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Mattancherry

Mattancherry is a historic locality in the city of Kochi, in Kerala, India. It lies within the urban area of Kochi and has long served as a commercial and residential hub reflecting centuries of interaction among Malayali, Portuguese, Dutch, and Jewish communities. The area is best known for two major landmarks: the Mattancherry Palace, also called the Dutch Palace, and the Paradesi Synagogue in the Jew Town quarter.

The palace, built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Raja of Cochin, later came

Jew Town surrounds the synagogue and is famed for spice markets, handicrafts, and antique shops that attract

under
Dutch
control
and
was
largely
renovated
in
the
17th
century.
It
houses
a
collection
of
murals
dating
from
the
16th
and
17th
centuries,
including
scenes
from
the
Ramayana.
The
Paradesi
Synagogue,
established
in
1568
by
Cochin
Jews,
is
one
of
the
oldest
active
synagogues
in
the
Commonwealth.
Its
interiors
feature
a
richly
decorated
interior,
including
a
historic
chandelier
and
a
gallery
of
parchment
scrolls.
visitors
from
India
and
abroad.
Today,
Mattancherry
is
part
of
Kochi's
urban
core
and
serves
as
a
tourist
destination
as
well
as
a
living
neighborhood.
The
district
illustrates
Kochi's
role
as
a
historic
port
city
where
maritime
trade
and
cultural
exchange
shaped
local
life.