Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is the historic European quarter of Kochi (Cochin) on a peninsula at the mouth of Vembanad Lake. The Portuguese established the first European fort in India here in 1503 (Fort Manuel); the Dutch took over in 1663, the British in 1795. Each layer left a distinct architectural mark, walkable today as a single heritage trail. The iconic landmarks: the Chinese fishing nets along the harbour walk (introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th century, still operational by hand), St Francis Church (1503 — the first European church built in India and the original burial site of Vasco da Gama), the Mattancherry Palace (1555, built by Portuguese for the Cochin king with later Dutch additions and 17th-century murals of the Ramayana), and the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town (1568, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth). The area hosts the Kochi-Muziris Biennale every other winter — South Asia's largest contemporary art festival.