Thalassery

Thalassery, formerly Tellicherry, town and port, northern Kerala state, southwestern India. It is situated on the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea.

The town was established in 1683 by the British for the pepper and cardamom trade, and it was their first settlement on the Malabar Coast. A fort was built there in 1708 and was attacked unsuccessfully by the Indian ruler and military commander Hyder Ali of Mysore in 1781. Thalassery is still a major port for the export of pepper, coffee, sandalwood, and coconuts. It has a thriving furniture industry as well as coffee curing, rope and mat making, and other industries. The town is the site of Government Brennen College (established 1862). Pop. (2001) town, 99,387; urban agglom., 498,207; (2011) town, 92,558; urban agglom., 1,640,986.