There are few places in India you could see enormous Chinese fishing nets, an ancient Jewish synagogue, Catholic basilicas, and British Raj-era houses within a half-hour walk of each other—but Fort Kochi, with typical unassuming Keralan charm, is happy to provide

By Zing Tsjeng

While visitors to the picturesque Indian state of Kerala often head straight for the unspoiled hill stations of Munnar or the serene backwaters of the Malabar Coast, Fort Kochi in the capital city (also known as Kochi, or Cochin) has its own historic delights. For centuries, this quiet colonial city center occupied a prime archipelago position on trading routes, with traders and explorers lured to its shores by the promise of silks and spices.

The result is an unparalleled blend of cultures and cuisines, bordered on one side by tranquil Vembanad Lake and, on the other, the vast Arabian Sea. There are few places in India you could see enormous Chinese fishing nets, an ancient Jewish synagogue, Catholic basilicas, and British Raj-era houses within a half-hour walk of each other—but Fort Kochi, with typical unassuming Keralan charm, is happy to provide. Unlike the frenetic noise and bustle of other capital cities like Delhi, everything about Fort Kochi screams laidback elegance, from its spacious, tree-lined roads to its white-walled colonial bungalows. Here are five Fort Kochi spots that offer a taste of the Keralan capital at its best.