Captivating Cochin
FORGET Goa, have your next holiday in Cochin. Stay at the Taj Malabar on Willingdon Island, it actually sits on an island in the estuary, close to the mouth of the river and the sea.

Curios And A Synagogue
The Jew Town in Mattancherry was built in 1568 and has the oldest Synagogue in India where the last surviving Jews still go to pray on the Sabbath. The area is know for its curio shops selling antiques and the spice trade, writes MARK MANUEL.

Catch, Cook & Serve!
The seafood shacks at Vasco Da Gama Square in Cochin literally offer the catch of the day, fresh out of the nets, auctioned on the beach, then offered for selection and popped into the cooking pot, discovers UpperCrust.

The Taj Malabar... An Island In The Sun
This is arguably the best Taj property in the country. It sits on an island in the estuary, its entrance filtered by large Chinese fishing nets. UpperCrust recommends the Taj Malabar for its stay and food.

Tasting Darjeeling Tea In Cochin
ASHOK BATRA is a professional tea taster whose job is to sample different teas and advise his clients elsewhere in the country about them, learns UpperCrust.