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Monuments in Cochin
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 Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. This house features typical European architecture with glass paned windows and verandahs.
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The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The palace is located in Mattancherry.
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 The Bolgatty Island is a short but inspiring boat ride away from Kochi. It is a monument of the Dutch inhabitance in Cochin. Now converted as a prestigious heritage hotel set amidst lush, tropical greenery, this answers your quest for a holiday of quiet enchantment. One of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside Holland, this quaint mansion was built way back in 1744 by a Dutch trader. In 1909 the palace was leased to the British and it served as their residency till 1947 when the British Raj came to an end in India. The island has a tiny golf course and the panoramic views of the port and the harbor, makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.
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 Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala, located near Tripunithura, an upcoming satellite township of Cochin, about 14 kms east of Cochin. Built in 1865, it was the administrative office of Kochi Rajas. The Palace complex consists of 49 buildings built in the traditional Kerala architectural style, spreading across in 54 acres. The complex has an archaeological Museum, a Heritage Museum, a Deer Park, a Pre-historic Park and a Children's park. The land surrounding the Hill Palace has rare Medicinal Plants.
Presently the palace has been converted into a museum, displaying a fine collection of articles showing the wealth and splendor of the Rajas of Kochi, including the throne and the crown. The museum also houses a large collection of archaeological findings. The palace is open to public all days except Mondays from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
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 One of the oldest existing European monuments in India, the Pallipuram Fort at Vypeen, an island near Cochin, was built by the Portuguese in 1503 and is the oldest surviving European fort in India. The Catholic Church at Pallipuram is an important pilgrim centre and attracts a lot tourist, too.
According to folklores, the Pallipuram Fort was captured by the Dutch in 1661. But the history of Cochin states that the Fort was sold to the State of Travancore in 1789. The architecture, materials used, decoration and other facilities depict the life of a different era. The influences of the western invasion that have shaped Cochin are muffled proofs here.
To reach the Pallipuram Fort, one can take a ferry service operating from Ernakulam boat jetty and Fort Kochi to Vypeen. There are buses also plying from Ernakulam to Vypeen and Vypeen to Pallipuram.
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