The Chiniese Fishing Nets

The chinese fishing nets found here are the only ones of its kind in India. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. These are the Chinese fishing nets from Fort Cochin  - for sure an intresting way to catch fish. You may say that, consider the  size, it sholuld be very efective but we can tell you for sure that we stood  almoust five hours there trying to see and buy something from the big capture  and the only thing we got was a fish as big as our palm. Maybe was just a  bad day but anyway, efective or not, this is definitely a place to see - actually  my favorite place around Cochin.

Chinese fishing nets are a legacy of the earlier visitors to the Malabar Coast. The entrance to the Cochin Harbour is dotted by these fishing nets called "Cheena Vala" in malayalam. The records show that these fishing nets were first erected between AD 1350 and 1450. These are large nets, which hang from bamboo or teak posts with lights suspended above the net. These nets also have counterweights in order to facilitate easy-handling of the nets. The local fishermen still use these nets to catch the fish attracted by the light suspended above the nets. Nowadays these nets have become more of a tourist attraction. The best place to watch is from Vasco Da Gama Square, a narrow promenade that parallel the beach with little stalls serving varied kinds of sea food. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochin's waterfront