. The palace is
located in Mattancherry.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH
Town Kochi
Country India
Started 1506
Completed 1516
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH, FORT KOCHI
 It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his
3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco de Gama, the Portuguese
trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and
died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church.
Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite
of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly
marked out.
 The Church was declared a protected monument in April
1923 under the Protected Monuments Act of 1904.
 It has services on Sundays and commemorative days.
On weekdays it is kept open for visitors
Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route from Europe
to India, landed at Calicut (later renamed Kozhikode) in
1498. Vasco da Gama was followed by Pedro Álvares Cabral
and Afonso de Albuquerque. They built a fort at Kochi with
permission from the Raja of Cochin. Within the fort, they built
a church with a wooden structure, which was dedicated to
St. Bartholomew. The neighborhood is now known as
Fort Kochi.

Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese viceroy, was allowed,

in 1506, by the Raja of Cochin to reconstruct wooden
buildings in stone and masonry. The wooden church was
rebuilt, presumably by the Franciscan friars, with bricks and
mortar and a tiled roof was erected. In 1516, the new church
was completed and it was dedicated to St. Anthony.
KALADY
 Kalady (Malayalam: കാലടി) is a village located east of
the Periyar river, in the Ernakulum district of Kerala,
India. Notably, it is the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankara,
and thus is a popular destination for pilgrims. Kalady
started featuring in the spiritual map of India only after
its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then
Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent
consecration of a temple for Sri Adi Shankara in 1910.
The Centenary of Kalady was celebrated in May 2010
and the story of Kalady has been documented in digital
media.
BRINDAVAN OF ARYAMBA, KALADY

 This is a holy spot in Kalady where Aryamba, the

mother of Sri Adi Shankara was cremated. The lamp
post made of black stone just near this Samadhi was
in existence from the time of Sri Shankara. Timings:
6 am-1 pm, 4-8 pm. Near to this is a Ganapati Shrine.
 CROCODILE GHAT, KALADY

 Crocodile Ghat or Muthala Kadavu is the place

where Sree Shankara took 'Manasa Sanyasam' or his
vows of renunciation. It is situated on the bank of the
Periyar. Even from a young age, Shankara was
spiritually inclined and wanted to take up sanyasa
much against his mothers wishes. Once while
Shankara was taking bath in the Periyar river one
day, he was caught by a crocodile. Shankara
demanded his mother Aryamba to permit him to take
up sanyasam so that the crocodile will leave him. His
mother was forced to give permission and then the
crocodile released him immediately, and the Ghat
came to be known as Crocodile Ghat
 Athirampalli Falls

This particular falls has been featured in numerous films
and advertisements. It is also called as ‘Punnagai
Mannan Falls’, since this falls have been featured in
Tamil film ‘Punnagai Mannan’.
 It is about 35 km from Sholaiyar. Totally, it gives us
mystic natural scenery on the way to Athirampalli Falls
and Sholaiyar.
HOW TO GET THERE ?
 Athirampally is just 90 km from Cochin and
is a popular picnic spot. Bus services are
available from Chalakudy on Cochin Thrissur
highway or you can catch a cab (Taxi) from
Chalakudy Town or Railway Station. This
scintillating waterfall in thick green forest is a
part of the Chalakudy river stream.