THE TELLICHERRY WHICH IS THALASSERY

The capital of erstwhile British Malabar, Thalassery has a prominent place in the history of Malabar as a military fort, trade center, port and court of justice.
In historical records, Thalassery is also known as Telicherry, Talakachery, Tasichery among others. There is no definite evidence to prove how the place acquired the name Thalassery.

There is a belief that Thalassery was the capital of several places and so it acquired the name Thalassery. There are references to a place called Dharmadam in old historical records but no mention of Thalassery.

People also say that Thiruvangad is the old name of Thalassery. Most places in the town come under Thiruvangad village. Even in the Thalassery Sub Collectors Office tehre is a plaque which says Thiruvangad.

The manual of administration of Madras Presidency Vol. II 1885 says the old name of this place is 'Shwetaranyapuri. 'Shweta' means white, 'Aaranya' means forest and 'puri' means town. There is also a mention is historical records that Tiruvenkad later became Thiruvangad. David Smith of the department of religious studies of Lancaster University writes in his book 'THe Dance of Shiva' that this was the place where the Acharya of Upansihads 'Shwetaketu' lived here which is why the place got the name Shwetarangapuri.

The fort build by the East India Company is an Thiruvallappan hill which was owned by Punolil Mussad. Thalassery actually started progressing after it became a trading centre in the old kottayam taluk under British rule. This happened in the 16th century.

There are some signs of Brahmin domination in the center of the town. But there is no mention of Thalassery in the old 'Talis' of Kerala.