In Kerala, dental tourism is taking off well, especially in the tourist season. Tourists from Europe, America and even Israel have realized that they get quality treatment with the state- of- the- art technology, at a rate 10 times lower than their respective countries. With attractive charges, skilled expertise and designer clinics the city of Kochi is all set to deal with dental tourism for the long haul.
Popularly referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is located on the west cost of India in the beautiful state of Kerala. Situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate, with temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters.
The city of Kochi is a perfect holiday package complete with picturesque nature vistas, tranquil backwaters, appetizing cuisine, rich art and culture dating back to centuries, not to forget the magic of Ayurveda.
St. Francis' Church is the oldest existing European church in India. From this choir, for the first time in India, resounded the sonorous chants of Rome. The church began life as a wooden structure built by the five friars who accompanied the Portuguese to Kochi in 1503. The Franciscans, followers of St. Francis Xavier who visited Kochi in the early 16th century, raised the present edifice.
The most enduring impression of Fort Kochi is the enigma of the Chinese fishing nets. Like totems from another age stranded in time, they perch along the backwaters. The Chinese fishing nets are the most efficient means of backwater fishing and Fort Kochi is full of them.
The Dutch palace at Mattancherry was actually built by the Portuguese and presented to the Kochi ruler Vira Kerala Varma in 1555 as an act of expiation for the plunder and desecration of a temple near the Raja's palace by a hot head young Portuguese officer. The extensions of the east and south and the wooden ceilings of the Coronation Hall were incorporated by the Dutch. The real glory of the palace however lies in its wall murals, all done using the tempera process of painting. Forty-five scenes from the Ramayana adorn the long walls of the bedchamber. They are known for their brilliant execution. Of the paintings elsewhere in the palace, one is a large unfinished portrait of Lord Vishnu.
Mattancherry is also home to Jew Town, a quiet cul-de-sac. A single street of old discolored buildings where the few surviving members of the oldest Jewish settlement in India live. They came to Kochi in the 16th century and found an unexpected benefactor in the Raja of Kochi who allotted them this land near his palace and helped them build their place of worship. The Paradeshi Synagogue was built in 1568 is one of the oldest synagogues in the world, a jewel of incomparable beauty, with its brass columns, Belgian hanging lamps, and exquisite hand-painted blue-and-white Chinese porcelain tiles of which no two are alike.
The Parishath Thampuram Museum in Ernakulam has a large collection of 19th-century oil paintings, old coins, sculptures, Mughal paintings, and temple models.
There is much more to visit and enjoy in Kochi. Explore the old and new parts of this quaint city that welcomes everyone with wide-open arms and a smile.