Tanur (
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Culture, language and peoples
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
* ''English'', an Amish ter ...
: ) is a coastal town, a municipality, and a block located in
Tirur Taluk
Tirur Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Its headquarters is the town of Tirur. Tirur Taluk contains four municipalities - Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, and Valanchery. Most of the adminis ...
,
Malappuram district
Malappuram (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . The most populous district of Kerala, Malappuram is home to around 13% of the tot ...
,
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is located on the
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...
, north of
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
and 9 kilometres south of
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi () is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian Sea.
Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ke ...
. It is the
17th-most populated municipality in the state, the fourth-most populated municipality in the district, and the second-most densely populated municipality in
Malappuram district
Malappuram (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . The most populous district of Kerala, Malappuram is home to around 13% of the tot ...
, having about 3,568 residents per square kilometre as of the year 2011.
Tanur is located south of the estuary of Poorappuzha River, which is a tributary of
Kadalundi River
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district and kozhikode district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed ...
. Tanur was one of the major ports in the southwestern coast of India during the medieval period.
It was ruled by the
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
, also known as ''Vettathunadu'', who were vassals to the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
.
In the early medieval period, under the chiefs of
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
and Tanur, Tanur developed as one of the important maritime trade centre on the
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...
.
Later it became a part of ''Vettathunadu'' Taluk in
Malabar District
Malabar District, also known as British Malabar or simply Malabar was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792–1800), Madras Presidency (1800–1950) and finally, Madras State (1950–1956) in ...
under
British Raj
The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent,
*
* lasting from 1858 to 1947.
*
* It is also called Crown rule ...
, which was merged with the
Ponnani taluk in 1860–1861.
Tanur railway station is a part of the oldest Railway line of Kerala laid in 1861 from
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
to
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the east. ...
.
Presently, the status of Tanur is reduced to a major fishing centre in Kerala.
History

The ancient maritime port of
Tyndis
Tyndis (, Tamil: Thondi) was an ancient south Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. It was located north of port Muziris (Muchiri) — by around 500 stadia — in the country of the Chera rulers. No archaeologica ...
, which was then a centre of trade with
Ancient Rome
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
, is roughly identified with Tanur.
Tyndis was a major center of trade, next only to Muziris, between the Cheras and the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...
.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...
(1st century CE) states that the port of ''
Tyndis
Tyndis (, Tamil: Thondi) was an ancient south Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. It was located north of port Muziris (Muchiri) — by around 500 stadia — in the country of the Chera rulers. No archaeologica ...
'' was located at the northwestern border of ''Keprobotos'' (
Chera dynasty
The Chera dynasty ( or Cēra, ), also known as Keralaputra, from the early historic or the Sangam period in Tamil-speaking southern India, ruled over parts of present-day states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Cheras, known as one of the mu-ventar ...
).
[Gurukkal, R., & Whittaker, D. (2001). In search of Muziris. ''Journal of Roman Archaeology,'' ''14'', 334-350.] The
North Malabar
North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala State, Kerala's present day Kasaragod district, Kasaragod and Kannur district, Kannur districts, Mananthavady taluk of the Wayanad District, Wayanad distr ...
region, which lies north of the port at ''
Tyndis
Tyndis (, Tamil: Thondi) was an ancient south Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. It was located north of port Muziris (Muchiri) — by around 500 stadia — in the country of the Chera rulers. No archaeologica ...
'', was ruled by the kingdom of
Ezhimala
Ezhimala, a hill reaching a height of , is located near Payyanur, in Kannur district of Kerala, South India. It is a part of a conspicuous and isolated cluster of hills, forming a promontory, north of Kannur (Cannanore). The Indian Naval Acad ...
during
Sangam period
The Sangam literature ( Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam''), historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' ( Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ''), connote ...
.
[A. Shreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History] According to the ''
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea
The ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (), also known by its Latin name as the , is a Greco-Roman world, Greco-Roman periplus written in Koine Greek that describes navigation and Roman commerce, trading opportunities from Roman Egyptian ports lik ...
'', a region known as ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27) ...
'' began at ''
Naura'' and ''
Tyndis
Tyndis (, Tamil: Thondi) was an ancient south Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. It was located north of port Muziris (Muchiri) — by around 500 stadia — in the country of the Chera rulers. No archaeologica ...
