The famous Jew Town in Kerala- Mattanchery, is known for its historic remains namely the Paradesi synagogue which is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, and the Mattancherry Palace which is also known as Dutch Palace. Renowned for the harmony observed here among people of a different faith, culture, and beliefs, this small town is a visual imprint of the Dutch and Portuguese who occupied here during the 15th to 17th centuries. The coastal enclave situated beside Fort Kochi has many busy streets and dilapidated buildings that are mostly populated by the fishermen, that remind one about the bustling roads it was- in the past- with spice, antique, and other multicultural trades all around.
The town is accessible by road, but for one to be able to enjoy the trip to Mattancherry to the fullest, it is recommended to take a ferry to reach here. As the ferry reaches this town, you can step down to the busy street right on your first footstep, which is awesome- a town that is one step away from the water. Sometimes, it feels like a small island built on water. Mattancherry Palace, which has a Keralite model of architecture called ‘naalukettu’ (quadrangular) is a mind-blowing palace originally built by the Portuguese traders for the then ruler King Veera Kerala Verma. The two-storied palace is rich in its architecture and boasts mesmerizing artifacts and monuments along with the materials used for its construction. A mixture of coconut shells, lime, plant juices, and egg whites was used in the flooring of this palace. Along with that, the usage of wood-carved designs and brass cups for decorating the roofs, and aesthetic mural paintings furnished on the tall walls are inspiring for ancient monuments lovers. Overall this Palace is a gentle reminder of how the then royal life was.
The Paradesi Synagogue with admiring dangling Belgian glass type chandelier and the ceramic tiles from Canton which are completely handmade along with the unique pieces of tiles are simply worth a wow here. There is a lot for researchers and history enthusiasts to explore the history from these spots. The synagogue was rebuilt by the Dutch ( hence the name Dutch Palace) after a massive attack by the Portuguese. Apart from that, this jew town has a clock tower and the Jewish also casts a magical spell of history on its visitors.
A Jain temple, namely the Dharmanath Jain Temple is another white gem on the crown of the multi-cultural city of Mattancherry. This white marble temple is located in an area which is called the “Gujarati Colony”. As the name implies, this colony is a settlement of Gujarati people. The Coonan Cross Shrine is another prime attraction in Mattancherry. This shrine is famous for an oath taken by around 25000 Christian devotees in 1653. And still now, people of all religions living in nearby areas flock to this shrine for offering prayers. The International Police Museum also is situated here.
Since the place is having so much connection to Christianity and Jews, it is best to visit here in December. Generally speaking, the months between October and February are ideal for a visit here.
Mattancherry Palace Visiting Hours:
10:00AM – 05:00PM on all days except Fridays
Getting there
Nearest railway station:Ernakulam, about 10 km
Nearest airport:Cochin International Airport, about 42 km
