Paradesi Synagogue
Built in 1568 — the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, floored in hand-painted Chinese tiles.
- Timings
- Around 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (closed Friday, Saturday and Jewish holidays)
- Entry fee
- Approx. ₹10
- Time needed
- 30 – 45 minutes
- Best time
- Late morning
About Paradesi Synagogue
At the end of Jew Town's antique-shop lane stands the Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568 by Sephardic Jews and rebuilt after Portuguese shelling. The floor is laid with 1,100 hand-painted willow-pattern tiles from Canton, no two identical. Belgian chandeliers hang above, and the clock tower outside carries faces in Hebrew, Roman and Malayalam numerals. Kochi's Jewish community has now dwindled to a handful of people, which gives the place a particular poignancy.
Insider tips
- Closed Fridays and Saturdays — the single most common wasted trip in Kochi
- No photography inside; shoes off at the door
- The lane leading up to it is the best antique browsing in Kerala
Paradesi Synagogue — common questions
What are the Paradesi Synagogue timings?
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Paradesi Synagogue is open Around 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (closed Friday, Saturday and Jewish holidays).
What is the entry fee for Paradesi Synagogue?
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Entry: Approx. ₹10.
How much time do you need at Paradesi Synagogue?
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Plan for roughly 30 – 45 minutes.
What is the best time to visit Paradesi Synagogue?
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Late morning.
How crowded does Paradesi Synagogue get?
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Medium crowd levels overall.
Nearby
More to see in Kochi
HeritageFort Kochi & Chinese Fishing Nets
Cantilevered shore-operated nets on a waterfront layered with Portuguese, Dutch and British history.
PalaceMattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
Portuguese-built, Dutch-renovated, and home to some of India's finest Hindu murals.
HeritageSt. Francis Church
India's oldest European church — and Vasco da Gama's original burial place.
BeachCherai Beach
A 15 km strip on Vypin Island with the sea on one side and backwaters on the other.