''. However, the
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; , ; ; – 160s/170s AD) was a Greco-Roman mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were important to later Byzantine science, Byzant ...
mentions only ''
Tyndis
Tyndis (, Tamil: Thondi) was an ancient south Indian seaport/harbor-town mentioned in the Graeco-Roman writings. It was located north of port Muziris (Muchiri) — by around 500 stadia — in the country of the Chera rulers. No archaeologica ...
'' as the ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27) ...
s starting point. The region probably ended at
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari (Tamil; / kəɳjɑkʊmɑɾiː/; referring to Devi Kanya Kumari, officially known as Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin) is a town and a municipality in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the ...
; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...
. The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000
sesterces
The ''sestertius'' (: ''sestertii'') or sesterce (: sesterces) was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin.
The name ''sester ...
.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...
mentioned that ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27) ...
'' was prone by pirates. The
Cosmas Indicopleustes
Cosmas Indicopleustes (; also known as Cosmas the Monk) was a merchant and later hermit from Alexandria in Egypt. He was a 6th-century traveller who made several voyages to India during the reign of emperor Justinian. His work '' Christian Topogr ...
mentioned that the ''
Limyrike
Limyrikê is a historical region of present-day India, mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman texts. It generally corresponds to the present-day Malabar Coast of Kerala.
Extent
According to the ''Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'' (53:17:15-27) ...
'' was a source of peppers.
The name "Tanur(Thanni-ur)" is derived from the
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
language. "Thanni" refers to the Bastard myrobalan tree, ''
Terminalia bellirica
''Terminalia bellirica'', known as baheda, bahera, behada, beleric or bastard myrobalan (Arabic: beliledj بليلج, borrowed from Middle Persian Balilag), Persian بلیله (Balileh), Sanskrit: Vibhītaka बिभीतक, Aksha is a large ...
'', while "ur" refers to the settlement. Tanur was an important trading port with trade connections with
Middle East
The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq.
The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
during the early medieval period.
[K. V. Krishna Iyer ''Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times to AD 1806''. Calicut: Norman Printing Bureau, 1938] When
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
became vassal to the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
, Tanur also became a major port like other port towns in the kingdom.
The Zamorin earned a greater part of his revenue through the maritime trade through ports.
''Vettathunad'', also known as the
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
, was a coastal city-state kingdom in the
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...
. It was ruled by the ''Vettathu Raja'', who was a vassal of the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
. Parts of Tirurangadi, Tirur, and Ponnani
Taluk
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...
s were ruled by the ''Vettathu Raja''s.
''Vettathunad'' was known for its trade relationship with the Middle Eastern merchants in the medieval period. Tanur was a major port town in the
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast () is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the West Coast of India, western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regio ...
during the medieval period.
[Kunhali. V. "Calicut in History" Publication Division, University of Calicut (Kerala), 2004] Tanur was also an important trade centre. The Veṭṭathunāṭu rulers owed their allegiance to the kings (Zamorin) of
Calicut
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
, a regional power on the Malabar coast. With the emergence of the Portuguese in India, the Veṭṭathunāṭu ruler sided with them against his overlord at Calicut. It is believed that ''St.
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, Jesuits, SJ (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; ; ; ; ; ; 7 April 15063 December 1552), venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Kingdom of Navarre, Navarrese cleric and missionary. He co-founded the Society of Jesus ...
'' visited Tanur in 1546AD. The Raja converted to Christianity though only for a few months in 1549.
[Menon, A Sreedhara. ''A Survey of Kerala History.'' Kottayam: DC Books, 2007. Print]
It is also known that during the
Battle at Chaliyam Fort in 1571 carried out by the naval force of Zamorin with the support of native
Mappila
Malabar Muslims or Muslim Mappilas are members of the Muslim community found predominantly in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands in Southern India. The term Mappila (Ma-Pilla) is used to describe Malabar Muslims in Northern Kerala. Muslims sh ...
s, which ousted the Portuguese from the region of
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
,
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the east. ...
was the northern border of
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
.
