This overview of the city of Cochin includes visits to the old fort area and St. Francis Church, Mattancherry Palace and “Jew Town.”

Begin with a drive of about 45 minutes to Fort Cochin, site of the oldest European settlement in India. Your walking tour includes a visit St. Francis Church, originally Catholic, then Dutch Protestant, converted to Anglican by the British and now a member of the Church of South India. See the famed cantilevered Chinese fishing nets. Nearby, a local fish market features the day’s catch. Decaying mansions and old warehouses, still filled with the fragrant pepper, tea and spices of the region, create a colourful tableau.

Re-board the coach for the drive to the equally atmospheric Mattancherry district. Spend about an hour exploring the area on foot. Visit the palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, even though the Portuguese originally built it. Now a museum, it stands in a walled garden enclosure surrounded by mango groves and Hindu temples. In addition to some royal regalia and murals depicting the divine lover, Krishna, note the rare Kerala flooring in the palace—closely resembling polished black marble, it is in fact a mixture of burned coconut shells, charcoal, lime, plant juices and egg whites.

Walk over to the nearby Paradesi Synagogue; originally built in 1568, it was destroyed by the Portuguese and rebuilt by the more supportive Dutch a century later. The 19th-century interior features hand-painted Cantonese floor tiles, impressive Belgian chandeliers and an elegant brass pulpit. Continue your stroll through what is still called “Jew Town,” past spice, handicraft and antique shops. The drive back to The World is about 45 minutes, depending upon traffic.

NOTE: Modest clothing is required—no shorts or bare shoulders, please. Shoes must be removed at both St. Francis Church and the synagogue; socks are advised.

PRICE:

$ 40 10-24 participants

W2: Moderate activity. Requires intermittent effort throughout, including walking medium distances over uneven surfaces and/or on steps.