Le Colonial was built by the Portuguese in 1506. It is said to have housed Francis Xavier and Vasco da Gama. It remained in the hands of the Portuguese for 150 years and when Cochin was conquered by the Dutch it was one of the rare houses not to be destroyed during the assault. Le Colonial housed the Dutch governors until 1795 when it was sold to the British. It then belonged to J. Thomas, a British tea trader and it came to be known as the J Thomas Bungalow. It contains many works of art and antique furniture. It is now run by Le Colonial – Fort Cochin Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd.