Tangasseri

Last updated

Tangasseri
Thangassery, Thangi
Neighbourhood
Kollam Thangasseri Gate1a.JPG
Tangasseri arch
Nickname: 
Thangi
Location map India Kollam EN.svg
Red pog.svg
Tangasseri
Location in Kerala, India
India Kerala location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tangasseri
Tangasseri (Kerala)
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Tangasseri
Tangasseri (India)
Coordinates: 8°53′04″N76°33′49″E / 8.884359°N 76.563631°E / 8.884359; 76.563631
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Kerala
District Kollam
Government
  Body Kollam Municipal Corporation(KMC)
Area
  Total0.4006 km2 (0.1547 sq mi)
Languages
  Official Malayalam, English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
691007
Vehicle registration KL-02
Lok Sabha constituency Kollam
Civic agency Kollam Municipal Corporation
Avg. summer temperature34 °C (93 °F)
Avg. winter temperature22 °C (72 °F)
Website http://www.kollam.nic.in
Light House at Thangashery Leuchtturm in Kollam.jpg
Light House at Thangashery
Fishing boats at Thangashery Fishing activities at Thangassery, Kollam.jpg
Fishing boats at Thangashery

Tangasseri or Thangassery (Thangi) is a heavily populated beach area on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India.

Contents

Location

Tangasseri is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the city centre and 71 kilometres (44 mi) from Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Archaeologists recently discovered Chinese coins and other artefacts along the coast, which reveal the historic background of the location. [1] Kollam Port makes Tangasseri an important place on the world maritime map. [2] [3]

History

In 1502, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading centre in Tangasseri and the area soon became a major centre for the pepper trade. Tangasseri's St Thomas Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1517, was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. [4]

In 1661, the Dutch took possession of the city. The remains of both the Dutch and Portuguese forts can still be seen in Tangasseri. In the 18th century, the kingdom of Travancore first conquered Kollam, followed by the British in 1795. Tangasseri remains an Anglo-Indian settlement in character, though there are few Anglo-Indians in the population. Tangassery was a part of Malabar District during British Raj. [5] The Infant Jesus Cathedral in Tangasseri an old Portuguese-built church, remains as a memento of Portuguese rule. [6] The old cathedral was demolished and replaced by a new cathedral at a cost of around 4.5 crore (US$560,000); it was consecrated and blessed on 3 December 2005. The metallic cross on the top is one of the largest crosses in India. [7]

Importance

Tangasseri is a picturesque seaside village with a three kilometre long beach on which stands a 144 feet tall lighthouse—a silent sentinel warning seamen since 1902 of the treacherous reefs. [8] There are also ruins of Portuguese and Dutch forts and 18th century churches. The fishery harbour at Tangasseri is a basin for traditional fishermen, achieved by the construction of two breakwaters. The length of the main breakwater is 2100 m and of the leeward breakwater 550 m. This provides sufficient beach length for landing facilities for all operational craft. Tangasseri is home to Kerala's oldest schools, Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School and Infant Jesus School Kollam. [9]


The State Government of Kerala had submitted a proposal for constructing a sheltered lighterage Port at Thangassery by converting the Thangassery cove into an artificial harbour The Thangassery cove is about 45 miles to the South of theAshtamudi Lake inlet which was proposed to be developed as a Ashing harbour under the Norwegian-Indian Fisheries Community Development Project Hie proposal to convert the Thangassery Cove into an artificial harbour involved the construction canal connecting the proposed port with Ashtamudi Lake. In the meantime, another suggestion was made for developing Thangassery Cove as a fishing-cum-commercial port, if it was found impracticable to develop the Ashtamudi lake inlet. Model expenments in respect of both the scheme were carried out at the Poona Research Station.

