Cranganore (modern day Kodungallur) was a famous and prosperous sea-port in the southern Indian state of Kerala, about 38 km from the present day Cochin. It was known as Muziris to Pliny the Elder (N.H. 6.26), and was familiar to the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The evidence of the Peutinger Table suggests that there was a temple to the Roman emperor Augustus.

The Greeks, the Romans, the Jews and the Yavanas all have come to this place at different times in its history.

Thomas the Apostle of Jesus with his followers landed in Cranganore in the year AD 52 and preached the gospel. It thus became the earliest Nasrani Syrian Christian centre of Malabar with monuments built in the memory of Thomas still existing. The existence of a thriving Christian Community here attracted the attention of others and the Bishops who came from Persia chose this place for their residence. The bones of the right hand of St Thomas were placed in 1953 as a memento.

Malik Ibin Dinar and 20 others who were the followers of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam first landed here when they came to India. Islam received royal patronage in some states here and spread to other parts of India. The Cheraman Jama Masjid was built around 629 in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and the bodies of some of these followers is said to have been buried here. This is said to be first mosque constructed in India. A block of white marble in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca.

Cranganore was the capital of Cheraman Perumal, the emperor of Kerala, in the past. Of the temples here, the Kodungallur Bhagavati temple and Thiruvanachikulam temple are particularly famous. Talapoli and Bharani are the important festivals at the Bhagavati temple.

The natural beauty of the place is enchanting and is a popular tourist destination today.

See Also

• Saint Thomas Christians
• Cochin Jews
• Kerala