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Things to Know

  • 2 - 3 Hours
    Duration
    2 - 3 Hours
  • Mobile voucher
    Mobile Voucher
    Accepted
  • Parking
    Parking
    Available
  • Drinking water Available
    Drinking water
    Available
  • Snacks counter Available
    Snacks counter
    Available
  • Couple Friendly
    Couple
    Friendly
  • Baby Friendly
    Baby
    Friendly
  • Restroom Available
    Restroom
    Available
  • Souvenir shop Available
    Souvenir shop
    Available
  • Dustbin Available
    Dustbin
    Available
  • Art gallery Available
    Art gallery
    Available

Ticket

  • free entry
    free entry
  • Adult ticket
    Adult
    FREE
  • Child ticket
    Children
    FREE
  • Foreigner ticket
    Foreigner
    FREE
  • Mobile camera
    Mobile Camera
    FREE
  • Still camera
    Still Camera
    FREE
  • Video camera
    Video Camera
    FREE
  • Cash Only
    Cash
    Only


About

Jew Street in Mattancherry has numerous antique and craft stores. The antique sellers of these streets are the descendants of a fast dwindling population of Jews who settled down here in AD 52. Scores of small firms huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the pungent aromas of cardamom, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and cloves. Many Jewish names are visible on business premises and houses, but the community has diminished rapidly since Indian independence. The Jew Street is lined with shops that sell curios, antique pieces of crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, remnants of traditional houses, and jewelry. Once a Jews enclave, the Jews Street is now bereft of that community which left to Israel except one or two families. The Star of David inscribed variegated arches wear a worn-out look. The marvelous blue and green facades stand faded. The spice shops and curio souks – so interestingly developed by Jews are still thriving in Market Road. In one end is a Synagogue with Malayalam (Kerala’s language) and Hebrew tomb-stones. There were 7 Synagogues, but now only this 400 years old Pardesi Synagogue. Interior with curved brass columns, intricately carved teak chest, Belgian crystal chandeliers, and Torah crowns with gems set in gold look marvelous. Hand-painted porcelain tiles from Canton, each tile in a different pattern, reinforced the flooring. Two copper plates with details of privileges bestowed on the Jews during the regime of Bhaskara Ravi Varman are preserved as invaluable. The 45-ft clock-tower warrants special attention as its 4 dials bear four different numerals in Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, and Malayalam. Once one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, but now many of the inhabitants have moved to Israel and the once bustling Jewish community has now largely shut up shop and the street is quiet. The nearby Market Road still bustles with spice market and tourist curio shops dominated by Kashmiri shopkeepers selling mostly wood carvings, oil lamps, spice box, snake boats, and some tempting coffee table books. In the heart of Jew Town stands the Kochi International Pepper Exchange, which has switched to online trading recently.

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Weather forecast in Jew street

26.99°C broken clouds

Weather
broken clouds

  • 2024-03-29T00:53:44
    Sunrise
  • 2024-03-29T13:05:22
    Sunset
  • 26.99
    Minimum temperature
    26.99° C
  • 26.99
    Maximum temperature
    26.99° C
  • 88 %
    Humidity
    88 %
  • 1010 hPa
    Pressure
    1010 hPa
  • 0.95 m/s² Calm
    Windspeed
    0.95 m/s² Calm
  • 15 NNE North-northeast
    Wind Direction
    15 NNE North-northeast

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