Kochi

Kochi has been a trading port since the 14th century — the Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront have been there since the time of Kublai Khan, the synagogue in Jew Town has been in use since 1568, and the colonial streetscapes of Fort Kochi make it the most historically layered small city on the Indian coast.

Fort Kochi occupies a peninsula that received the Portuguese in 1503, the Dutch in 1663, and the British in 1795, each imperial tenant leaving characteristic architectural marks. The Dutch palace at Mattancherry contains the finest collection of Keralan mural painting in existence: massive 16th and 17th century scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata of such quality that the building is classified as the most important repository of this tradition anywhere in the state.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale, held every two years since 2012, has made Fort Kochi one of the most important contemporary art destinations in Asia. The Biennale uses the warehouses, heritage buildings, and public spaces of the old waterfront for a programme that has attracted artists including Anish Kapoor and Ai Weiwei, repurposing the trading city's historical relationship to outside culture — always the source of Kochi's identity — from importing spices to importing art.

Places to Visit in Kochi

• Fort Kochi
• Chinese Fishing Nets
• Mattancherry Palace
• Jew Town

Things to Do in Kochi

• Fort Kochi heritage walk
• Kathakali performance
• Spice market visit in Jew Town