Its southern border was somewhere near
Thavanur
Thavanur (Tavanur, Thavanoor, or Tavanoor) is a village on the southern bank of the Bharathapuzha, the longest river in Kerala, in the Malappuram District of Kerala State, India. It is located at the border of Tirur and Ponnani Taluks. The Bhar ...
on the bank of
Bharathappuzha
The Bharathappuzha ("River of Bhārata"), also known as the Nila River, is a river in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar. It flo ...
river. ''Vettathunadu'' had sea coast and four major rivers (
Chaliyar
Chaliyar River () is the fourth longest river in Kerala at 169 km in length. The Chaliyar is also known as Chulika River, Nilambur River or Beypore River as it is near the sea. Pothukal, Chungathara, Nilambur, Mampad, Edavanna, Kavano ...
,
Kadalundi River
Kadalundi River (Kadalundipuzha) is one of the four major rivers flowing through Malappuram district and kozhikode district in the Indian state of Kerala. The other three are the Chaliyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Tirur River. This rain-fed ...
,
Tirur River
The Tirur River or Tirur-Ponnani River begins in the Tirur taluk village of Athavanad in the Malappuram district of the state of Kerala in south India and flows south-west to Thirunavaya and then north-west to Elamkulam, Malappuram, Elamkulam wher ...
, and
Bharathappuzha
The Bharathappuzha ("River of Bhārata"), also known as the Nila River, is a river in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar. It flo ...
river).
The rulers of Tanur were great admirers of art and culture.
Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan (, ) (Floruit, ''fl.'' 16th century) was a Malayalam devotional poet, translator and linguist. He was one of the prāchīna kavithrayam (old triad) of Malayalam literature, the other two being Kunchan Nambia ...
, the father of modern
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
language, and many of the members of the medieval
Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics
The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics or the Kerala school was a school of Indian mathematics, mathematics and Indian astronomy, astronomy founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in Kingdom of Tanur, Tirur, Malappuram district, Malappuram, K ...
were natives of
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
in ''Vettathunadu''.
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri (Mēlpattūr Nārāyaṇa Bhaṭṭatiri; 1560–1646/1666), third student of Achyuta Pisharati, was a member of Madhava of Sangamagrama's Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics. He was a mathematical linguist ...
, another prominent figure of 16th century Kerala, was also born at
Kurumbathur
Vettichira, Chandanakkavu is a town in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India.
Demographics
India census, Vettichira had a population of 19414 with 9586 males and 9828 females.
Chandanakkavu
Chandanakkavu is located 13 km. Nor ...
near
Athavanad
Athavanad is a village and Gram Panchayath in the Tirur Taluk, in the Malappuram District of the state of Kerala, India. The town lies on the National Highway 66, between Puthanathani and Valanchery. Puthanathani is the main town of the Ath ...
.

In the 16th century,
Portuguese arrived here just after the arrival of
Vasco Da Gama
Vasco da Gama ( , ; – 24 December 1524), was a Portuguese explorer and nobleman who was the Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India, first European to reach India by sea.
Da Gama's first voyage (1497–1499) was the first to link ...
near
Calicut
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
.
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
was one of the earliest Portuguese colonies in the Indian Subcontinent.
The ruler of the
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
, who was a vassal to the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
, sided with the Portuguese, against his overlord at
Kozhikode
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
.
As a result, the
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
(''
Vettathunadu'') became one of the earliest Portuguese Colonies in India. The ruler of Tanur also sided with
Cochin
Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...
.
Many of the members of the royal family of Cochin in 16th and 17th members were selected from
Vettom.
However, the Tanur forces under the king fought for the Zamorin of Calicut in the
Battle of Cochin (1504)
The Battle of Cochin, sometimes referred as the second siege of Cochin, was a series of confrontations, between March and July 1504, fought on land and sea, principally between the Portuguese garrison at Cochin, allied to the Trimumpara Raj ...
.
However, the allegiance of the
Mappila
Malabar Muslims or Muslim Mappilas are members of the Muslim community found predominantly in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands in Southern India. The term Mappila (Ma-Pilla) is used to describe Malabar Muslims in Northern Kerala. Muslims sh ...
merchants in Tanur region still stayed under the
Zamorin of Calicut
The Samoothiri (Anglicised as Zamorin; Malayalam: , , Arabic: ''Sāmuri'', Portuguese: ''Samorim'', Dutch: ''Samorijn'', Chinese: ''Shamitihsi''Ma Huan's Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' 433 Translated and Edi ...
