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Tellichery

Thalassery
തലശ്ശേരി
Land of 3 C's-Circus, Cake and Cricket, Tellicherry
city
Clockwise from top:Hermann Gundert Statue, Kalaripayattu Training, Muzhappilangad Beach, Thalassery fort, Theyyam, Spice Market, Cannons near Pier
Thalassery is located in Kerala
Thalassery
Thalassery
Thalassery is located in India
Thalassery
Thalassery
Location of Thalassery in Kerala
Coordinates: 11°45′2.24″N 75°29′13.28″E / 11.7506222°N 75.4870222°E / 11.7506222; 75.4870222Coordinates: 11°45′2.24″N 75°29′13.28″E / 11.7506222°N 75.4870222°E / 11.7506222; 75.4870222
Country  India
State Kerala
District Kannur
Municipality 1 November 1866
Named for Spices (Tellicherry Pepper, Cinnamon)
Government
 • Body Municipality
 • Municipality Chairperson C K Rameshan
 • Sub Collector Rohit Meena IAS
Area
 • Total 23.96 km2 (9.25 sq mi)
Elevation2.5 m-30 m 3 m (10 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 92,558
 • Density 3,900/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 670 1xx
Telephone code 91 490
Vehicle registration KL 58 –
Sex ratio 1000:1125 /
Lok Sabha constituency Vatakara
Vidhan Sabha constituency Thalassery
Website www.thalasserymunicipality.in
Thalassery is located in the southern part of Kannur District

Thalassery (IPA: [t̪laʃeɾi]) also known as Tellicherry is a commercial town on the Malabar Coast in Kannur district, in the state of Kerala, India, bordered by the districts of Mahé (Pondicherry), Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kodagu (Karnataka). It is the largest populated municipality of North Malabar. Thalassery has been significant during the past 500 years in the region. Thalassery municipality has a population just under 100,000. Thalassery has an area of 23.98 square kilometres (9.26 sq mi). It is 22 km south of the district headquarters in Kannur town. Thalassery is situated in an altitude ranging from 2.5m to 30m above mean sea-level.

Thalassery municipality was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850) of the British Indian Empire, making it the second oldest municipality in the state. At that time the municipality was known as Thalassery Commission, and Thalassery was the capital of North Malabar. G. M. Ballard, the Malabar collector, was the first President of the municipal commission. Later a European barrister, A. F. Lamaral, became the first Chairman of Thalassery municipality. Thalassery grew into a prominent place during European rule, due to its strategic geographic location. Thalassery has played a significant historical, cultural, educational and commercial role in the history of India, especially during the colonial period. On 9 February 2014, Thalassery taluk was split in two and Iritty taluk was formed. The north eastern hilly region of the former Thalassery Taluk such as Aralam, Ayyankunnu, Kottiyur, Kelakam is within the Iritty Taluk area.

Thalassery may have originated from the ancient Malayalam linguistic usage 'Thala' (Head) and 'Kacheri' (Office), thus Thalassery or 'head of offices'. It could also have emerged from Talakkathe cheri, a combination of 'Talakkate' (Upper or north) and 'Cheri' (Settlement). It could also be a combination of Thali(Brahminic habitation) and ssery i.e. Brahminic village. Thalassery could be a Brahminic village, as it hosts ancient Shree Ramaswamy shrines dedicated/connected to Rama (Rama-Vaishnavite/ Smartha sects settlements in various villages in and around Thalassery such as Tiruvangad, Andaloor, Makreri, Peralassery, Edakkad, Taliparamba, Cheruthazham, Mavilayi, Kadalayi, Trichambaram, Thrikykunnu near Koothuparamba, Kannapuram etc... such a large number of shrines dedicated to or related to Rama in close vicinity is rare compared to other places in Kerala. The 1885 administration manual vol. 2 of the former Madras Presidency cites research in regional legends and folklore to indicate that the ancient name of Thalassery was Swetharanya pura. The Upanishad Acharya Swethakethu is believed to have taken penance there and it is said that Shiva danced ananda thandava here. This is the stala purana of Tiruvangad Shree Ramaswamy Temple. Thalassery was also known as known as Tellicherry the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Thalassery during the European era and in the official documents until the end of 1990s but the name Thalassery is now used officially.


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