Lesser Known Fort at God's Own Country - Tellicherry Fort

Even though i am a Malayalee,i have never heard of a fort in Thalassery. I came to know about this fort when i first visited the website of Kerala tourism to search for places to visit nearby Kannur as my native is in Kannur. This place is famous for the coastal beaches and fish trading in Kerala.This place is some 22 km south of the Kannur district.

In the month of Jan 2012 me and my family planned the visit to this place along with the coast of Thalassery. We drove straight to the fort passing by the long stretch of Thalassery sea shore which runs n parallel to the road.We stopped for some time in a small park which is in the sea shore.We took some snacks took rest for a while.

Sea waves on the long stretch of Thalassery Seashore

Then we embarked for our onward journey to the fort.Around noon we reached the fort.The fort is simple in the sense it doesn't have the hustle of a tourist center and there is not much tourist who were visiting this place.The fort is at a height on a rocky cliff and we have to walk some steps to get in the fort.The fort is next to the Thalassery beach.The Fort has a colossal structure with its entrance made in a peculiar manner which is through the top of a giant wall.

Front Gate of the Thalassery Fort

As soon as we were in, i met one of the employees who is more like a caretaker and who tells the tourist where and all we have some thing to see.I asked about the history of the fort and he told me something which was incomplete.The fort has an East India Company connection.This Thalassery fort is considered the first settlement of the East India Company on the western coast of the Indian coastline.

Front Gate from inside the Fort

The East India Company came here in the pretext of business in the late 16th century.They acquired land and build factory for storing and manufacturing spices and exporting it outside India.Looking to the scope and the dimension of the business getting build,the British who are very oppurtunistic, by the end of the 1700 century, build the Thalassery Fort around this factory.

Landscape view from the view towards the sea

In due course of time this became the military center of the British.This fort helped the British to establish a stronghold in the Malabar region of Kerala.Its said that Arthur Wellesley planned the attack on Pazhassi Raja from this fort.By the end of the 17th century again this fort witnessed the war with the great Indian warrior Hyder Ali.

Way to Light House and Light House

The caretaker took us to the tunnel and showed us the lighthouse which are some of the peculiar things to be seen in the fort.From the light house we will be able to see the vast seashore with the waves now and then hitting the shores.Next to the fort there is the St.John's Anglican Church which is facing the sea and St.Rosario's Church.

This was a short trip to God's Own Country to see the lesser known facts in history and the culture of this place.We all enjoyed the view of the sea from the light house.Once in a while a place to be visited and explored,thats how i look after visiting this place.

Travel Tips

Nearest airport is Calicut which is some 90 kms from this place.The new Kannur Airport will be a boon for tourists visiting this place 

The nearest railway station is Kannur Railway station

Once you are there in Kannur,we will be connected to the nearby places.Enough taxis and buses are available for the same from Kannur.

Thanks for your patient reading

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