Half Day Kochi City Tour and a Kathakali Classical Dance Performance

You will be picked up from your hotel in the city center around 1:00 PM with your English speaking local guide.   Your tour will start in Jewish Town, an area of Kochi where the Jewish refugees from Jerusalem settled during the Crusades.  This area has several antique and handicraft shops. The highlight is the Paradesi Synagogue, constructed in 1568 making this the Commonwealth's oldest Synagogue. This is one of the very few functional synagogues in India and the structure is unique due to influence of native Hindu-Christian architecture.

Next, you will see the Dutch Palace (also known as the Mattancherry Palace), built by the Portuguese in 1568 as a gift to the Maharaja. The coronations of Kochi Maharajas have always been held here. A large throne and coronation costumes are on display and there is an extensive collection of royal chariots, swords and other artifacts. The mural room has some of the best mythological murals.

You will then continue to Fort Kochi, the upper part of the Peninsula with neatly arranged colonial buildings, narrow well-paved roads, Anglo-Dutch influenced structures and large antique shops. Here you can see the iconic giant Chinese fishing nets, a legacy of traders from the court of Kublai Khan in the 14th century.

Next, you will visit St. Francis Church. Constructed in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is believed to be India’s oldest European-built church. The edifice that stands here today was built in the mid-16th century to replace the original wooden structure. Explorer Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524, was buried in this spot for 14 years before his remains were taken to Lisbon – you can still visit his tombstone in the church.

After your city tour, you will be driven to the Theater for a traditional 'Kathakali' Dance Show this evening (Between 05-06 :30 PM). The story in ‘Kathakali’ is communicated to the audience through amazing footwork and impressive gestures of face and hands complimented with music and vocal performance. The dancers wear intricate and vivid makeup, unique face masks and costumes that reflect the age-old martial arts and athletic conventions prevalent in Kerala and surrounding regions. Traditionally performed by male dancers, the art developed in courts and theatres of Hindu regions contrary to other Indian classical dances which predominantly developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools. Although not clearly traceable, this classical dance form likely goes back to the 1st millennium CE, possibly even earlier. After the show, you may choose to have dinner at a local restaurant. (Under Own Expenses). After dinner, you will be driven back to your hotel in central Kochi.