Destinations India and the Indian Ocean
Outside influences
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear I was in London. The resplendent gothic architecture of our Victorian forefathers proudly shades me from the sun bearing down on this hot day. But I’m not in England...
I’m nearly 4,000 nautical miles away. And the building’s shadow which enshrines me is the late 19th century Victoria Terminus or, to give it its true name, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, in Mumbai. This is just one of hundreds of buildings in this region built during British colonisation, all of which display distinctly familiar façades.
Pockets of open space within the city are often devoted to the quintessentially British game of cricket - though some question the origins of the game. As well as the formal cricket grounds of Wankhede and Brabourne, Shivaji Park is the perfect place to spot stars of the future - it’s where Mumbaikes practice their technique. All of these things exist against a backdrop of traditional Indian temples, bustling bazaars and the most spirited of any film industry - Bollywood.
It wasn’t just dear old Blighty that changed the landscape of India. The Portuguese and Dutch played a big part too. It was Portuguese Vasco da Gama who first discovered the trade route to India, setting sail from Lisbon in July 1497.
One place that was forever changed by the discovery of one of the world’s great trade routes was Cochin (Cochin is its colonial name, you may also see it spelt Kochi). This town has an intriguing mix of sights - first there’s the reputed home of Vasco da Gama himself, then there’s a Dutch palace, a Jewish synagogue built in the 1500s and many villages reminiscent of rural England. But it’s the enduring image of the traditional Chinese fishing nets that have come to symbolise this region and it’s the only place outside China where this method is ancient fishing method is still used.
All of these influences have contributed to an intriguing blend of cultures and created a heady mix of experiences - both soothing and exciting at every turn.
To learn more about the sights of India and the Indian Ocean, visit: