Fort Kochi - The Old World Charm by 91Untold

Oh, Fort Kochi! How does a lesser mortal like me describe a city with an amalgamation of culture and tradition spun over the course of a few centuries, much of which is still so starkly visible that you cannot but appreciate in awe? Right from the Dutch infrastructure to the Portuguese way of living, from being the spice trade capital of India to a tourist magnet of the 21^st century, the Chinese fishnets to the Jewish Synagogue – an entire library could be dedicated to Fort Kochi, let alone this blog of an amateur budget traveller. Much has been said and written about the major tourist attractions here, so I will spare you by not writing on the same lines. What I will cover though, is the vibe and the aura of this place rather than the tangible monuments that make for a perfect Instagram ready selfie, often ignoring the rich history behind every one of them.

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Fort Kochi for me is India, unlike India. Fort Kochi is worthy enough to be on the checklist of backpackers, weekend getaway tourist and the upscale luxury seeking ‘touch me not’ travellers alike. Fort Kochi can make an illiterate and uninterested history person dig deep into the centuries-old literature that every street of Kochi boasts of. Fort Kochi is nothing short of a masterpiece; after all, it takes special effort to retain the old world charm in today’s hollow world of glamorous ‘hashtagged’ commercialization.

The Talking streets

Like literally, you need to be blind not to notice the wall paintings and graffitis. They are quirky, humorous, intellectual and ‘pun full’ all at the same time. From messages of peace to ambiguous pieces of art, you will definitely want to stop and wonder what the artist wants to convey. Very rare do you find such appealing art across the street walls so profoundly meaningful and devoid of advertisement posters in India. Here are some of them for you to make sense of – get those dormant grey cells to work now.

Every home is a homestay

True Story. The tourist influx over the past few years has made every local home into a home-stay. And kid you not, they are good. If you really want to experience and understand the local culture first hand, you should spend a few days with the locals, and no better way to stay at one of the many home-stays at Fort Kochi. The hosts are unrealistically helpful and humble, not the usual snobbish landlords as we are used to perceiving them as, and have tried to incorporate the modern amenities without disturbing the ‘home-stay’ feel of the place.

Cafes – Old and New alike

Forget the booze and the clubs just hit the streets and ogle at the tastefully designed cafes in Fort Kochi. Most of the café have played their part in their own ways in retaining the old world charm of Kochi that I am repeatedly blabbering about. Immaculately done interiors, making sure even the recently opened café retains the look of the 18^th century. And oh yes, not to mention the orgasmic aroma of either tea, seafood or the incense. Just take a look at this gem at Jew town – Tea House Café, sister café of the famous Tea Pot Café.

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People – Unrealistically Helpful

Somehow I have a feeling, that the locals of Fort Kochi are a happy lot. Happier and content than locals at other tourist places I’ve been to. Always sporting a smile, they are really humble and respect the tourists. Willing to go that extra mile to keep the traveller comfortable. Kochi is one of the very few places where as a tourist I did not walk with the fear of being duped by unscrupulous salesmen, wanna-be guides and money minded shopkeepers. They are so down to earth, that you really feel at home and cannot help but smile back at everyone you meet on the way.

Tradition still alive

Just observe how the Chinese fishnets work. Just the way they used to a few centuries back. The Dutch villas still have those vintage doors and dining tables. From age-old switchboards to even older wall paintings, from a TT table weighing a 1000kg to those ancient door knobs, from the dying endangered almost extinct art of embroidery to a small hotel inside a building 460 years old! Fort Kochi has managed to keep the tradition alive in this age of commercialization where people are renting out open balcony spaces on Air BnB. The city surely deserves a salute in this regard.

Alcohol restriction

Although I did sulk a bit in the beginning of my trip, with the not so easily accessible alcohol at Fort Kochi, I did realize that alcohol restriction has played its own part in sustaining the old world charm of Fort Kochi. Otherwise, it could well have been the next Goa in India. Beer and Wine are available at select hotels in Fort Kochi. The hard liquor is only available at Government authorized liquor stores and you would not want to stand in the Que trust me. For detailed information of where to head for an evening beer/wine, I will be writing a separate recommendation blog for Kochi so stay tuned.

History so Deep Rooted

You will not miss the Jewish Synagogue, the Basilica and the Cathedral for sure. But make sure to visit a few lesser known churches and museums as well. Every street has a church, just like every house is a home-stay. And all of them are so unique and beautiful in their own way, you will be overawed by the spirit of history, religion, culture and the vibe of Fort Kochi. I visited many small places of worship tucked away in narrow streets, and they are as beautiful and enriching as any of the famous ones. There is no dearth of museums here – The Naval Museum, the Police Museum and much more, each one of them has their own legends and historic relevance. As I said, those who dreaded history as a subject in school might just fall in love with it at Fort Kochi – that is how deep-rooted this place is.

The Happy vibe

I can spend weeks in Kochi, just reading and writing, wandering around the streets, interacting with locals and deep diving into the history behind every single fort, house, church, port and so on. Fort Kochi has a unique vibe, one that you must experience and one that you will adore with all your heart. ‘The beauty of timelessness or the timelessness of beauty’ – form your own definition of Fort Kochi. Experience the old world charm. Do let me know of your experiences in the comments below.

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