Fort Kochi cultural melange in Kerala
Fort Kochi is a melting pot of cultures. Portuguese, Jewish, Dutch and English influences have helped mould the city. It is a major port and home to Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in India. Visitors can shop for spices, jewellery, handicrafts, textiles and antiques. The place has great art cafes too.
Jewish Synagogue
The Jewish Synagogue in Fort Kochi is the oldest existing synagogue of all the 53 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is known by various other names such as Cochin Jewish Synagogue and the Mattancherry Synagogue. When the Jews settled in Mattancherry after their expulsion from Iberia, they built this imposing structure in 1568. The structure on Jew street is remarkable. The highly decorative interiors have huge Belgian chandeliers and hand painted floor tiles. They added the synagogue’s three-story clock tower two centuries later. Ezekial Rahabi, a leading businessman, directed the construction in 1761. …
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