Secrets Of Fort Kochi: Tracing The History

Fort Kochi is a part of Cochin- a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India. Unlike any other, it is a mosaic of cultures: Dutch, Portuguese, and British. And here’s why it should be on your bucket list of must-visit places in India.

If you have read my earlier blogs on Medium, then you know that I am a seasoned solo traveller and a fervent history enthusiast. Over the years, my passion for solo exploration has taken me to various corners of India (Because what’s better than exploring your home country!?). I had wandered through the serene landscapes of Himachal, deciphered the stories hidden within the fort walls of Rajasthan, and bartered in the bustling streets of Kolkata. All in pursuit of history’s hidden gems which depict themselves through architecture, food, culture and people.

I happened to stumbled upon a book on Kerala last year. As I began reading and learning about this coastal region in India, I couldn’t help but marvel at the layers of significance this place held. Throughout Kerala’s ancient history, it was engaged in extensive trade with some of the world’s most renowned markets. Among these, ‘Muziris’ (modern-day Kodungallur ) stood as a prominent port of the Orient, well-known to mariners and traders. However, a significant ecological shift brought about changes in the old ports as new ones emerged. In 1341 AD, a massive flood of the Periyar River led to its division into two tributaries at Thottummukham. This event resulted in the silting up of the natural harbour at the Periyar’s mouth and the subsequent creation of a new harbour at Cochin.

This opening of direct access to the sea from the interior sparked the realization among experts that it was possible to connect this vast backwater to the sea, creating one of the most sheltered and sizeable forms of its kind in the east. This new harbour had the potential to accommodate the entire world’s navies. However, it took 579 years for this vision to be realized, and it was achieved through the determined efforts of a British engineer named Sir Robert Bristow (1888–1966). In 1929, after a decade-long and strenuous crusade, he transformed the Cochin Port into a modern marvel.

The allure of Fort Kochi held a unique appeal, drawing me in with the promise of history, culture, and a blend of colonial influences that resonated with my love for untold stories. The captivating beaches of Fort Kochi tell stories from ages past. So I visited Fort Kochi this month, and it had…