The Mattancherry Synagogue, or the Pardesi Synagogue, is recognized as the oldest synagogue still in use in the entire Commonwealth. It was established in 1568 in Kochi's ancient Jew Town. Its name, Pardesi, which means “foreigner,” is a reference to the first Jewish community, who came from different parts of the Middle East and Europe. The synagogue was bombed during the Portuguese attack in 1662 but was quite extensively restored later by the Dutch, preserving even the intricate detail of its architecture along with its cultural reference.
The combination of history and art is clearly evident in each corner of the synagogue. On the ceiling of the prayer hall, you can see brilliant glass chandeliers of the 19th century made in Belgium, and on the floor, some of the hand-painted blue and white tiles are from Canton, China, and were brought in the 18th century by the Jewish merchant Ezekiel Rahabi. Among the elements that the synagogue has, the carved teak ark, which incorporates the silver and gold that enshrouds it, is the most precious and holds the Torah scrolls. The women’s gallery from above is held safe with the help of beautifully gilded silver columns, which again are a part of the structure’s grace.
The historical significance of the place has been magnified by several such interesting and notable gold crowns, which were the gifts from the rulers of Kochi and Travancore. Also, very old copper plates with inscriptions in Malayalam are there from the 4th century. Besides them, here is kept a distinguished oriental rug, which was the gift from Haile Selassie, the last Emperor of Ethiopia.
One of the most significant synagogue features is the 45-foot clock tower dating to 1761. On each of the four sides are the digits in Malayalam, Hebrew, Arabic, and Roman scripts. The tower got its makeover in 2006, led by the World Monuments Fund, which also included the recovery of the brass bell.
Moreover, an ancient stone tablet with a record dated 1344 that was taken from Kochangadi Synagogue, which is assumed to be the oldest one in Kochi, is another interesting article present here.
Besides being a house of God, Mattancherry Synagogue is symbolic of tolerance among different cultures and sharing traditions. Just opposite, the famous Jewish Street residential of the shops that sell antiques, spices, and art gives its patrons a lively look at Kochi’s multicultural past and present.
Visiting Hours
- Sunday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
How to Reach
Mattancherry Bus Stand, is at a distance of around 400 m.
Cochin International Airport, is at a distance of around 44 km.
Ernakulam South Railway Station, is at a distance of around 10 km.
Contact Information
District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC),
Opp. Rajendra Maidan, Park Avenue Road,
Ernakulam- 682011
+91 484 236 7334
info@dtpcernakulam.com