Mattancherry is a melting pot of cultures and in the centre of it all is the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town. Officially called the Cochin Jewish Synagogue, the Paradesi Synagogue (or Mattancherry Synagogue, another name it's known by) is one of the oldest active synagogues in India. Built in the year 1568 for the Paradesi Jewish community in Kochi, the synagogue complex consists of the clock tower, the office, and the synagogue. Inside, by the ticket counter, there is a small room with paintings that depict the arrival of the Jews and their timeline along with how they were given land by the then king of Kochi, Rama Varma to build the synagogue. It is located adjacent to the Dutch Palace with the palace and synagogue sharing a common wall.
Inside the synagogue, there are many artefacts and objects of worship. The ground floor, during service, is for men while the upstairs is for women. The synagogue has the Torah, gold crowns, and other important artefacts housed inside the ark. At the centre is the brass pulpit, where the Rabbi reads the relgious texts and conducts sermons. Though not on display, the synagogue also houses 10th-century copper plates of privilege inscribed in old Malayalam. Another interesting fact is the floor that's made up of hundreds of hand-painted Chinese porcelain tiles. Spend a few minutes here, sit by the benches, and take in all that history.
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