Fort Kochi

Kashmir in Kochi: Finding reminders of the Valley in Kerala's touristy beach town

'Home' is a sentiment that is difficult to define, particularly when you're a Kashmiri who has left the Valley

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 8: European descendants fight to retain their identity and rights

Kochi was the only city in India to be controlled by three colonisers — the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British — who ruled the port city of Kerala consecutively since 1560.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 7: Once-thriving Jewish settlement now bears a deserted look

The Paradeshi Synagogue at Jew Street in Mattancherry has been one of the biggest attraction of tourists visiting Kochi. But there are only five Jews left in Jew Town today.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 6: Settled in 1990s, Kashmiris of Kerala hope to return to their home state

A sudden surge in militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s drove Kashmiris from the Valley to Kerala.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 5: Kutchi Memons, driven out of their homeland, rebuilt businesses in Kerala

The Memons, who were driven out from their homeland at Kutch in Gujarat by a drought in the early 19th Century, had to face several odds in rebuilding their lives in Kochi.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 4: Tamils of Dhobi Khana rue at younger generation seeking white collar jobs

The dhobis belong to Vannar community of Tamil Nadu. Though there are different accounts about their settlement in Fort Kochi, it is widely believed that the settlement is more than three centuries-old.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 3: Persecuted for centuries, Konkanis found home in a small plot of land in Kochi

The Konkanis who came to Kochi were allowed by King Veera Kerala Varma to settle down in the kingdom. He allotted them an area behind his palace at Mattancheryy called Cherrlai.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 2: Big retail, local players push entrenched Gujarati trader community towards migration

More than 700 Gujarati families live in Mattancherry today. The dwindling business is forcing traders to either sell their shops and convert them into other businesses.

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry journal, Part 1: Century-old settlements fight to retain historical legacy

Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are not just an architectural marvel but a living guide to the students of history. In this multi-part series, Firstpost looks various ethnic communities and their place in the history of Mattancherry.