Thalassery
Thalassery
Government
 • Municipality Chairman K. P. Raveendran
Population (2001)
 • Total 99,386
Website www.thalasserymunicipality.in
Thalassery is located in the southern part of Kannur District

Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a city in Kannur District of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000.[1] Established in 1866, it is the second oldest Municipality in the state. With an area of 23.98 sq. km, Thalassery, is a town strategically located on the western coast of Kannur district on the Malabar Coast of Kerala. It is 22 km from the district headquarters at Kannur. The town is situated between 11°44’N latitude and 75°26’E longitude at an altitude ranging between 2.5 m above the mean sea level in the low lying areas to 30m above the mean sea level in the higher regions.

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Geography[edit]

Tellicherry is in Kannur district. The palm-fringed geography of Tellicherry is adorned with four rivers, canals, hills with orange hued rock and a long scenic coastline. One of the four rivers is the Mahé River (Mayyazhi river). During the British Raj, the Mahé River was nicknamed the English Channel, because it separated British-ruled Tellicherry from French-ruled Mahé. Muzhappilangad, a 5 km long beach, is located within 6 km from the town.

Demographics[edit]

As of 2001 India census[2], Tellicherry has a population of 99,386, making it the 8th largest city of Kerala in terms of population. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Tellicherry has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 86%. In Tellicherry, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Thalassery urban agglomeration is considered as consisting of Thalassery municipality and panchayaths of Eranholi, Kadirur, Dharmadam, Muzhappilangad, Pinarayi and New Mahe with a present population of around 2,02,161.

Thalassery Assembly Constituency[edit]

Thalassery assembly constituency consists of Thalassery Municipality and four neighboring Panchayats namely Eranholi, Kadirur, New Mahe and Chokli. Dharmadam is recently excluded from Thalassery and has been converted to a separate constituency.

British Influence[edit]

The British established their presence in Kerala in 1682, when they obtained permission from the Vadakkilamkur Prince of Kolattunad to settle at Tellicherry. In the following years, the British presence in the state of Kerala strengthened. During this period, there were many organised revolts held by the natives of the region against the empire. Among them was the revolt of 1704, that the natives of Tellicherry organised, but this revolt was quickly crushed by the British forces due to its localised, non-nationalistic nature.

Due to its coastal location, the town of Tellicherry was a major commercial centre during the British rule of India. During the British rule, the Malayalam name Thalassery was anglicised into Tellicherry.

The British built a seaport in Tellicherry through which a variety of spices such as pepper and cardamom were exported. (Tellicherry pepper, ground from locally grown pungent black peppercorns, is much sought after by chefs around the world). In 1708, the British built Thalassery Fort by the sea to protect and control the spice trade from the town. a ship wreckage of these merchant caravan is visible near the shore of tellichery For the ship wrecked in 1806 see Tellicherry (ship)

The square fort, with its massive walls, secret tunnels to the sea and intricately carved huge doors, is an imposing structure. The fort was once the nucleus of Tellicherry's development. It is now a historical monument. In 1781, this fort was attacked unsuccessfully by the ruler and military commander of Mysore, Hyder Ali.

The British also established the district judicial court in Tellicherry. During the British rule, jurisdiction of Tellicherry Court extended up to Mysore.

One of the popular tourist spots in the town, Overbury's Folly, was built by E. N. Overbury a local British judge in the 1870s.

Culture[edit]

Tellicherry is at times referred to as the city of Cricket (where indians 1st played cricket), Cakes and Circuses.[3][4]

Tellicherry is considered to be the birth place of the Indian Circus. Keeleri Kunhikannan is a legend in the history of Circus. The Circus artist and coaches from Tellicherry are very much in demand. There is also a proposal to start a Circus school, which will give employment opportunity for many persons. This could serve as recruitment ground for Circus companies. There is also scope for earning foreign exchange as the Circuses are very popular in other countries. The cultural exchange programme with Russian performers by Jumbo Circus was well-received.

