Half Day Kochi City Tour, a Kathakali Classical Dance Performance and Dinner

Kochi has influences from the many traders and travellers who visited this delightful city for hundreds of years.  On your private half day city tour you will see giant fishing nets from China, a 450 year old synagogue, Portuguese houses and the remains of the British Raj.  Following your tour enjoy a Kathakali performance. Like all classical dance arts is of India, Kathakali is a blend of music, vocals, choreography, hand and facial gestures to tell familiar stories in Indian culture. It is the dance drama from the South Indian state of Kerala. The performance gives you  a chance to watch the traditional and classical Kathakali Dance with its amazing costumes.

Highlights
• Dutch Palace
• Fort Kochi
• St Francis Church
• Traditional Kathakali Dance Show
• Dinner at a local Restaurant

You will be picked up from your hotel in the city center around 1:00 PM with your English speaking local guide.  

Your tour will start in Jewish Town, an area of Kochi where the Jewish refugees from Jerusalem settled during the Crusades.  This area has several antique and handicraft shops. The highlight is the Paradesi Synagogue, constructed in 1568 making this the Commonwealth’s oldest Synagogue. This is one of the very few functional synagogues in India and the structure is unique due to influence of native Hindu-Christian architecture.

Next, you will see the Dutch Palace (also known as the Mattancherry Palace), built by the Portuguese in 1568 as a gift to the Maharaja. The coronations of Kochi Maharajas have always been held here. A large throne and coronation costumes are on display and there is an extensive collection of royal chariots, swords and other artifacts. The mural room has some of the best mythological murals.

You will then continue to Fort Kochi, the upper part of the Peninsula with neatly arranged colonial buildings, narrow well-paved roads, Anglo-Dutch influenced structures and large antique shops. Here you can see the iconic giant Chinese fishing nets, a legacy of traders from the court of Kublai Khan in the 14th century.  

Next, you will visit St. Francis Church. Constructed in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is believed to be India’s oldest European-built church. The edifice that stands here today was built in the mid-16th century to replace the original wooden structure. Explorer Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi in 1524, was buried in this spot for 14 years before his remains were taken to Lisbon – you can still visit his tombstone in the church.

After your city tour, you will be driven to the Theater for a traditional ‘Kathakali’ Dance Show this evening (Between 05-06 :30 PM).

The story in ‘Kathakali’ is communicated to the audience through amazing footwork and impressive gestures of face and hands complimented with music and vocal performance. The dancers wear intricate and vivid makeup, unique face masks and costumes that reflect the age-old martial arts and athletic conventions prevalent in Kerala and surrounding regions. Traditionally performed by male dancers, the art developed in courts and theatres of Hindu regions contrary to other Indian classical dances which predominantly developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools. Although not clearly traceable, this classical dance form likely goes back to the 1st millennium CE, possibly even earlier.

After the show, you will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (Beverages excluded).

After dinner, you will be driven back to your hotel in central Kochi.

• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
• Consider wearing comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
• Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult

• 1-8 Travelers
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  Price per person for 1-8 travelers
  Pickup included

• Transport by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Dinner at Local Restaurant (Beverage Excluded)
• Local English Speaking Guide.
• 02 Bottles of Mineral water per person
• Hotel pickup and drop-off within city center.

• Food or drink Unless Specified.

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Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 60 minutes prior to this time, exact pickup time will be advised on reconfirmation.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by SITA World Tours.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Asia/Kolkata.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 8 Travelers is accepted for booking.