Mandalay Hall is one of the few remaining Jewish homes in Jew Town, Kochi
Kochi has a rich history as one of the most important port cities in India. But the coastal town is about so much more than that. Nested on the banks of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is almost like a time capsule with the past and the present living together in a fine balance.
Take where you are, for example. Mandalay Hall in Mattancherry has been a landmark in the area for centuries. This is one of the few remaining Jewish homes on the Synagogue lane in Jew Town, Kochi. The house was built in Dutch Burgher Style, which is characterised by the use of bricks on the exterior of the structure. The Dutch Burgher Style also aims to create an environment which is cosy and relaxing, two things that are likely to make all holidays better. When this property was restored, painstaking efforts were made to keep it as close to the original architectural structure and design.
Mandalay Hall, other than being a towering proof of the past, also brings together the local communities. The guests can attend various performances like classical dance and Kalaripayattu – a martial art form and instrumental music.
Often, we think of history as a thing of the past. But if we get lucky, we can live across two eras at once, making us realise that history is as alive as the rest of us. And what better place to travel than to travel through time?