UpdateBot at 16:00, 1 July 2022

2022-07-01T16:00:18Z

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{{Short description|Place in Kochi}}
{{Distinguish|Fort Manuel of Cochin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Fort Kochi
| other_name = Cochim de Baixo
| settlement_type =
| image_skyline = Chinese_Fishing_Nets_at_Fort_Kochi_IMG_20180916_160715.jpg
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India#India Kochi
| coordinates = {{coord|9.968|76.244|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Ernakulam district|Ernakulam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| parts_type = [[Taluka]]s
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 234990
| population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 682001
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 0484
| registration_plate = KL-43
| website =
}}

[[File:KochiFishingNet.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cheena vala]] (Chinese fishing net)]]'''Fort Kochi''', '''Fort Cochin''' in English, '''Cochim de Baixo''' ("Lower Kochi") in [[Cochin Portuguese creole]], is a [[neighbourhood]] of [[Cochin (Kochi)]] city in [[Kerala, India]]. Fort Kochi takes its name from the [[Fort Manuel of Cochin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vascohomestay.com/fort_cochin.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191212225025/http://www.vascohomestay.com/fort_cochin.html|archive-date = 12 December 2019|title = About Fort Cochin | Vasco House Fort Cochin | Homestay Fort Cochin | Heritage House}}</ref> the first European fort on Indian soil, controlled by the [[Portuguese East Indies]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kimansion.com/fort-kochi.htm | title=THE MELTING POT OF CULTURES | publisher=Kimansion | access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> This is part of a handful of water-bound islands and islets toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as ''Old Cochin'' or ''West Cochin''. Adjacent to this is the [[Locality (settlement)|locality]] of [[Mattancherry]]. In 1967, these three [[municipalities]] along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the [[Corporation of Cochin]].

==Scientific theory==
In the [[Before Christ|BC]] period, the region that is today known as [[Kerala]] was covered by mangrove woods. Turf and sand banks were created with the rise in sea-level which formed the shape of the coastal area as we see it today. The name ''Cochin'' implies "co-chin", meaning "like-China".{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} It looked like [[China]] when the [[Chinese people|Chinese]] came to the region during the 14th century and installed Chinese nets. [[Mattancherry]] is the nerve town of old historic Cochin. In old [[Malayalam]] it is ''Maadan-cheri'', from ''cheri'' meaning town. ''Maad'' or [[cow]] was the stamp of Old Royal Fort of Rajah of Cochin, who built his palace after the fall of [[Kodungallur]] or Muziris port due to a gigantic [[tsunami]] in 1341 [[AD]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} The Perumpadappu Swaroopam or the Fort of Rajah had its palace on the banks of the Calvathy River. Owing to frequent wars between King Zamorin of Kozhikode and the western colonial forces, the Rajah left the place for [[Tripunithura]]. The king had his [[vaishnav]] leanings and the cow or ''maadu'' was his symbol.

== Connectivity ==
Fort Kochi can be accessed from Ernakulam through roadways and water ways. Private buses and government transport buses travel from different parts of the city to Fort Kochi. Owing to the high volume of tourists visiting the place dedicated low floor Volvo buses were introduced to this route by the government. Such buses are in use on the popular routes such as Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Vytila Mobility Hub and Kakanad Info Park.{{cn|date=May 2022}}

