Mattancherry
Mattancherry in Cochin was and is a cauldron of variety .
It has history in its very dust .
From Gowda saraswat brahmins fleeing from cruel invaders like Tipu sultan to jews doing the same from universal persecution the tiny royal kingdom of Cochin was filled woth pockets of these communities .
The last of the jew having left to the promised land we still have a big number of konkanis .
Muslim colonies rising from migration and conversions
tamil brahmins who migrated from tamilnadu in search of jobs .
Gujuratis Rajasthanis mostly jains who came to conquer the trade in the narrow streets of Cochin
A small group of Marathi brahmins .
All of them spoke a medley of languages had an array of tradition customs and living style that it added beauty to its rich tapestry .
The picture shows the Dutch palace which strangely was presented by the Portugese to the Maharaja of Cochin
Later renovated by the Dutch
The Dutch palace has a qauint temple of the royal family and a temple in its opposite side .
The turrets of the famous Jewish synagogue are seen reflected in the sunlight
When we came to cochin in 1987 we stayed for a year in Mattancherry .
Everything was available from fresh fruits vegetables stationary grocery excellent vegetarian restaurants the very famous Rehmaniya restaurant with its celebrity chef founder kaayikaan .
I remember the small neat hotel filled to brim
We used to buy parcel as eating there was a bit crowded .
Kaayikaan himself stood shirtless like a pillar taking the orders and instructing his waiters to get them fast .
The air had an aroma of fine biriyani not available anywhere
Years later his children would start an upmatket version in downtown Ernakulam but that would not come near the kaayikkaan original .
There also was a humble homely veg restaurant where its one waiter chef owner took orders made the dosa and served you with elan and it tasted divine .
Many offices godowns were in mattancherry and it was very busy
Nearby Fort cochin sold frolicking fresh fish pulled in chinese nets.
Mattancherry in Cochin was and is a cauldron of variety .
It has history in its very dust .
From Gowda saraswat brahmins fleeing from cruel invaders like Tipu sultan to jews doing the same from universal persecution the tiny royal kingdom of Cochin was filled woth pockets of these communities .
The last of the jew having left to the promised land we still have a big number of konkanis .
Muslim colonies rising from migration and conversions
tamil brahmins who migrated from tamilnadu in search of jobs .
Gujuratis Rajasthanis mostly jains who came to conquer the trade in the narrow streets of Cochin
A small group of Marathi brahmins .
All of them spoke a medley of languages had an array of tradition customs and living style that it added beauty to its rich tapestry .
The picture shows the Dutch palace which strangely was presented by the Portugese to the Maharaja of Cochin
Later renovated by the Dutch
The Dutch palace has a qauint temple of the royal family and a temple in its opposite side .
The turrets of the famous Jewish synagogue are seen reflected in the sunlight
When we came to cochin in 1987 we stayed for a year in Mattancherry .
Everything was available from fresh fruits vegetables stationary grocery excellent vegetarian restaurants the very famous Rehmaniya restaurant with its celebrity chef founder kaayikaan .
I remember the small neat hotel filled to brim
We used to buy parcel as eating there was a bit crowded .
Kaayikaan himself stood shirtless like a pillar taking the orders and instructing his waiters to get them fast .
The air had an aroma of fine biriyani not available anywhere
Years later his children would start an upmatket version in downtown Ernakulam but that would not come near the kaayikkaan original .
There also was a humble homely veg restaurant where its one waiter chef owner took orders made the dosa and served you with elan and it tasted divine .
Many offices godowns were in mattancherry and it was very busy
Nearby Fort cochin sold frolicking fresh fish pulled in chinese nets.
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