It soon became a major military base, cultural hub, shipbuilding
centre and centre for Christianity, all in one. The highlights of
this fort are VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow, Jewish Synagogue, Bolgatty Palace and
Chinese Fishing nets. While the tourists throng to Vasco da Gama Square, where
now-obsolete Chinese fishing nets are still in use, the stalls
surrounding it coin the opportunity by making fresh delicious
seafood and tender coconut available to them. The Portuguese
originally built Dutch Palace within the fort. It later passed on
to Raja of Kochi through the hands of Dutch, who placed high value
on it and it was here that many coronations of the ruler of the
region took place. Leslie Bungalow from the 19th century belonged
to the coffee merchants who traded off in the name of Pierce
Leslie & Co. and enchants one with its beauty that has distinct
Portuguese, Dutch and native influences on it. Typical wood panels
and waterfront verandahs make it all the more endearing to the
visitors. The church of Santa Cruz Basilica, the Hill Palace
museum, the Jew Town, Indo-Portuguese Museum, Museum of Kerala
History, Cherai Beach and St Francis Church, the oldest European
church of India are other architectural delights of the region.
History
The city of Kochi is the biggest and most important port in
Kerala. Many small towns and villages like Fort Cochin,
Mattanchery, Ernakulam, Edapally, Vytilla, Vennala, Tevara,
Manamangalam, Vypin, Vallarpadom, Thopumpady, Kannamali, EdaKochi,
Bolghatty and Palluruthy form a part of Kochi. There have been
different views about the name of the city, but it is not known
exactly from where it originated.
The Kochi harbor boasts of a glorious past. It earned a
significant position on the world trading routes after massive
flooding of the river Periyar in 1340 AD destroyed the world
famous port at Kodugallur. After this, Kochi started to grow and
soon developed into a major trading port dealing in pepper,
cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, etc. The Chinese, Arabs, British,
Dutch and Portuguese helped Kochi to emerge as a bustling center
of commercial activity, connecting the mainland to the rest of the
world. Many great travelers, scholars and traders like Fa Hien,
Vasco da Gama, Sir Robert Bristow contributed to the growth of the
city.
In the year 1530 AD, Kochi was under the rule of the Portuguese;
at this time the city grew into a prosperous town. 'Manuel Kotta',
was the first European fort in Kochi built by the Portuguese. The
Dutch invasion began around 1653 and by 1663 they emerged
victorious over the Portuguese. It was then that the Dutch built
Fort Williams here.
In the year 1814, Kochi became a part of the British colony. The
Willingdon Island, which now accommodates the Kochi Port, Airport
and the Head Quarters of Southern Naval Command, was developed
under the supervision of the British ruler, Sir Robert Bristow.
After India became independent in 1947, the state of Kerala was
formed by the unification of provinces Kochi, Malabar and
Travancore in 1956. In 1967 the Corporation of Kochi was formed,
which included the towns of Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and
many nearby villages.
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