== History ==
[[File:Koonan Kurishu Palli Kochi Kerala .jpg|alt=image of Mattacnherry church, image of koonan kurish palli, mattancherry|thumb|upright|[https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattancherry/34826669986/ St. George Orthodox Koonan Kurish Old Syrian Church] - The Koonan Kurish Sathyam took place at this Church in AD 1653 is the first attempt to resist colonialism and western invasion in India]]
The port at [[Kozhikode]] held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while [[Kannur]], [[Kollam]], and [[Kochi]], were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.<ref name="Malekandathil">''The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800''. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)</ref> Fort Kochi was a fishing village in the [[Kingdom of Kochi]] in the pre-colonial Kerala. The Portuguese arrived at [[Kappad]] [[Kozhikode]] in 1498 during the [[Age of Discovery]], thus opening a direct sea route from [[Europe]] to [[India]].<ref>DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Sreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History</ref> The territory that would be later known as Fort Kochi was granted to the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]] in 1503 by the [[Kingdom of Kochi|Rajah of Kochi]], after the forces of [[Afonso de Albuquerque]] helped him fighting the forces of [[Saamoothiri]] of [[Kozhikode]]. The Rajah also gave them permission to build [[Fort Emmanuel]] near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name Fort Kochi comes from this fort, which the Dutch later destroyed. The Portuguese built their settlement behind the fort, including a wooden church, which was rebuilt in 1516 as a permanent structure, today known as the [[St. Francis Church, Kochi|St Francis Church]]. Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession for 160 years. In 1683 the Dutch captured the territory from the Portuguese, destroyed many Portuguese institutions, particularly [[Catholic]] including convents. The Dutch held Fort Kochi in their possession for 112 years until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch. Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947 with the [[Partition of India|Indian independence]].[[File:Kerala St. Francis Church 1.JPG|thumb|right|[[St. Francis Church, Kochi|St Francis Church]] where [[Vasco da Gama]] was buried]]
[[File:Fort Cochin view.JPG|thumb|Common scene of Kochi]]
[[File:Mad Crab.jpg|thumb|Crab structure made with discarded plastic bottles and save the beach from garbage, at Fort Kochi]]
[[File:Kerala jain temple.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jain]] temple in Fort Kochi]]
A mix of old houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in these colonial periods line the streets of Fort Kochi. St Francis Church was built in 1503 by the Portuguese as a Catholic church. [[Vasco da Gama]] was once buried in this church which now falls under the [[Church of South India]] and is one of the national monuments. [[Santa Cruz Basilica]], also built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, was later destroyed by the British and rebuilt near the end of 19th century.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} From this period there are other residential buildings and hotels such as the [[Old Harbour House]], some of which have been renovated in more recent times. The landmark that causes more public and visitor interest is a series of precolonial [[Chinese fishing nets]] on the waterfront, believed to have been introduced by Chinese traders in the early 14th century.

===First sources===
Since the beginning of the Common Era, Arabian and Chinese traders sourced spices, especially pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sandal wood, etc. from the Kochi region. Cultivation and trade of these valuable goods shaped the history of the region. Even today, Kochi is an important centre of spice export. The [[Arabian]] traders were the first to know about these spices, and they carried the highly wanted merchandise to Europe. Centuries later, they were followed by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and afterwards the British.

===Around 600 AD===
Written documents about the [[Malabar Coast]] show that this region had Hindus, Christians, and a Jewish minority.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qhKGPprbQaYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ISBN9652781797&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UNa1VM-AFc_kuQSLiYLIAQ&ved=0CB8Q6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=two%20millennia&f=false ''The Jews of India: A Story of Three Communities''] by Orpa Slapak. The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. 2003. p. 27. {{ISBN|965-278-179-7}}.</ref>

===Around 1341===
The natural harbour of Kochi was created by a flood that also destroyed the harbour of the town [[Kodungallur]]. Thereafter, the town developed into one of the most important harbours on the West Coast of India. It concentrated on the spice trade with China and the Middle East.

===Around 1500===
During this period, Calicut was ruled by king Zamorin and Kochi was ruled by the Maharaja of Cochin. This was the time when the first [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ships berthed at the Malabar Coast: [[Vasco da Gama]] in Calicut and [[Pedro Álvares Cabral]] in Kochi. The Maharaja of Kochi felt threatened by the Zamorin of Calicut, and he hoped that the Portuguese would help him in his defense from the neighbouring king of Calicut. The Maharaja welcomed the Portuguese, and they founded their first trading center in Kochi. However, the Maharaja of Cochin was largely deprived of his power, and Kochi became the first European colony in India.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} The Portuguese put pressure upon the small Jewish community, and even the Syrian Christians as they were practising [[Nestorianism]]. The Portuguese tried to merge the [[Syrian]] Christian Church with the [[Latin Church]]. This created conflict as most of the Syrian Christians were associated with various churches of the East and rejected the authority of the [[Pope]] and the [[Latin Church]]. Francis Xavier also baptised several thousand, which increased the Catholic population in Kochi.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cochin.org.uk/culture/history.html | title=Cochin History | publisher=Cochin.org | access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

===Around 1663===
At the invitation of a deposed prince of Cochin Royal Family and the hereditary Prime Minister of Cochin, namely the Paliath Achan, the Dutch came to Cochin and conquered Kochi in 1663. The town became the capital of [[Dutch Malabar]] and belonged to the worldwide trading network of the [[Dutch East India Company]]. The Dutch also destroyed many Catholic institutions in Cochin.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://travel.india.com/kochi/places-to-visit/forts-fort-kochi/ | title=Fort Kochi | publisher=Travel India | access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

===Around 1760===
There came uneasy times for Kochi because of trouble between the regional powers. Kochi was devastated by [[Hyder Ali]], then later by his son Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan subordinated the town temporarily to the kingdom of Mysore.

