Tangasseri

Tangasseri തങ്കശ്ശേരി Thangassery
Neighbourhood
Tangasseri Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 8°53′N 76°36′E / 8.88°N 76.60°E / 8.88; 76.60Coordinates: 8°53′N 76°36′E / 8.88°N 76.60°E / 8.88; 76.60
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Government
• Body	Kollam Municipal Corporation(KMC)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	691007
Vehicle registration	KL-02
Lok Sabha constituency	Kollam
Civic agency	Kollam Municipal Corporation
Avg. summer temperature	34 °C (93 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	22 °C (72 °F)
Website	http://www.kollam.nic.in

Tangasseri or Thangassery is a heavily populated beach area on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India. It is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the city centre and 71 kilometres (44 mi) from Thiruvanthapuram, the state capital. The splendid cultural and historical background of Tangasseri harbour makes it a proud landmark of Kollam. Archaeologists recently discovered Chinese coins and other artefacts along the coast which reveal the splendid historic background of Tangasseri^[1] Kollam Port also makes Tangasseri an important place in the world maritime map.^[2]^[3]

History

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading centre in Tangasseri, in 1502. It soon became a major centre of trade in pepper. In the wars with the Moors/Arabs that followed, the ancient church of St Thomas was destroyed.^[4] In 1517, the Portuguese built the St Thomas fort Tangasseri Quilon, which was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. In 1661, the Dutch took possession of the city. The remnants of both the Dutch and Portuguese forts can be found at Tangasseri. In the 18th century, the kingdom of Travancore 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. The Infant Jesus Church in Tangasseri, an old Portuguese-built church, remains as a memento of Portuguese rule.^[5] The old cathedral was demolished and replaced by a new cathedral at a cost of around 4.5 crore (US$710,000); it was consecrated and blessed on 3 December 2005. The metallic cross on the top is one of the largest crosses in India.^[6]

Tourist attractions

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. There are also ruins of Portuguese and Dutch forts and 18th century churches.

Tangasseri fishery harbour

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.