Thalassery

Thalassery is at times referred to as the city of cricket (where Indians first played cricket), cakes and circuses.

Thalassery is considered to be the birth place of the Indian circus. Keeleri Kunhikannan, born in the city, is known as "the father of Kerala Circus". Circus artists and coaches from Thalassery are very much in demand. India's premier Circus Academy was inaugurated in Thalassery.

Older houses in Thalassery have traditional Kerala architecture, usually large houses with wide verandas and solid wooden doors. Each house invariably has coconut trees, jackfruit, and perhaps papaya, or mango trees. The many idyllic suburbs are well defined by the rivers and canals that flow past.

Since long ago Thalassery residents, like other Keralites, have gone abroad, or all over India, in search of work, and to seek their fortunes. It is quite common to find one or more persons from each household living overseas or in other states. This has led to a somewhat dependent money-order economy. It is a matter of concern for the residents on how to diversify and have a self-sustainable and independent local economy. Thalassery is also famous for its cuisine, the Thalassery biryani is famous for its distinguishing taste. The influence of Arabian culture is evident in Thalassery dishes.

• 🌍 Dharmadam Island, Dharmadam,Thalassery (4 km from city centre). The 5-acre (20,000 m²) island covered with coconut palms and dense bushes is a beautiful sight from the Muzhappilangad beach. During low tide, one can just walk to the island from the beach. It is surrounded by rivers and seas. Permission is required to enter this privately owned island. Dharmadam, earlier known as Dharmapattanam was a Buddhist stronghold. 
• 🌍 Gundert Bungalow, Koduvally. Residence of Rev. Dr. Herman Gundert, a German missionary and great scholar, author of first Malayalam dictionary. 
• 🌍 Holy Rosary Church (Near Thalassery Fort). Famous for stained glass works brought from London. 
• Nettur Hill Church. Built by Rev. Dr. Herman Gundert. 
• 🌍 Odathil Mosque (Odathil Palli). Built around 1806 in the heart of Thalassery is Odathil Palli and the Garden Mosque. The site of the Odathil Palli used to be a sugarcane garden of the Dutch. It changed hands to the British-owned East India Company.Moosakaka, a Muslim keralite, was the contractor of the East India Company. Moosakaka hailed from the Keyi family of Thalassery. The Keyis were was one of the prominent traders of the time. Moosakaka was considered to be very honest and trustworthy. Hence the company wanted to gift him for his loyalty. Per his request he was given the sugar garden of the Dutch. Musakaka bought this land for a small price as he did not want it free. He constructed a beautiful mosque in Thalassery in the 'Karimbin-odam' Sugarcane plantation had belonged to the Dutch, occupied by the British. Odam means 'garden' in Dutch language. Since it was constructed in Odam the mosque came to be called Odathil Palli, meaning 'mosque in Odam'. The mosque had copper plate roofing and golden dome in the minor and share the scenic features as the ones noted in the Brahmin/Brahminical tradition. There was opposition in laying the dome - a privilege enjoyed by the temples so Zamorin gave speedy permission to lay the domes and the minaret. It highlights the communal harmony that prevailed in those days and the policy of enlightened toleration followed by the Kerala rulers. All the Muslims can offer prayers but in the graveyard/Kabaristan (graveyard adjacent to the mosque) where only the dead bodies of the Keyis, their wives and children are buried. This is famous among tourists to visit, as its historic tradition and a mosque in pure typical Kerala Hindu style and a golden dome covering over its original sugarcane dome. 
• 🌍 Overbury's Folly, Thalassery. Multi-level landscaped recreational park which commands sweeping views of Arabian Sea. 