.
Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan (, ) (Floruit, ''fl.'' 16th century) was a Malayalam devotional poet, translator and linguist. He was one of the prāchīna kavithrayam (old triad) of Malayalam literature, the other two being Kunchan Nambia ...
, who is considered as the father of modern
Malayalam literature
Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary text ...
, was born at
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
(''
Vettathunadu'') during Portuguese period.
The
Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics
The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics or the Kerala school was a school of Indian mathematics, mathematics and Indian astronomy, astronomy founded by Madhava of Sangamagrama in Kingdom of Tanur, Tirur, Malappuram district, Malappuram, K ...
flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries. In attempting to solve astronomical problems, the Kerala school independently created a number of important mathematics concepts, including
series expansion
In mathematics, a series expansion is a technique that expresses a Function (mathematics), function as an infinite sum, or Series (mathematics), series, of simpler functions. It is a method for calculating a Function (mathematics), function that ...
for trigonometric functions.
The Kerala school was mainly based at
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
.
The naval chiefs of Zamorin, commonly known as
Kunjali Marakkar
Kunjali Marakkar was the title inherited by the Admiral of the fleet of the Zamorin, King Samoothiri / Zamorin, the King of Calicut, in present-day Kerala, India. There were four Marakkars whose war tactics defended against the Portuguese Emp ...
s, had close relationship with the medieval port town of Tanur.
In 1523, when the Portuguese Viceroy Menezes sailed with all the available ships to Hormuz, an Arab merchant, one Kutti Ali of Tanur, had the effrontery to bring a fleet of two hundred vessels to
Calicut
Kozhikode (), also known as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. Known as the City of Spices, Kozhikode is listed among the City of Literature, UNESCO's Cities of Literature.
It is the nineteenth large ...
, to load eight ships with pepper, and to despatch them with a convoy of forty vessels to the Red Sea before the very eyes of the Portuguese.
[William Logan. ''Malabar Manual, Volume 1'' Asian Educational Services, 1887] In 1532 with the help of the ruler of Tanur, a chapel was built at
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the east. ...
, together with a house for the commander, barracks for the soldiers, and store-houses for trade. Diego de Pereira, who had negotiated the treaty with the Zamorin, was left in command of this new fortress, with a garrison of 250 men; and Manuel de Sousa had orders to secure its safety by sea, with a squadron of twenty-two vessels.
The Zamorin soon repented of having allowed this fort to be built in his dominions, and used ineffectual endeavours to induce the ruler of
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi () is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian Sea.
Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ke ...
, Caramanlii (King of
Beypore
Beypore or Beypur (, formerly Beypoor) is an ancient port town and a locality town in Kozhikode district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located opposite to Chaliyam, the estuary where the river Chaliyar empties into the Arabian Sea. Beyp ...
?) (Some records say that the ruler of Tanur was also with them
) to break with the Portuguese, even going to war against them.
In 1571, the Portuguese were defeated by the Zamorin forces in the
battle at Chaliyam Fort.]

During the last decades of 18th century CE, ''Vettathunadu'' became a part of
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a geopolitical realm in southern India founded in around 1399 in the vicinity of the modern-day city of Mysore and prevailed until 1950. The territorial boundaries and the form of government transmuted substantially ...
. Tanur is located on
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
-
Kadalundi
Kadalundi is a village in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal village close to the Arabian Sea. Kadalundi is famous for its bird sanctuary, which is home to various migratory birds during certain seasons and has been recently decla ...
Tipu Sultan Road.
It is one of the earliest roads in Kerala, which was created by Tipu for his conquests.
Following the
Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792, Tanur became a part of
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
. During the arrival of
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
, according to
William Logan, the kingdom ("nadu") was divided into 21 "Amsoms" as shown below
(''A main bazaar in each ''Amsom'' is given in bracket''):
Anantavur (Cherulal),
Chennara,
Clari (
Kuttippala),
Iringavur,
Kalpakanchēri (
Kadungathukundu),
Kanmanam (Thuvvakkad),
Mangalam
Mangalam is a census town in Tiruppur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Geography
Mangalam is located at . It has an average elevation of 32 metres (104 feet).