Rajya Samacharam, the first Malayalam newspaper, was published from Tellicherry.[5]

Older houses in Tellicherry have traditional Kerala architecture, usually large houses with wide verandahs, a well and solid wooden doors . Each house invariably has a few coconut trees, jackfruit and perhaps papaya, mango trees. The many idyllic suburbs are well defined by the rivers and canals that flow past.

Since long time, Tellicherry residents like other Keralites have gone abroad or all over India in search of work and to seek their fortunes. It is quite common to find one or more persons from each household living overseas or in other states.This has led to a somewhat dependent money-order economy. It is a matter of concern for the residents on how to diversify and have a self-sustainable economy

Sree Jagannath Temple[edit]

Sree Gnanodayayogam the Prominent social organisation of North Malabar and the governing body of Sree Jagannath Temple, Tellicherry consecrated by his holiness Sree Narayana Guru, is in the light of centennial celebrations. Sree Varadur Kaniyil Kunhi Kannan visited Guru Dev in December 1904 and put a suggestion that Thiyya Community should have a Temple at Thalassery. Sree Jagannath Temple had been consecrated by his Holiness in 1908 itself is a solid proof to discredit their version. Sree Narayana Guru Dev allowed Varadur to invite Kumaran Asan, as his representative and to convene meetings to ascertain the reaction of the people about the feasibility of a Temple for the community. Kumaran Asan who was staying with Dr. Palpu in Bangalore accepted the invitation and on his arrival the first meeting was convened at ‘Parambath House’ of Sree Cheruvari Govindan Shirastadar on 9 July 1905.

Educational institutions[edit]

Tellicherry is home to Govt. Brennen College, founded in 1851, is one of the oldest educational institutions in the region.[6] The college evolved from a school established by English philanthropist Edward Brennen, who had made Tellicherry his home. The college is one of the premier educational institutions in Kerala. B.E.M.P High school (Basel Evangelic Mission Parsy) is the first English Medium school set up in Tellicherry. MESBRS is the first CBSE school set up in Tellicherry

Important Educational Institutions in Thalassery are

Govt Brennen Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Higher Secondary School, St.Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Basel Evangelical Mission Parsi High School, Sacred Heart Girls High School, Govt Girls Higher Secondary School, MES Bava Residential School, Sanjos Metropolitan School, College of Nursing, NTTF (Nettur Technical Training Foundation), Kannur University Campus, Brennen College and College of Engineering, Thalassery.

See Also Educational Institutes in Thalassery

Cricket[edit]

File:Cricket.jpeg
Thalassery Cricket Stadium
Tellicherry Municipal Stadium

The Tellicherry Municipal Ground (see Thalassery Stadium) located close to the sea hosts the Ranji Trophy cricket matches quite often. Lord Arthur Wellesley is believed to have introduced this game in Kerala in the 18th century for the British Soldiers who were garrisoned in the Tellichery Fort[7]. It is recorded in the history that the India's first Cricket Club was formed in 1860 at Tellichery[7], which was later renamed as Town Cricket Club. The Tellichery Cricket ground was the hub of cricket activities those days. It has been reported that an exhibition match was conducted in this ground to raise funds during the First World War[7]. Famous English cricketer Colin Cowdrey's father was a tea planter in Tellicherry and he used to play cricket in Tellicherry during 1890s, and is credited to have laid a decent cricket pitch here, in the early 1900s. Colin Cowdrey, played in Tellicherry during the British regime.

In the year 2002, Tellicherry cricket ground celebrated its 200th birthday by hosting a match between the former cricketers of India and Sri Lanka. In 2008 a new stadium only for Cricket has been inaugurated in Conor Vayal near Venus Junction in Tellicherry which is a project of Kerala Cricket Association

Notable citizens[edit]

Railway Station[edit]

Thalassery Railway Station is one of the major railway stations in Kerala under Palakkad Railway Division. It's a 'A' class railway station.

How To Reach[edit]

Hotels[edit]

Places of interest[edit]

Overbury's Folly, Thalassery
Thalassery fort, Thalassery

References[edit]

External links[edit]