India-2
Welcome to Cochin (Crystal Serenity Cruise March 2011)
The temperature today is 32 degrees and the humidity 78%.
We set foot on land in Cochin the colonial-era name, is a major port city
located on the south-west coast of India on the shore of the Arabian Sea
in the state of Kerala
The city of Cochin (pop. 564,589) is Kerala's second largest city and is
part of an extended metropolitan region (pop. 1.35 million)
In 1102 AD, it became the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin.
Heralded as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin was an important spice
trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century.
Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Cochin was the first of the
European colonies in India. It remained the capital of Portuguese India
until 1530, when Goa was chosen instead. The city was later occupied by
the Dutch and the British, with the Kingdom of Cochin becoming a princely
state.
We negotiated with the driver of a “tuc tuc taxi” to bring us to town, a
good half an hour’s drive from the dock. It was a bargain, as the driver
also was our self appointed guide, explaining and showing us many sights
and places.
One of the most antiquated buildings in Cochin is the Paradesi Synagogue,
it dates back to the year 1568. It has served as a functioning Synagogue
throughout the centuries, even till today. Only seven Jewish persons attend
Friday evening and Shabbat services a minjan is obtained on such days
from visitors.
Photography is not allowed a picture postcard can be bought, also entering
the Synagogue one has to remove his /her shoes, the reason not to damage
the Chinese hand painted tiles which date from 1762.
There are a total of 1100 tiles and no two tiles are alike. Cochin Jews, also
called Malabar Jews (Malabar Yehudan), are the oldest group of Jews in
India, with roots dating to the time of King Solomon.
The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit in 1911 of King
George. It overlooks the sea on one side and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on
the other. J.N. Tata, one of the city’s great patrons, built this hotel in
1903 supposedly, after he was refused entry into the Watson’s Hotel, for
being ‘a native.’
Temperatures of 41 degrees C. (105 F) and 80% humidity greeted us as a
Welcome to Mumbai.
The bus tour we had taken by courtesy of the Crystal Cruise line brought
us to various places in Mumbai. We had a pretty good view from the bus, as
it was high above the multitude of small cars.
Visiting Mumbai is not complete without a stopover where Mahatma Gandhi
lived from 1917 to 1934. The three-story home is now a Gandhi Museum
that preserves the spirit of the man who put his nation before himself.
The temperature today is 32 degrees and the humidity 78%.
We set foot on land in Cochin the colonial-era name, is a major port city
located on the south-west coast of India on the shore of the Arabian Sea
in the state of Kerala
The city of Cochin (pop. 564,589) is Kerala's second largest city and is
part of an extended metropolitan region (pop. 1.35 million)
In 1102 AD, it became the seat of the Kingdom of Cochin.
Heralded as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Cochin was an important spice
trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century.
Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Cochin was the first of the
European colonies in India. It remained the capital of Portuguese India
until 1530, when Goa was chosen instead. The city was later occupied by
the Dutch and the British, with the Kingdom of Cochin becoming a princely
state.
We negotiated with the driver of a “tuc tuc taxi” to bring us to town, a
good half an hour’s drive from the dock. It was a bargain, as the driver
also was our self appointed guide, explaining and showing us many sights
and places.
One of the most antiquated buildings in Cochin is the Paradesi Synagogue,
it dates back to the year 1568. It has served as a functioning Synagogue
throughout the centuries, even till today. Only seven Jewish persons attend
Friday evening and Shabbat services a minjan is obtained on such days
from visitors.
Photography is not allowed a picture postcard can be bought, also entering
the Synagogue one has to remove his /her shoes, the reason not to damage
the Chinese hand painted tiles which date from 1762.
There are a total of 1100 tiles and no two tiles are alike. Cochin Jews, also
called Malabar Jews (Malabar Yehudan), are the oldest group of Jews in
India, with roots dating to the time of King Solomon.
The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit in 1911 of King
George. It overlooks the sea on one side and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on
the other. J.N. Tata, one of the city’s great patrons, built this hotel in
1903 supposedly, after he was refused entry into the Watson’s Hotel, for
being ‘a native.’
Temperatures of 41 degrees C. (105 F) and 80% humidity greeted us as a
Welcome to Mumbai.
The bus tour we had taken by courtesy of the Crystal Cruise line brought
us to various places in Mumbai. We had a pretty good view from the bus, as
it was high above the multitude of small cars.
Visiting Mumbai is not complete without a stopover where Mahatma Gandhi
lived from 1917 to 1934. The three-story home is now a Gandhi Museum
that preserves the spirit of the man who put his nation before himself.
Public Laundry Public Laundry Snacks & drinks Gandhi's room
Local Taxi You"r calling me Hand painted tiles Synagogue
Welcome View 1 View 2 Street
Fresh drinks Vasco da Gama grave Souvenir shops Fishing nets
Main Railroad Station Train discharge Down Town Synagogue
Some picture views of Cochin
Some picture views of Mumbai
Traffic Building City gardeners Marine Drive
Gandhi's House Lunch break Gate of India Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Shanty Town Street Market Mixed Traffic Cow Parking
Crystal serenity Cruise
