Cochin
Located on a fringed offshore bar of coconuts at the seaside, Cochin was deeply marked by the installation of the Portuguese commercial counters then Dutch, in the 16 th and 17 th centuries. Of its history, the synagogue and old Jewish , as well as churches. . The Portuguese invaders, in the forefront of which appeared the disaster Vasco de Gama, were astonished but regarded nevertheless the populations autochtones by it as heretic, because not catholics... Indeed, the syriaque rite was observed because of the bonds which had developed with the wire of the centuries with the Middle East. Nowadays, the syriaque and catholic rites co-exist.
The
Palace of Mattancherry, known as "Dutch Palace", with the painted
mural frescos which report episodes of the legends of Mahâbhârata and Râmâyana
These frescos is unfortunately in an unequal state of conservation; some are
practically unobtrusive. Nevertheless, they form the most attractive part
of the visit. One notices there the couple of Shiva and Pârvatî accompanied
by Ganesh on their right and Kartikeya on their left. Ganesh sat on its rat
and Kartikeya on its peacock. The other parts contain reef tackles, weapons,
plans of time, a gallery of portraits of the sovereigns of the area.
The 16th century old synagogue strikes with its astonishing Chinese blue tiles . With the ceiling, a disparate collection of glosses from Europe. The synagogue preserves, extremely old fragments of Tora
The fishing port of square threads (sail needles), introduced by Chinese merchants several centuries ago,where fishermen go down in water by a clever system from counterweight, to raise them one moment, thus offering an unceasingly renewed spectacle
Saint-François the oldest church, of the country; it was founded in 1503 and Vasco de Gama was buried there in 1524 before its skin is not brought back to Portugal a few years more late. The church Santa Cruz is worth also the visit.
One could not leave Cochin without spending a certain time clouding in the street of the second-hand dealers which joined the synagogue. Even if not well versed in fine arts an introduction to Indian Classical Kathakali dance. Characters with the impressive masks which recreate, in a single dansé/mimé theatre, the crowned legends of Mahâbhârata and Râmâyana.
Environs de Cochin
Allepey
Sometimes called "Venice of South India", Allepey, 55 km South of Cochin, is a pleasant a small city in edge of the large lake Vembanad..
Allepey invites for a mesmerising voyage. It is indeed the most known starting point for the excursions of the "backwaters", innumerable ways of water, rivers, lagoons, channels,
One can either go from Allepey to Kottayam (or the reverse) by small ferries, or rent for a few hours an engine boat. If one has more time and an adhoc budget, choose a "katavallu", large boat traditional in reeds, arranged in floating hotel for two to four people.
With
about fifteen km in the south of Allepey, in Ambalapuzha, one visits the temple
of Krishna laid out in a large closed court of an enclosure.
Kollam and Kayamkulam
This harbour city with the activity of fishing, is also one of the starting points for the excursions on the backwaters, with Allepey .Kollam and Allepey(90 km) are connected by a good road, At Kayamkulam the Palace of Krishnapuram which was the subject recently of large work of restoration. Admire one of most beautiful and the greatest murals, of some 5 m, dating from the 18th century, of surcroit in excellent state.In this very known myth, the leg of Gajendra is seized by an enormous crocodile. The central part of the composition shows beautiful Vishnu, overlapping Garuda with human face, assisting from Gajendra. On the left, Râmâ and Sîtâ, his wife, sumptuously avoided, attend the scene. The lower part shows a plank of maidservants to the naked centres, vêtues of loincloth. The high part is populated celestial beings.