Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

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There’s no cost to visit the broader Jew Town neighborhood but there’s a small admission fee to visit the Paradesi Synagogue and the attached museum. Prices vary depending on your country of origin: Indians pay 50 Indian rupees while visitors of other nationalities pay 100 Indian rupees. Have some change ready.

The Paradesi Synagogue is open to visitors Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and on Friday from 10am to 2pm. It’s closed on Saturdays, which is the Jewish Sabbath, or day of rest. You may visit Jew Town on a Saturday for a quieter experience, but some attractions in the area will be closed.

Aim to spend half a day visiting the Paradesi Synagogue and the wider Jew Town neighborhood. As well as the synagogue and its museum, Jew Town is home to the Jewish Cemetery, markets, art galleries, and handicraft stores—including those selling the famous local lace. The 16th-century Mattancherry Palace is also just north of Jew Town, so it makes sense to combine visits to these places.

The Paradesi Synagogue is in Jew Town, about 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) southeast of Fort Kochi. It’s possible to walk there as the backstreets are quite quiet—and interesting—but the heat and humidity might make this uncomfortable. To save time and effort, catch an auto-rickshaw from Fort Kochi for the short journey.

Aim to visit the Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town in the morning, to avoid walking around in the hot afternoon sun. The synagogue opens to visitors at 10am so it’s ideal to visit shortly after opening, and then explore the rest of the neighborhood in the late morning before finding a local eatery for lunch. The synagogue is closed on Saturdays—the Jewish Sabbath—and Sunday tends to be busier with weekend visitors, so visit Monday to Friday for the best experience.