Located near Bishop House in Fort Kochi, the CSI Bungalow is presently owned by the Church of South India Trust Assocation (CSITA). This colonial structure was built during the British period and it was used by the Anglican Church as the residence of the priest of St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi. St. Francis Church is the first European church in India and is famous as the burial ground of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese sailor. This building was handed over to the CSITA when India received independence from British rule in 1947, and is now under CSI Cochin Diocese. In 2012 and 2014 it was one of the venues of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India’s international contemporary art festival.
The Church having meticulously renovated the building, it has been converted in 2018 to the CSI Heritage Bungalow, operating a homestay offering guests four bath-attached bedrooms as well as an independent cottage. A separate dormitory will be functional soon.