| Tangasseri (Thangassery) | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kollam |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
Thangasseri is a beach town on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India. It is located around 5 km from the city center and 71 km from Thiruvanthapuram, the state capital.
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The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center in Tangasseri, Kollam in 1502, which became the centre of trade in pepper. In the wars with the Moors/Arabs that followed, the ancient church of St Thomas was destroyed. In 1517, the Portuguese built the St. Thomas Fort in Thangasseri, which was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. The ruins of the Fort can still be seen in Thangasseri. In 1661, the Dutch took possession of the city. The remnants of the Dutch forts can be found at Thangasseri. In the 18th century, Travancore conquered Kollam, followed by the British in 1795. Thangasseri remains today as an Anglo-Indian settlement, though few Anglo-Indians remain. The Infant Jesus Church in Thangasseri, an old Portuguese-built church, remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of the area.
Thangasseri, the picturesque seaside village has a three kilometre long beach on which stands a 144 feet tall lighthouse - a silent sentinal warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of the Thangasseri, since 1902. Ruins of Portuguese / Dutch forts and 18 century churches, a three km long beach, 2.5km break water and a century old lighthouse.
Fishery harbour at Thangassery is proposed as a basin for traditional fishermen.This has been achieved by the construction of two breakwaters. The length of main breakwater is 2100m and that of leeward breakwater is 550m. Sufficient beach length for providing beach landing facilities for all operational crafts is provided in the harbour.