===Around 1790===
Kochi came under the influence of the British around this period. In 1814, Kochi became a part of the Madras Presidency becoming a part of the British colonial empire. The British shaped the country until the 20th century, and Kochi has always been an important harbour and trade center.

===Around 1860===
The municipality of Fort Kochi was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)<ref name="Ref1">{{cite web|url=http://www.lawmin.nic.in/chronology.doc |title=CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF CENTRAL ACTS (Updated up to 17-10-2014) |website=Lawmin.nic.in |access-date=2016-08-07}}</ref><ref name="c1881">{{cite book |last1=Lewis McIver |first1=G. Stokes |title=Imperial Census of 1881 Operations and Results in the Presidency of Madras |date=1883 |publisher=E.Keys at the Government Press |location=Madras |page=444 |edition=(Vol II) |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Imperial_Census_of_1881/b_YIAAAAQAAJ?hl=en |access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="google.co.in">{{cite book |last1=Presidency |first1=Madras (India |title=Madras District Gazetteers, Statistical Appendix For Malabar District. |date=1915 |publisher=The Superintendent, Government Press |location=Madras |page=20 |edition=Vol.2 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Madras_district_gazetteers_Malabar_distr/aUEwnQEACAAJ?hl=en |access-date=2 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="frowde">{{cite book |last1=HENRY FROWDE, M.A. |first1=Imperial Gazetteer of India |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India |date=1908–1909 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |edition=New |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/ |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> of the [[British Indian Empire]], along with the municipalities of [[Kozhikode]], [[Kannur]], [[Thalassery]], and [[Palakkad]], making them the first modern municipalities in the modern state of Kerala, as a part of the [[Malabar District]].

==Main Tourist Attractions==
[[File:Street Art in Fort Kochi by Ijas Muhammed.jpg|thumb|Street Art in Fort Kochi]]
[[File:Fort kochi steam boilers.jpg|thumb|Steam Boilers in Fort Kochi Beach|right]]
[[File:Fort Kochi Beach Walk Way DSC01048.JPG|thumb|Fort Kochi Beach Walkway|right]]
* [[Cochin Carnival]]
* [[Indo portuguese museum|Indo-Portuguese museum]]
* [[Chinese fishing nets]]
* [[Fort Kochi beach]]
* Dutch Cemetery
* Southern Naval Command Maritime Museum
* [[Cochin Thirumala Devaswom]]
* Sree Gopalakrishna Devaswom Temple (The Only [[Daivajna Brahmin]] Temple in Kerala)
* Koonan Kurish Old Syrian Church
* [[St. Francis Church, Cochin|St. Francis Church]]
* [[Santa Cruz Basilica]]
* Bishop's House
* [[Fort Emmanuel]]
* [[Paradesi Synagogue|Jewish Synagogue]]
* [[Mattancherry Palace]]
* [[Jain Temple]]
*[[Kochi-Muziris Biennale]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Fort Kochi}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4TNrIoSfjk A short YouTube video visualizing areas to be visited in and around Fort Kochi]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/column-of-fire/article5526421.ece/ The Great Fire of Cochin 1889 - Article by ''The Hindu'']
* [https://josbinitty.com/travel/fort-kochi-its-beauty-culture-and-history. Fort Kochi, Its History and Culture - Josbin Itty]
{{More citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Geographic Location
| title = '''Areas of Kochi'''
| Northwest = ''[[Arabian Sea]]''
| North = ''[[Arabian Sea]]'' and [[Vypin Island]]
| Northeast = ''[[Vembanad Lake]]'' and [[Vallarpadam]]
| West = ''[[Arabian Sea]]''
| Centre = Fort Kochi
| East = ''[[Vembanad Lake]]'' and [[Willingdon Island]]
| Southwest = ''[[Arabian Sea]]''
| South = [[Mundamveli]]
| Southeast = [[Palluruthy]]
}}
{{Neighbourhoods of Kochi}}
{{Kochi (India) topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kochi]]
[[Category:Regions of Kochi]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Kochi]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Kochi]]
[[Category:1503 establishments in the Portuguese Empire]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ernakulam district]]

Fort Kochi - Revision history

UpdateBot at 16:00, 1 July 2022