Paradesi Synagogue - Tiles by Ingo Mehling, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Attraction · Kochi
Paradesi Synagogue
One of the oldest active synagogues in the Commonwealth, floored with hand-painted Cantonese tiles.
Time needed30 min
Best timeMorning
ClosedFri · Sat · Jewish holidays
About
The Paradesi Synagogue
Built in 1568 and the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, standing at the end of Jew Town beside the Mattancherry palace. Its floor is laid with hand-painted Chinese tiles, no two alike, and Belgian chandeliers hang above. It is the surviving centre of a Jewish community that traded on this coast for centuries and has now almost entirely departed.
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What to see
What to see
Inside
- The eighteenth-century Chinese floor tiles, each hand-painted and individually patterned
- Belgian glass chandeliers and the brass pulpit
- The clock tower, added in the eighteenth century
- Jew Town street outside — antique shops in former spice warehouses
Getting there
How to reach
From Fort Kochi
- About 15 minutes by auto, at the far end of Jew Town
- A short walk from Mattancherry Palace — visit both in one trip
- Ferry from Ernakulam to Mattancherry jetty
Best time
When to visit
Timing
- Mornings — it closes early afternoon and does not reopen
- Closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays, which catches many visitors out
- Weekdays outside festival periods are quietest
Visitor tips
Practical tips
Etiquette
- An active place of worship — dress modestly, shoulders and knees covered
- Shoes are removed before entering
- Photography inside is prohibited
- Speak quietly; this is a small space and often busy
- A modest entry fee applies
Nearby
Nearby
Mattancherry Palace
5 min walk
Jew Town
Adjacent
Fort Kochi
15 min
Questions
Common questions
A synagogue built in 1568 at the end of Jew Town in Mattancherry, and the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth. It served the Paradesi Jewish community of Kochi.
Mornings through early afternoon on most days, but closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Confirm locally before crossing to Mattancherry — the closures catch a lot of visitors.
No, photography inside is prohibited. The exterior and Jew Town street outside are freely photographable.
Modest dress with shoulders and knees covered, as at any active place of worship. Shoes are removed at the entrance.
About thirty minutes inside. Most visitors spend longer browsing the antique and spice shops along Jew Town on the way in and out.
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