Exploring Fort Kochi’s Portuguese Legacy

If you’re curious about the rich cultural exchange between India and Portugal, you must visit the Indo-Portuguese Museum in Fort Kochi. This unique museum, located in a quiet corner of the historic area, takes you back to the time when Vasco da Gama first set foot in Kerala in 1498, opening a new chapter of trade and cultural interaction. The exhibits are a testament to how Portuguese influence shaped the region’s religion, art, and architecture. As you explore, you’ll find the museum divided into sections like Altar, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life, and Cathedral, each emphasising the deep connection between the two cultures.

What makes your visit even more special are the rare artifacts on display, like a 16th-century teakwood altar and a 17th-century silver and wood processional cross. These objects, along with items like a 19th-century chasuble and an intricately designed monstrance, tell stories of artistic fusion and religious traditions. The museum owes much of its collection to the efforts of the late Dr. Joseph Kureethra, Bishop of Kochi, and the continued support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.