Places to visit nearby destination - Cochin
Chennamanagalam
 An important centre of handloom weaving and coir manufacturing,
Chennamangalam was one of the chief centres of the Jewish
Colony and the seat of Paliath Achan, the hereditary prime
minister of the erstwhile state of Cochin from 1632 to 1809.
The famous Vaipinkotta Seminary, built in the 16th century
by the Portuguese, used to stand in the vicinity of the
Jewish Colony. An old Syrian Catholic Church established
in 1201 now stands near the ruins of the seminary.
Cherai Beach
 Situated at about 21 km from the city and bordering Vypeen
Island, the beautiful Cherai Beach is an ideal place for
swimming. One can occasionally see dolphins here. A typical
Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby
is an added attraction here.
Kalady
 Located 45 km from Cochin on the banks of river Periyar
is Kalady, the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya
was a great Indian philosopher who lived in the 8th century
AD. Kalady has two shrines made in memory of Shankaracharya:
one dedicated to him as Dakshina Moorthi and the other to
Goddess Sharada.
Kanjiramattom Mosque
 Thirty kilometres from Cochin at Kanjiramattom lies a mosque
believed to have been erected over the mortal remains of
Sheikh Parid. The great Muslim saint, Bavar is supposed
to have prayed here and attained eternal bliss. Thousands
of devotees throng this place during the Kodikuthu festival
which takes place in December-January.
Pallipuram Fort
 Situated in the northern extremity of the Vypeen Island
and built by the Portuguese in 1503, Pallippuram fort is
one of the oldest existing European monuments in India.
The fort was captured by the Dutch in 1661 and subsequently
sold by them to the State of Travancore in 1789. The Catholic
Church at Pallipuram is an important pilgrim centre of the
Christians.
Trichur
 Located
in the central part of the state, Trichur is also referred
to as the cultural capital of Kerala. The city and the area
around it have a number of museums, art schools, and institutes,
which are dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich
cultural traditions of Kerala. One of the most important
landmarks of this city is the Vadakkunathan Temple, located
on a raised hillock in the centre of the city. The temple,
dedicated to Lord Shiva, is an important pilgrim centre
in Kerala. |
