I got introduced to the alleys of Mattancherry when the husband and I went furniture shopping for the new house. Our research had led us to this shop called Crafter's Antique which is more like a storehouse of beautiful and intricately designed furniture and other accessories for your house. The trip being a very short one, did not give us much time to gallivant through the lanes of this old town. But nevertheless, we enjoyed our trip, not to forget the sumptuous lunch at Hotel Abad.
Mattancherry is a few kilometres away from Ernakulam Town and can be reached by bus or by a boat. Yes, there are boat services available from the boat jetty near Subhash Park. Historically significant, this place is famous for it's Jew Town, synagogue, the palace, the museum, the spice markets and the streets selling antiques, providing you with plenty of opportunities to shop.
It is said that most of the items that you see here on sale are things that were left behind by the Jewish traders when they migrated to Israel.
You can buy Chinese jars, wooden spoons, Kerala style doors, spice boxes, dowry chests, lacquer boxes, traditional cooking vessels from Kerala, furniture, murals, paintings et al.
A perfect combination of busy arterial lanes on one side and serene backwaters on the other, the place exudes bits and pieces of history in all that you get to see there.
Though a good and productive two days were spent in Mattancherry in two different trips, I am yet to discover more about this historic place. The synagogue, the samaj temples and the palace are yet to be seen.
I only wish to say that right now I am enjoying the pace at which I am unravelling the pages of Kerala.
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| Crafter's Antique |
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The world's biggest varpu - 12 ft diameter, 3184 kgs |
Mattancherry is a few kilometres away from Ernakulam Town and can be reached by bus or by a boat. Yes, there are boat services available from the boat jetty near Subhash Park. Historically significant, this place is famous for it's Jew Town, synagogue, the palace, the museum, the spice markets and the streets selling antiques, providing you with plenty of opportunities to shop.
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| Pallankuzhi - a traditional board game, at Crafter's http://kickingboredom.blogspot.com/2008/09/pallankuzhi.html |
It is said that most of the items that you see here on sale are things that were left behind by the Jewish traders when they migrated to Israel.
You can buy Chinese jars, wooden spoons, Kerala style doors, spice boxes, dowry chests, lacquer boxes, traditional cooking vessels from Kerala, furniture, murals, paintings et al.
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| Spices and more spices |
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| Variety is indeed in this box of spice |
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| Wooden cowheads |
A perfect combination of busy arterial lanes on one side and serene backwaters on the other, the place exudes bits and pieces of history in all that you get to see there.
Though a good and productive two days were spent in Mattancherry in two different trips, I am yet to discover more about this historic place. The synagogue, the samaj temples and the palace are yet to be seen.
I only wish to say that right now I am enjoying the pace at which I am unravelling the pages of Kerala.
Exquisite photography and presentation...I wish I could do this
ReplyDeletegreat pics. I love Pllankuzhi thought it was called tappikuzhi in Kerala. As kids we played the game in mud, recently saw the board in Dakshin Chitra.
ReplyDeleteAnoop: Thank you. Btw, I think you are already doing it, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteIndu: Thanks a lot! I'm yet to pick up a board for myself. They charge a fortune for it now, especially at Crafter's. And yes, it's known in different names in different parts of Kerala.
@mira: I bought mine for 75 Rs from Dakshin Chitra. Am told it is a common sight in and around temple town of TN.
ReplyDelete