Thalassery

Thalassery

Thalassery, also known as Tellicherry, is a town on the Malabar coast of Kerala. It is 21 km from the district headquarters, Kannur. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Thalassery municipality is part of the urban agglomeration of Kannur.

Thalassery was a place with commercial important even during olden times. British East India Company setup their base in Thalassery in 1683. The Tellichery Fort was built in 1708.The first Gymnastic training centre was setup in Thalassery.
The most important landmark of Tellicherry is Tellicherry Fort, which was built by the British in 1708 on a small hill "Thiruvallippad Kunnu". This Fort had a formidable strong hold during the British Rule. Other important centres at Tellicherry are one church built beneath the walls of the fort with the funds left by the master attendant Edward Brennen. A High School was also started to impart English education. The government took over the school from the Basel Mission in 1872 and it was converted as a second grade college in 1890.
Temples
Sree Ramaswami Temple, Thiruvangad, is situated 1 k.m away Tellicherry town. Sree Ramaswami Temple is otherwise known as 'brass pagoda' and is dedicated to Sree Rama. The temple festival is held during April.

Sree Jagannath Temple is also located near by. This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva was consecrated in February 1908 by the great religious reformer Sree Narayana Guru. The temple festival is held during February/March.

SreeChirakkakavuBhavathiTemple.

Sree Chirakkakavu Bhavathi Temple is one of the oldest Devi temple in Kerala. Goddess Kali is the presiding Diety here. The idle here is Kannadi in Krishnashila. The Goddes here is worshiped in three forms( Thrigunaathmika). The Temple is built by then king of Kolathiri- Chirakkkal Raja
The temple web URL is www.srichirakkakavu.org


The Juma Masjid situated near the Maidan (Stadium) in the heart of Tellicherry town is one of the most beautiful mosques in the district. It is said to be more than a thousand years old and has been rebuild in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
There is a large Mosque known as Odathil Palli near to Tellicherry Fort.

Illikkunnu
Malayalees cannot forget Herman Gundert and his contributions to the Malayalam Language.
A German by birth Gundert resided at Illikkunnu Bungalw near Thalassery which was his workshop for 20 years from 1939 for his research actitivities.Gundert BungalowGundert Bungalow is at Illikkunnu, Thalassery. It was the residence of German scholar Dr. Herman Gundert, who compiled the first Malayalam dictionary. He also built a church on Nettur Hill in 1889.

Theyyam
Clad in, colourful traditional costumes, masks, face paintings, head gear, weapons and decorations of tender leaves of coconut the performance of Theyyam is a rare combination of dance and music which reflects the important features of a tribal culture