The Government of Kerala was asked on the 7th January, 1959 to examine the reports submitted by the Poona Research Station and to work out comparative costs of both the schemes m the light of the recommendations made m the Reports and forward their proposal to the Government along with a statement showing the comparative costs for the two schemes These are awaited A provision of Rs 42 5 lakhs has been proposed for development works at Thangassery in the Third Plan [10]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam</span> City in Kerala, India

Kollam, also known by its former name Quilonpronunciation (sometimes referred to by its historical name Desinganadu), is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. It is the headquarters of the Kollam district. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Kochi</span> Place in Kochi

Fort Kochi, Fort Cochin in English, Cochim de Baixo in Cochin Portuguese creole, is a neighbourhood of Cochin (Kochi) city in Kerala, India. Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Cochin, the first European fort on Indian soil, controlled by the Portuguese East Indies. This is part of a handful of water-bound islands and islets toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Cochin or West Cochin. Adjacent to this is the locality of Mattancherry. In 1967, these three municipalities along with a few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Kochi Municipal Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malabar District</span> Administrative district of British India

Malabar District, also known as Malayalam District, was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792-1800) and Madras Presidency (1800-1947) in British India, and independent India's Madras State (1947-1956). It was the most populous and the third-largest district in the erstwhile Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Chavakad Taluk and parts of Kodungallur Taluk of Thrissur district, and Fort Kochi area of Ernakulam district in the northern and central parts of present Kerala state, the Lakshadweep Islands, and a major portion of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu. The detached settlements of Tangasseri and Anchuthengu, which were British colonies within the kingdom of Travancore in southern Kerala, also formed part of Malabar District until 1927. Malayalam was the administrative as well as the most spoken lingua franca of Malabar District during British Rule. Jeseri, a distinct dialect of Malayalam, was spoken in the Laccadive Islands. Malabar District merged with the erstwhile state of Travancore-Cochin (1950-1956) to form Kerala according to the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. On the same day, the present Kasaragod district of South Canara District was also attached to Malabar, and the Laccadive & Minicoy Islands of Malabar were reorganised to form a new Union Territory. Malabar was trifurcated to form the districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, and Palakkad, on 1 January 1957.

The term Kerala was first epigraphically recorded as Cheras (Keralaputra) in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka of Magadha. It was mentioned as one of four independent kingdoms in southern India during Ashoka's time, the others being the Cholas, Pandyas and Satyaputras. The Cheras transformed Kerala into an international trade centre by establishing trade relations across the Arabian Sea with all major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well those of Eastern Africa and the Far East. The dominion of Cheras was located in one of the key routes of the ancient Indian Ocean trade. The early Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Cholas and Rashtrakutas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School</span> School

Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School is an English-medium all-through school in Tangasseri, Kollam District in Kerala, India. Located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, it consists of a day school, and a boarding house located within the convent. The school was founded on 22 July 1885 by Mother Veronica of the Passion. It was one of the first English-medium schools in the Kollam District, and is one of its two originally Anglo-Indian schools. The school awards qualifications based on the ICSE/ISC syllabus.

Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the prominent religions in Kollam district. As per the Census 2011, out of the total population of 2,635,375 persons, 64.42% follow Hinduism, 19.30% follow Islam and 16.00% follow Christianity. Other religions comprise 0.04%, while 0.25% did not state any religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam Beach</span> One of the important beach in kerala

Kollam Beach, also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach, is a beach at Kollam city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kollam Beach is the first 'Beach Wedding Destination' in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Thomas Fort</span> Ruined fortification in Kerala, India

Fort Thomas or St. Thomas Fort or Fortaleza da São Tomé, also known as Tangasseri Fort, is a ruined fort located in the beach town of Tangasseri on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. It is located around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the city center of Kollam and 71 kilometres (44 mi) from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam Port</span> Port in India

Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from Downtown Kollam ,14 km north of Paravur and 24 km north of Varkala Town It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities. Located on the south-west coast of India, under the name of Quilon Port it became one of the country's most important trade hubs from the ninth to the seventeenth centuries. Kollam was one of the five Indian ports visited by Ibn Battuta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kovilthottam Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Kerala, India

Kovilthottam Lighthouse is situated at Kovilthottam in Kollam district of Kerala. The 18-meter tall lighthouse tower is painted with black and white alternating bands. The lighthouse has been provided to serve the Port of Neendakara situated at the entrance to Ashtamudi Backwaters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tangasseri Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Kerala, India

