My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
Our
trip to Kochi last May was all about firsts – the first church established in India, the
first European church built in India, the first European Fort built in India,
the first Jewish Synagogue to be built in India, and the first mosque built in
India. The place also has a lot of ancient temples, certainly older than all
these monuments, but we couldn’t visit the temples on the trip due to various
reasons. Those are for another trip. However, now that I have finished writing
all about the places we visited, it is time to wind up the series, putting it
together in one post for your easy reference, if you are planning a trip to
Kochi…
We
stayed a night at Fort Kochi and explored it all day long. Here are all the posts I wrote about it….
- Fort Kochi Part 1 : First Impressions – as the title says, this contains my first impressions of Fort Kochi and the homestay we stayed in.
- Part 2: Chinese Fishing Nets – they are the most recognizable among all the sights in Fort Kochi, and need no explanation…. But they are more than just a pretty sight!
- Part 3: Indo – Portuguese Museum – we love museums and this one, with the remnants of the old fort preserved in the basement, was especially interesting!
- Part 4: St. Francis Church – The first European Church built in India, this church holds memories of Vasco Da Gama, though his remains are here no more.
- Part 5: Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica – a new church built over the remains of an old one built around the same time as the St. Francis Church, this one is incredibly detailed and colourful!
- Part 6: Mattanchery Palace – a palace built for the Hindu King by the Dutch, this is commonly called the Dutch Palace. The beautiful murals inside make this palace a must-visit!
- Part 7: Jew Town and Synagogue – The Jews are an important part of Kochi’s history, and a trip to Jew Town takes us to the first Synagogue built in India…
- Part 8: A Boat ride - A boat ride is the perfect way to experience Kochi of the past and the present.
- Part 9: 3 Cafes, 3 experiences – the art cafes are part of the modern town that is Fort Kochi, which cater to the many foreigners who come here. The art on display in some of them is remarkable, as is the library one of them houses. No visit to Fort Kochi is complete without a cup of coffee or breakfast in one of these cafes.
- Part 10: Maritime Museum – The Navy has made an effort to document the impressive maritime history of India, and especially the Malabar, in this museum. A must visit, especially for children and those interested in history.
- 24 Hours in Fort Kochi – is a short guide on how we managed to see so much, in just 24 hours in the city!
- Pallipuram Fort and Church: This was probably the first European fort built in India, and is certainly the oldest European monument, not just in India, but all of Asia! The fort, and the church near it tell us the story of an enemy being repelled, by what is believed by many, to be a miracle of the Lord!
- Kottapuram Fort and some thoughts on archaeology in India today – visiting a site under excavation was something we looked forward to. It was an interesting experience, which brought us more questions than answers!
- St. Thomas in Kochi – St. Thomas was the first to bring Christianity to India, and his memories remain strong, despite the passage of millennia; albeit in newly built churches and grand structures!
- Cheraman Juma Masjid - The first mosque built in India– Kochi wasn’t the entry point for just Christianity and Judaism. Islam also entered the country here, and we visited the first mosque to be built in India, named after the first ruler who converted to Islam, back in the time of Prophet Mohammed!
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