Kochi, the city where I spent my first few days, was my initiation to India. The movies set in this country and the stories I have heard of this place have somehow provided me with a picture in my mind of what was to come, something that will overwhelm my sensation.

However, learning from my past travels, I made every ounce of effort to throw the usual expectations out the window and tried to see India with fresh eyes. And so there I was, caught by surprise every step of the way.

Kochi played a pivotal role in introducing me to the beauty of the Indian state of Kerala. Only that it was just a chunk on the surface, because more beautiful faces of the country were revealed as we delved deeper into the region. First, let us get to know more about Kochi, or Cochin, as it is sometimes called (you will find some signage using either names interchangeably), where our Kerala Blog Express adventure began.

What to see in Kochi? Here are some places where you can start.

Cochin International Airport

It was a few hours before midnight when we touched down at the Cochin International Airport, which connects Kochi with other cities in India, as well as to Malaysia, Singapore and more destinations. It is the gateway to Kochi and this is dubbed as the first fully solar-powered airport in the world, something that Kerala is proud of and one that is worth emulating.

I applied for an e-visa, which I was able to obtain within 24 hours after I lodged my application online. I went through immigration at the airport for my biometrics and it was done so quickly.

Outside the airport, we were greeted with flowers and a warm welcome from the crew. But it was not just the hospitality that was warm. The temperature and the humidity were also quite high, despite the fact that I came from a tropical country where the sun shines all year round (except during monsoon and typhoons.) On the other hand, it was somehow comforting, knowing it won’t be a big adjustment from where I came from.

Fort Kochi

One of the main destinations in Kochi is the Fort Kochi, which bespeaks of a rich history, as seen in the remnants of the Portuguese, Dutch and British influences found in the architecture within its vicinity. Kochi was once ruled by the Maharaja but as a significant spice trade center, it was attractive to foreign fleets.

There is so much to see around Fort Kochi, which is accessible through the Ernakulam Railway  Station. You can either tour Fort Kochi on foot or through an auto rickshaw.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016

Aspinwall House, the heritage structure built by English businessman John H. Aspinwall in 1867 in Fort Kochi, was the primary venue of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016, along with other venues. It is an international exhibition featuring contemporary art, utilizing the old factory buildings and wharfs into an art haven. This third edition of this exhibit ran from 12 December 2016 until 29 March 2017. We were fortunate to visit and experience the art installations at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016.

Chinese Fishing Nets

Within a few distance from the Vasco Da Gama Square and the Nehru Park for Children are rows of Chinese fishing nets. In fact, these are common sights around Kerala and they have become postcard figures of the state. They are called such because it was believed to be brought to Kerala by Chinese explorer Zheng He.

Though they are lovely to look at, operating them is such a feat, requiring about five men to lift the net from the sea. Unlike the usual fishing practice in the Philippines where boats go to the deep, these Chinese fishing nets are fixed structures that are installed along the banks or in the middle of a body of water where there is not much tide.

Greenix Village and Kathakali

Kathakali, a unique performance using facial expressions, gestures, dance, songs, and elaborate make-up, is one of the cultural heritage in Kerala. The performance is usually taken from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. It was in Greenix Village in Fort Kochi where we had the luxury to enjoy Kathakali up close.  Other performances that we witnessed there were the Mohiniattam (dance of an enchantress) and Kalaripayattu (traditional martial arts).

St. Francis Church

The St. Francis Church bears great significance to the history of Kochi. Built in 1503 in Fort Kochi, this is considered as the oldest European church throughout India. But more than that, it bore the remains of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama for 14 years before it was transferred to Lisbon, Portugal. Interestingly, the church has a long cloth hanging from the ceiling, which served as a fan during the era when electricity was still not used.

Dutch Palace

Just near Fort Kochi is Mattancherry, where important structures could be found. One of these is the Mattancherry Palace or the Dutch Palace, which features intricate mural paintings of Ramayana and other mythological stories. Here’s a bit of a trivia though. The palace was built by the Portuguese and were only renovated by the Dutch. It was a gift to the monarchs of Kochi, who used the palace for their royal gatherings and celebrations.

Paradesi Synagogue

The Paradesi Synagogue is an active Jewish synagogue and the oldest one in the Commonwealth, given that it has been around since 1568. Though there are plenty of visitors who enter the synagogue during visiting time, its membership is decreasing and getting 10 men for its ceremonies is already a challenge. The synagogue is small, yet spacious. It is located near the Mattancherry Palace since the land where the synagogue is built was provided by the Maharaja to the Jewish community.

All in all, Kochi is an interesting place to explore. Apart from its heritage sites, it is also a bustling modern city. A metro rapid transit system is in the works and is about to open soon. There are also shopping malls and five-star hotels found around the city. Kochi has given me an interesting view of India. True enough, it has overwhelmed every bit of my sensation…in a very good way. But this was just the beginning and there are still many veils to unravel before I get a clearer picture of why Kerala is called Gods’ Own Country. Just stay with me in this journey and keep reading my other Kerala posts.

This article is part of the over-arching post First-time in Kerala: God’s Own Country where you will find the other blog posts related to this trip. Get updates on the Kerala Blog Express at thehttps://keralablogexpress.com/ and check #keralablogexpress #tripofalifetime and #liveinspired in social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.