I was fortunate enough to visit this gorgeous and historic synagogue on my recent trip to India with my daughter. The tour was brief and to the point but the synagogue itself was breath-taking. The hand painted tiles were stunning and my daughter made sure to stock up on post cards. Definitely a must go.

This is a synagogue that is still in worship and you can see the fire of Solomon burning along with the brass columns. While the hands-painted floor tiles catch your fancy when you walk in, there is not much mentioned about the ceiling ornamentation in typical Kerala architecture style. Since the place is small it can get extremely crowded even during a weekday.

The structure itself is not huge but the synagogue is beautiful. The tiles inside the main hall are all hand painted by Chinese artisans. The place has a long history which is really interesting to read about and see for yourself. The chandeliers are as specially impressive. There is something very peaceful about the place.

This synagogue is mainly tourist orientated. Although it can be used for pray, you would be out of place. There are 5 Torah scrolls. The ark is kept locked ( only a rabbi can open it I was told). Obviously, the history of the place is interesting and there are plenty of English information signs. I was slightly disappointed to not see any pray books , and that men were allowed in without head coverings, and that apart from the building there is little to see of Jewish life. The restored clock is well done.

A nice Synagogue, well maintained and guarded by the military personnel with the real gun, which is important during the current situation. The people behave respectfully and you can enjoy the visit. A little museum provides enough information in English so visitors can learn about the Jewish diaspora in Kochi.