ST FRANCIS CHURCH
St Francis CSI Church in Fort Kochi, built
in 1503, is the oldest European church in India and has great historical
significance as witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent.
When the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama on his third visit to here died in
Kochi in year 1524. His body was originally buried in this church, after fourteen
years his remains were removed to Lisbon. Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea
route from Europe to India, landed at Kappad near Kozhikode (Calicut) in 1948.
He was followed by Pedro Alavares Cabral and Afonso de Albuquerque. They
permission from the Raja of Cochin. Within the fort, they built a church with a
wooden structure, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. The neighbourhood is
now known as Fort Kochi.
CHINESE FISHING NETS
The best place to hang out with family in
the evenings in India, Chinese fishing nets ( Cheena vala) are fishing nets
that are fixed land installations for fishing . While commonly known as “Chinese
Fishing Nets” in India, the more formal name for such nets is “shore operated
lift nets”. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20m or
more across. Each structure is at least 10 m high and comprises a cantilever
with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from
ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a
team of up to 6 fishermen. While such nets are used throughout coastal southern
China and Indochina, in India they are mostly found in the Indian cities of
Kochi and Kollam, where they have become a tourist attraction.
FORT KOCHI JAIL MUSEUM
It was periodically dominated by the
Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders. On the occasion of the 63rd
Independence Day, the history laden Fort Kochi Jail was dedicated to the nation
as a heritage site. Some of the prominent freedom fighters and leaders like
Muhammed Abdur Rehman , K.J Harshal , Ak Gopalan and EMS Namboodiripad had been
jailed in the cells at Fort Kochi during their movement for the freedom of the
nation. The old Fort Kochi jail had witnessed the confinement of several
freedom fighters hailing from the erstwhile British Kochi. The jail complex had
8 cells and 6 freedom fighters were used to be put in a cell. Each cell was
just 6 metre high and 50 sq feet wide. The cell just had a 6 foot concrete bed
and had a small hole to drain out waste emanating from the jail.
SANTA CRUZ CATHEDRAL BASILICA CHURCH
Elegantly reconstructed in 1880s Catholic Church
originally built by the Portuguese in the 1500s. The Santa Cruz Cathedral
Basilica at Fort Kochi is one of the 8 Basilicas in India. Counted as one of
the heritages edifies of Kerala, this church is one of the finest and most
impressive churches in India and visited by tourists the whole year around. It
is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed
with architectural and artistic grandeur and colours of the gothic style. The
basilica serves as the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin. It was built
originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in
1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings.
Later the British demolished the structure and Joao Gomes Ferreira commissioned
a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a
Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.
BASTION BUNGALOW
The Portuguese built Fort Immanuel during
the early decades of the 16th century. When the Dutch captured Kochi
in 1663, they started destroying the fort and reduced it to almost one third
its size. Originally, the fort had 7 bastions. The name Bastion Bungalow is
derived from its location on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the Old Dutch
fort.
THE INDO PORTUGUESE MUSEUM
The Indo Portuguese museum is located in
Fort Kochi; it is an example of the influence of Portuguese in this area. The
Indo Portuguese museum has 5 sections namely the Altar, Treasure, Procession,
Civil Life and Cathedral. This museum is more attractive tourist destination in
Kerala. The Indo Portuguese Museum in Kochi is indeed one of those symbols in
the annals of Kochi, bearing the rich heritage of Indo Portuguese culture and
artistic influence.
THE DUTCH CEMETERY, FORT KOCHI
The tomb stones here are the most authentic
record of the hundreds of Europeans who left their homeland on a mission to
expand their colonial empires and changed the course of history of this land.
The cemetery was consecrated in 1724 and is today managed by the Church of
South India.
MARITIME MUSEUM
India is reckoned as one of the top 10
naval powers in the world and owes its credit to the dedication and selfless
services rendered by the brave men of India’s formidable naval force. It is
significance for civilians to understand the value of existence of such a force,
which plays a crucial role in safe guarding territorial waters of India. The Maritime
Museum, located at INS The Maritime Museum, located at INS Dronacharya in Kochi
throws light on the genesis, history, evolution and landmarks of the Indian
Navy. Visiting hours: 0930 to 1300 & 1400 to 1800 hrs.
DHOBI KHANA, FORT KOCHI
The member of Vannar Sangham belongs to
Vanna community families who were working here since 1720. The Dutch Govt
brought the ancestors of this community from different part of Tamil Nadu and
Malabar to Fort Kochi for washing the Dutch army’s uniform. The Dutch allotted
13 acre of land and set up around 80 traditional sand bored ponds for the
families for washing purpose. Earlier this place was known by Mainath Veli.
KOCHI MUZIRIS BIENNALE
The Kochi Muzuris Biennale is an
international exhibition of contemporary art held in Kochi, Kerala. It is the
first Biennale being held in India. The Kochi Muziris Biennale is an initiative
of the Kochi Biennale Foundation with support from the Government of Kerala.
The exhibition was set in spaces across Kochi, Muziris and surrounding islands.
The shows were held in existing galleries and halls and site specific
installations in public spaces, heritage buildings and disused structures.
In May 2010, Mumbai based contemporary
artists of Kerala origin, Bose Krishnamachari and Riyaz Komu, were approached
by then culture minister of Kerala, M.A.Baby to start an international art
project in the state. Acknowledging the lack of an international platform for
contemporary art in India, Bose and Riyas proposed the idea of Biennale (a
large scale international exhibition) in Kochi on the lines of the Venice
Biennale.
WILLINGDON ISLAND
Willingdon Islands is the largest
artificial man-made Island in India, which forms part of the city of Kochi.
Much of the present Willington Island was claimed from the Lake of Kochi,
filling in dredged soil around a previously existing, but tiny, natural island.
Willingdon Island is significant as the home for the Port of Kochi, as well as
the Kochi Naval Base Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, a constituent
unit of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
The island was created during construction
of modern Kochi Port in 1936 with the soil dredged out while depending the
Vembanad Lake to accommodate the new Kochi Port. It was named after the 1st
Earl of Willingdon, the Viceroy of India at the time, who commissioned the
project. Robert Bristow, the chief protagonist and engineer for the project,
owned the first building on the island.
No comments:
Post a Comment