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Tourist Attractions in India » Tourist Attractions in Cochin » Holy Places
Places of Interest
 
 
 
 

Places of Attraction in Cochin

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi

St. Francis Church, Fort KochiSt. Francis Church, originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron Saint of Portugal, is one of the oldest the European Churches in India. It is believed to have been built in 1503. Situated at Parade Road, 2 Km west of Mattancherry in Fort Cochin, this church is a living historical monument, since On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi and was buried in the St. Francis Church and it remains one of the main tourist attractions in Fort Kochi. The burial spot of Vasco da Gama inside the church has been clearly marked out.

 

Santa Cruz Bascilica, Fort Kochi

Santa Cruz Bascilica, Fort Kochi

Santa Cruz Basilica, a Roman Catholic Cathedral is one of the finest and impressive churches in Kerala. It is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur and colours of the gothic style. Located close to St. Francis Church it is the 'capital church' of the diocese of Cochin.

The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558 by Pope Paul IV. Later the British demolished the structure in 1795 and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

 

Chottanikkara Temple

Chottanikkara TempleChottanikkara temple located 20 kms east of Cochin, which is quite near to the Hill Palace, is dedicated to Bhagawati - the mother Goddess. The deity is worshipped in three different forms - as Saraswati (The Goddess of Learning, who is tender and generous) in the morning, draped in white; as Bhadrakali (The Goddess who saves her deities from all enemies, and is fierce in nature) at noon, draped in crimson; and as Durga ( The savior Goddess from all evil spirits) in the evening, decked in blue.

 

Dharmanath Jain Temple, Mattancherry

The Dharmanath Jain temple at Mattancherry is over 105 years old and will soon attain the status of a Thirath, one of the holy places for the Jain community.

 

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha

Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh SabhaThis is the only gurdwara in Kerala, since Cochin has the highest number of Sikhs in the state. The gurdwara is located close to the south end of MG Road, the busiest shopping street of Cochin. The first gurdwara in Cochin was built in 1955. The gurdwara was relocated in 1975 and the original foundation stone was moved as well. Unlike most gurudwaras this one has only one entrance due to space limitations.

 

Ernakulam Shiva Temple

Ernakulam Shiva TempleThe Shiva temple is located in the heart of Cochin near the Durbar Hall grounds. This temple is unique is the fact that the Shiva Linga points towards the sea, that is towards the west unlike other Siva temples.

 

Thrikkakara Temple

Thrikkakara TempleThe Thrikkakara temple, located 10 kms north-east of Kochi, is considered to be the seat of famous 10 days Onam celebrations in Kerala. Thrikkakara is considered to be capital of the good asura (demon) King Mahabali, whose rule was prematurely stopped by Lord Vishnu in the disguise as a Brahmin boy, when the Hindu gods became jealous of the growing power of the generous and kind-hearted king. The Vishnu temple here is the only one of its kind to have Vamana (one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu) as the deity. The belief of Keralites goes that during the 10 days of Onam, the King Mahabali visits every house in Kerala and hence is a great celebration to the people belonging to all religions.