• Shri Jagannath Temple (3 km). This temple was built in 1908 in the style of Jagannath Temple, Puri, Orissa. The beautiful yellow and red structure faces the railway track. Only slow trains stop at the Jagannath Temple Railway Station. An annual festival is conducted here with a lot of fireworks at display. (updated Jul 2015)
• Shri Maha Vishnu Temple, Edakkad (10 km). Majestic and sylvan surroundings. (updated Aug 2015)
• 🌍 Thalassery Fort (Tellicherry Fort). An 18th-century fort built by the British, and a light house. 
• 🌍 Thalassery Pier (Kadal Palam), Thalassery. An old pier extending out into the Arabian Sea. Built by East India Company in 1910 for transporting commodities to and from ships. 
• 🌍 Thiruvangad Sree Ramaswami Temple,, Thalassery (1km from city centre). A prominent temple with carvings as old as 400 years. One of the four famous temples dedicated to Lord Sree Rama in Kerala. Located on an elevated plot of 2.75 hectares with an adjoining temple tank which extends over an area of one hectare, This well maintained temple has excellent wood carvings, terracota art work, mural paintings carved on wooden planks in the ceilings are a repository of art treasure. 
• NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Saidarpally Jumuah Masjid (Saidarpally), Thalassery - Nadapuram Rd (2 km from Tellicherry Town). (updated Aug 2015)
• 🌍 Thalassery Municipal Stadium (Thalassery Stadium) (Near Police Station, Palissery), ☏ +914902341591. Thalassery Stadium, located close to the sea, hosts Ranji Trophy cricket matches quite often. Wellesley is believed to have introduced this game in Kerala in the 18th century for British soldiers garrisoned in the Tellichery Fort. India's first cricket club, which was later named the Town Cricket Club, was formed in 1850 at Tellichery by Wellesley. The Tellichery Cricket ground was the hub of cricket activities those days. (updated Mar 2021)
• Sri Ramaswamy Temple (2 km). conducts annual festival. (updated Apr 2022)

• 🌍 Drive in beach @ Muzhappilangad (7 km). Four-km-long beach with strong sand. The longest drive-in-beach in India. (updated Jun 2015)

• Arya Sweets, Logans Road (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Greens Bakery, Pallishery (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Hai Uppilittathu, On the highway near stadium police station. Salted mangoes, salted tamarinds, salted carrots, salted pineapples, salted beetroots, salted gooseberry, salted papaya, salted green chilli and a dozen other varieties. This shop was established in 1998. Water and ice used here is hygienic. (updated Aug 2016)

• Bharath Coffee House, PIlakkool (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Green Leaf Restaurant, Gundert Road, ☏ +91 490 2326888. 
• Indian Coffee House, Behind bus station, ☏ +91 490 - 2325574. (updated May 2015)
• Mughal Restaurant, PeIlakkool (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Olive Garden Restaurant, Narangapuram, ☏ +91 490 2321050. 
• Paris Restaurant, Logans Road, ☏ +91 490 2320370. Famous for biriyani, samoosa and banana filling. 
• Peacock Restaurant, Pallishery (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Prakrithi Restaurant, Palissery (2 km). (updated May 2015)
• Raraavis Restaurant, Narangapuram, ☏ +91 490 2322043. Famous for fish biriyani. 
• Saroma Adhithya Vegetarian, opp. Fire Station. 8 AM to 9 PM. (updated May 2015)
• Western Restaurant, Near Jubilee (1 km). (updated May 2015)
• Zaika Multi-Cuisine, Pilakool (1 km), ☏ +91 490 234 1202. (updated May 2015)
• National Restaurant, Palissery. (updated Jan 2021)
• Cafe Fills, Kodiyeri Road, Narangaapuram. Good place for burgers. (updated Jan 2021)

• Firoz Shake Corner, Chalil, Pier Road (1 km). (updated May 2015)

• Paris Presidency, Logans Road, Thalassery, ☏ +91 490 2342666. 
• Pearl View Regency, Venus Junction, Thalassery, ☏ +91 490 2326702. 
• Sree Gokulam Fort, Good-shed Road, Thalassery, ☏ +91 490 2321222. 
• Navaratna Inn, Goods Shed Road, Behind Railway Station, ☏ +91 4902322803, navaratnainn@gmail.com. Opened in March 2018 (updated Mar 2018)

• Area code international, +91 490. (updated Jun 2015)
• Area code national, 0490. (updated Jun 2015)

• Iritty, cute little hill town, 42 km
• Kannur, beach city, 22 km
• Kozhikode, major beach city, 70 km
• Madikeri, hill station with fine hospitality, 142 km
• Mahe (India), old Portuguese enclave, 10 km
• Mattanur, sleeping giant, 42 km
• Mysore, city of palaces and gardens, 182 km
• Ooty, major hill station, 208 km