Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi

The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, also known as Kotta Palli or Kottepalli, is located in Fort Kochi, Kochi. It is one of the thirty-four basilicas in India and one of nine in Kerala. This heritage edifice of Kerala is renowned for its Indo-European and Gothic architectural style. It serves as the cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1505 after securing the permission of the King of Cochin, it was elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. Although many Catholic buildings were destroyed by Dutch conquerors who arrived in Cochin in the 17th century, this cathedral was spared. However, the British who later arrived demolished it in 1795, and a new structure was commissioned in 1887 by the then bishop of Cochin, João Gomes Ferreira. The new building was consecrated in 1905 and proclaimed a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is one of the finest and most impressive churches in India, attracting tourists year-round. It is not only a place of devotion but also a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur.