Mattancherry (Malayalam: മട്ടാഞ്ചേരി) is the western part of city of Kochi, India. It is said that the name Mattancherry is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. It is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are frequent bus and boat services to Mattancherry from Ernakulam town. The boats start from Main Boat Jetty near Subash Park at Ernakulam. Mattancherry is a part of Ernakulam District in Kerala, India.It is a tourist destination. It is surrounded by the backwaters of Arabian Sea.Mattancherry was the first trade hub of the present district.Mattancherry is populated by people from various walks of life and various parts of India & Abroad. There are people who have come and settled in Mattancherry from Goa, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and so on. Earlier Mattancherry was the trade link to Ernakulam. Main Trade was on spices such as pepper and turmeric. Tea is also traded. Mattancherry deteriorated mainly since the porters working at various firms had some unaccounted trouble with the Merchants. Slowly the traders moved to Ernakulam as Mattancherry proved to be costly. Mattancherry is also home to the Paradesi Synagogue (India's oldest functioning synagogue, where the ticket-seller, Yaheh Hallegua, is the last female Paradesi Jew of child-bearing age). Mattancherry Palace Museum, Mattacherry Pazhayannur Royal temple and Palliarakkavvu temple, Ram Mandir, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin samaj temples including the Venkatraman temple and a Jain Temple (known as MahajanWadi to localites)and Mosques. Mattancherry Palace Museum hosts different weapons such as swords, spears and various other artilleries such as cannon used to protect the borders from invaders in the historic ages. The museum also hosts various paintings and murals. Near the museum, a private bus depot is also present. Close to the Bus Depot there is a Boat Jetty, where we get boats to Ernakulam, Fort Cochin and Willington Island. There is also Bazaar (Market) where we get to buy different spices and articles used interior decorations. Mattancherry is famous for having "Jew Town" in its heart. This is a historical part of India, where the ancient Jews started their trading. This neighborhood is now famous for antique showrooms. Jew Palace and the Jewish synagogue are two famous landmarks.

• published: 09 Oct 2013
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