Week 24: Kochi (posted by Wade)

With just ten days left in India, we have settled down in Kochi. Here are our first impressions:

1) Kochi has a deep colonial past.

For four-hundred and fifty years, three European powers ruled over Kochi: the Portuguese (1500-1663), the Dutch (1663-1795), and finally the British (1795-1947). You can see all sorts of decaying colonial buildings walking around. Some have been converted into boutique hotels and coffee shops. Others are barely still standing -- a testament to long-lost empires. 

Kochi was also the site of Vasco da Gama's death. He was on his third expedition to India when he contracted malaria and died on Christmas eve, 1524 -- almost exactly 501 years ago! Vasco da Gama was temporarily buried in St. Francis Church, which claims to be the oldest European Christian church in all of India. We visited the old gravestone of the man who helped spark the Age of Exploration.

2) Kochi is one of the most religiously diverse places in India.

Kochi is made up of about 42% Hindus, 38% Christian, and 18% Muslim. This makes for a fascinating place to visit during Christmas!

3) Kochi, which is located within the state of Kerala, is a stronghold of India's communist party.

In 1957, Kerala's communist party became the first democratically elected communist government n the world.  They are still around to this day, although the communists have splintered into various factions. Walking around, you can still see plenty of hammer and sickle political posters and signage.

4) Oh my goodness, the seafood is delicious.

My favorite dish is the prawn mango curry.