Indo-Portuguese Museum

Fort Emmanuel was the name given to the fort that the Portuguese built at Kochi. Today, the town is called Fort Kochi, but little remains of the fort itself. There are a few portions of the fort still standing, but they are all within heritage resorts, and thus inaccessible to the public. However, there is one small section of the fort, which is still open to the public, and this is at the Indo-Portuguese Museum. The Indo-Portuguese Museum was, at one time, the Governor’s Bungalow. Then, it was converted into the residence of the Bishop, and an extension was built over the remnants of the fort, which were left within the property. Now, this extension has been converted into a museum, and the ruins are preserved in the basement!

The museum houses some artefacts relating to the Portuguese rule, and life during that period. Most of the articles are religious in nature, since they were salvaged from the old churches built in that era. The grandeur and opulence evident in the artefacts is an eye-opener! However, the most interesting thing displayed in the museum is an old lock, said to be typical of Kerala, called the ‘Manichitrathazhu’. They adorned the old doors of the mansions, and it is said, they have symbols of all religions engraved on them! When you visit the museum, try and see how many symbols you can identify by yourself before asking the caretaker for help! Also, when you visit, ask the caretaker for postcards. They make for excellent mementos of your trip!

Note:
Location: The Indo Portuguese Museum is located within the grounds of Bishop House, which is a well-known landmark in the area. It is within walking distance of the beach as well as other tourist places.