Mattancherry Paradesi Synagogue
Synagogue · Palace Road, Mattancherry, Kochi
Photo: jeem from Saint Louis, United States · CC BY 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons
History & overview
The Paradesi Synagogue or the Mattancherry Synagogue is a synagogue located in Mattancherry Jew Town, a suburb of the city of Kochi, Kerala, in India. It was built in 1568 A.D. by Samuel Castiel, David Belila, and Joseph Levi for the flourishing Paradesi Jewish community in Kochi. Cochin Jews were composed mainly of the much older Malabari Jews and the newly arrived Sephardic refugees from the Portuguese religious persecution of Jews in Spain and Portugal. It is the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. Paradesi is a word used in several Indian languages, and the literal meaning of the term is "foreigners", applied to the synagogue because it was built by Sephardic or Portuguese-speaking Jews, some of them from families exiled in Aleppo, Safed and other West Asian localities.
Read the full history on Wikipedia ↗
- Timings
- 10:00-12:00,15:00-17:00; Fr,Sa off
Visiting Mattancherry Paradesi Synagogue
- Entry
- Around ₹5–10 per person
- Timings
- 10:00am–12:00pm & 3:00pm–5:00pm; closed Fridays & Saturdays
- Getting here
- Jew Town, Mattancherry — next to the Dutch Palace.
No photography inside.
Fees and timings are indicative — please confirm locally. See getting around Kochi for transport.
Ratings & reviews
Ratings are shown live from Google and link to the source. We don’t alter or store them.
Location
What's nearby
Within a short walk of Mattancherry Paradesi Synagogue.
Places to eat nearby
Shopping nearby
Nature nearby
Travelling here safely
Generally safeIs Fort Kochi safe?
Fort Kochi is one of Kerala’s safest and most walkable tourist quarters, comfortable by day and on the main lanes after dark. Violent crime against visitors is rare — the realistic risks are auto/guide scams, petty theft in crowds, and the sea, not personal danger.
- Overall — One of Kerala’s safest tourist areas; tourist police nearby.
- Solo & women — Widely reported as comfortable; conservative, used to visitors.
- Scams to watch — Auto/taxi overcharging, “closed today” guide tricks, commission shops.
- Petty theft — Low, but mind bags at the nets, ferries and busy markets.
- The sea — Fort Kochi beach is for strolling — currents make swimming unsafe.