Tangasseri Lighthouse or Thangassery Lighthouse is situated at Tangasseri in Kollam city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the two lighthouses in the Kollam Metropolitan Area and is maintained by the Cochin Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. In operation since 1902, the cylindrical lighthouse tower painted with white and red oblique bands has a height of 41 metres (135 ft), making it the second tallest lighthouse in Kerala coast. Tangasseri Lighthouse is one of the most visited lighthouses in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cashew business in Kollam</span>

The Cashew business in Kollam is based in the eponymous city, which is known as the Cashew Capital of the World. Kollam is the largest processed cashew exporter in the world. As of 2011 there were more than 600 cashew processing units in the city. About 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews are imported to the city for processing every year. 80% of India's export quality cashew kernels were prepared in Kollam. Kollam has remained the cashew capital of the world since 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Kollam</span>

Kollam or Quilon is an old seaport and a city on the Laccadive Sea coast in Kerala, India, on Ashtamudi Lake. The city remains notable as the ancient commercial capital of Kerala and the southwestern Indian coast, in addition to its fame as the "Cashew Capital of the World". The Kollam Municipal Corporation has the second largest budget in Kerala in terms of revenue and expenditure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infant Jesus Cathedral</span> Church in Kollam, India

The Infant Jesus Cathedral is a historic Roman Catholic church established by Portuguese during 1614, situated at Tangasseri in the city of Quilon (Kollam), India. It is now the cathedral i.e the Seat of the Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon, the ancient and first catholic diocese of India. The Church remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of old Quilon city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal</span>

Kollam KSWTD Boat Jetty or Kollam KSWTD Ferry Station is an transport hub in the city of Kollam in Kerala, India, one of 14 ferry stations owned by the Kerala State Water Transport Department.

The Portuguese Cemetery of Tangasseri in Kollam city, India, was constructed around 1519 as part of the Portuguese invasion of the city. Buckingham Canal, a small canal between Tangasseri Lighthouse and the cemetery, is situated very close to the Portuguese Cemetery. A group of pirates known as the Pirates of Tangasseri formerly lived at the Cemetery. The remnants of St. Thomas Fort and Portuguese Cemetery still exist at Tangasseri.

Buckingham Canal in Kollam is a 450-year-old Portuguese built heritage landmark at Tangasseri. It is one of the rare existing ancient remnants in city of Kollam (Quilon) - Commercial Capital of ancient Malabar coast. The Canal is believed to be a key conduit built by the Portuguese some 450 years ago inside their strategic territory, the Fort Thomas. Quilon along with Tangasseri was one among the ancient Portuguese settlements in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Kollam</span>

Quilon or Coulãopronunciation , officially Kollampronunciation  is one of the ancient civilizations in India.It is one of the oldest port cities in the Malabar Coast and was the capital city of historic Venad Kingdom and Travancore Kingdom. Quilon was once an important trading port in India. It was also known as Desinganadu. It is now known as the "Cashew Capital of the World".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Kollam</span>

City of Kollam or Quilon is a Port city in South India and was the commercial capital of erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. It is situated on the Laccadive Sea coast of South Kerala. The city is known as the "Gateway to the backwaters of Kerala". The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, Kerala's second largest lake, on the Arabian sea coast. Major parts of Kollam city are covered by Ashtamudi Lake.

References

  1. "Archaeologist Throws Light on Thangassery Artefacts". TNIE. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. "Thangassery Port". Infrawindow.com. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. "Cabinet approval for Thangassery port plans". Projectstoday.com. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. "Thangassery: A flashback to Kerala's Portuguese past". On Manorama. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. Logan, William (2010). Malabar Manual (Volume-I). New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 631–666. ISBN   9788120604476.
  6. "Superb India Tours - Kollam". Superb India Tours. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. "Tangasseri - OOCITIES". OOCITIES. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. "New look for Tangasseri lighthouse". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  9. "Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian School, Kollam". IJHSS Kollam. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  10. https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1836/1/lsd_02_08_02-09-1959.pdf page 15