4/5 Rachita C. 4 months ago on Google
The
iconic
Chinese
fishing
nets,
gracefully
suspended
over
the
waters
like
colossal
hammocks,
have
become
synonymous
with
Fort
Kochi,
transforming
from
mere
fishing
tools
into
a
major
attraction
for
tourists.
This
historical
marvel,
known
as
"Cheenavala"
in
Malayalam,
is
believed
to
have
been
introduced
to
Kochi
by
the
Chinese
explorer
Zheng
He,
representing
a
gift
from
the
court
of
Kubla
Khan.
The
nets
found
their
place
along
the
Kochi
shores
between
1350
and
1450
AD.
The
best
vantage
point
to
witness
the
breathtaking
sight
of
these
Chinese
nets
is
at
Vasco
da
Gama
Square,
a
narrow
walkway
along
Fort
Kochi
beach.
The
spectacle
of
the
nets,
silhouetted
against
the
sunset,
is
undeniably
one
of
the
most
captivating
and
photographed
scenes
in
Kochi.
Constructed
from
teak
wood
and
bamboo
poles,
the
Chinese
fishing
nets
operate
on
the
principle
of
balance.
Standing
about
10
meters
high,
each
structure
is
anchored
on
the
beach,
featuring
a
cantilever
with
an
attached
net
spanning
an
area
of
approximately
20
meters.
Counterweights,
typically
stones
with
a
diameter
of
30
cm,
connected
to
ropes
of
varying
lengths,
facilitate
the
intricate
working
of
the
nets.
To
attract
fish,
lights
are
often
affixed
to
the
teak
posts.
Operated
by
more
than
four
fishermen,
these
nets
are
designed
in
a
way
that
the
weight
of
a
person
walking
on
the
main
plank
is
sufficient
to
submerge
the
equipment
into
the
sea.
Fishing
activities
predominantly
take
place
in
the
morning
and
early
evening,
with
the
nets
delicately
lowered
into
the
water
and
then
raised
using
carefully
orchestrated
rope
pulls.
The
slow,
rhythmic
ballet
of
the
nets,
as
well
as
the
mesmerizing
balancing
act
performed
by
the
fishermen,
is
particularly
enchanting
for
first-time
observers.
Visitors
can
marvel
at
this
centuries-old
fishing
tradition
with
the
added
advantage
of
free
entry,
making
the
Chinese
fishing
nets
an
accessible
and
captivating
highlight
for
anyone
exploring
the
cultural
richness
of
Fort
Kochi.
