Most Wanted Kerala Package

The Mattancherry Palace is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace, in Mattancherry, Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala which features Kerala rurals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi. The palace was included in the "tentative list" of UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1555. The Dutch carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called Dutch Palace. The palace is a quadrangular structure built in Nalukettu style, the traditional Kerala style of architecture, with a courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard there stands a small temple dedicated to 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', the protective goddess of the Kochi royal family.

The Mattancherry Palace serves as an important historical and cultural landmark, showcasing the blend of European and traditional Kerala architectural styles. The interiors of the palace are decorated with intricate wooden ceilings and beautiful murals that depict stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Visitors can also explore exhibits displaying royal costumes, palanquins, weapons, and coins used by the Kochi rulers. The palace stands as a symbol of Kerala’s multicultural heritage, representing the long-standing interactions between local rulers and European powers, and continues to attract tourists and history enthusiasts from all over the world.

The Jewish synagogue was built in 1568, almost 1500 years after the beginning of the Jewish connection with Kerala. It was built on the land, adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace, given by the erstwhile king of Cochin. Its also known as Paradesi Synagogue. The word Paradesi means foreigner in many Indian languages. It refers to the White Jews - A mixture of Jews from Kodungalloor, Middle East and Europe.

The synagogue, the oldest in the Commonwealth, was built by the Jewish community of Cochin. In 1662, it was destroyed by the Portguese and then reconstructed, two years later, by the Dutch.

 The large main hall of the synagogue catches the attention of  rare antique objects . The light falling through the large open windows make the sight of chandeliers and lamps more delightful. These glass chandeliers dangling from the ceiling belong to the 19th century and were imported from Belgium.

The ceramic tiles on the floor were brought from Canton, China in the 18th century by Ezekiel Rahabi, a renowned Jewish businessman.

Each tile is different from one another in its design and it never fails to capture the admiration of the visitors. The marvellous construction of the synagogue is revealed in all its features including the splendid pillars.