It is located 1 kilometer toward the South from District headqua ...
,
Mēlmuri,
Niramaruthūr,
Ozhūr,
Pachattiri
Pachattiri is a small village located near Tirur in Kerala, India. It lies on the banks of the Tirur River. A temple devoted to Krishna is located here, as is a temple devoted to Shiva.This was a part of the Kingdom of Tanur (Vettattnad) kingdom ...
, Pallippuram,
Pariyāpuram,
Ponmundam (
Vailathoor),
Purathur
Purathur is a sandy coastal village and a Grama Panchayat in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India. Bharathappuzha river and Tirur River merges together in Purathur and join with the Arabian Sea at ''Padinjarekara Azhim ...
, Rayiramangalam,
Thalakkad (
Betteth Puthiya Angadi),
Thanalur, Trikkandiyoor (
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
),
Triprangode
Triprangode is a village in Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India. India census, Triprangode had a population of 37,175, with 17,422 males and 19,753 females. The village is surrounded by water bodies on three sides.
Culture
Tripr ...
, and
Vettom.
According to Logan, the
Kshatriya
Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...
family of the ''Vettathu Rajas'' became extinct with the death of the last ''Raja'' on 24 May 1793.
It was an important town in
Malabar District
Malabar District, also known as British Malabar or simply Malabar was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792–1800), Madras Presidency (1800–1950) and finally, Madras State (1950–1956) in ...
during the
British rule
The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent,
*
* lasting from 1858 to 1947.
*
* It is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
* or dire ...
. During the first decades of British era ''Vettathunadu'' was the name of a Taluk in
Malabar District
Malabar District, also known as British Malabar or simply Malabar was an administrative district on the southwestern Malabar Coast of Bombay Presidency (1792–1800), Madras Presidency (1800–1950) and finally, Madras State (1950–1956) in ...
consisting of Tanur and
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
regions of present-day
Tirur Taluk
Tirur Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Its headquarters is the town of Tirur. Tirur Taluk contains four municipalities - Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, and Valanchery. Most of the adminis ...
, and it was situated on the northern bank of the River
Bharathappuzha
The Bharathappuzha ("River of Bhārata"), also known as the Nila River, is a river in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. With a length of 209 km, it is the second longest river that flows through Kerala after the Periyar. It flo ...
.
Later it was merged with
Ponnani taluk.
Tanur railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Kerala. It was a part of the first rail route (
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
–
Chaliyam
Chaliyam is a village situated at the estuary of Chaliyar (River Beypore) in Kozhikode district of Kerala, India. Chaliyam forms an island, bounded by the Chaliyar in the north, and River Kadalundi in south, and the Conolly Canal in the east. ...
) in Kerala, which began in the year 1861. In 1957, the region was separated from
Ponnani taluk to form
Tirur Taluk
Tirur Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Its headquarters is the town of Tirur. Tirur Taluk contains four municipalities - Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, and Valanchery. Most of the adminis ...
.
Civic administration
The town is administered by Tanur Municipality, headed by a chairperson. For administrative purposes, the town is divided into 44
wards,
from which the members of the municipal council are elected for a term of five years.
Tanur Municipality election 2020
Law and order

The municipality comes under the jurisdiction of the Tanur police station, which was formed on 29 February 1962.
The station is located on Tanur-
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi () is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian Sea.
Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ke ...
public road about 100 yards west of Tanur junction.
The station has the jurisdiction over the municipality of Tanur and the
Gram panchayats of
Tanalur,
Ozhur,
Niramaruthur, and
Nannambra.
The jurisdictional courts of Tanur Police Station are Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi () is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian Sea.
Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ke ...
, Subdivisional Magistrate Court at
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
, and Sessions Court at
Manjeri
Manjeri () is a major town and municipality in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is the fourth-most populous List of cities and towns in Kerala, municipality in the state. It is situated southeast of Calicut International Airport, Karipur ...
.
The border police stations are headquartered at
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
,
Parappanangadi
Parappanangadi () is a major town and a municipality in Tirurangadi taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal town located close to the Arabian Sea.
Parappanangadi railway station is one of the oldest railway stations in Ke ...
,
Kalpakanchery
Kalpakanchery is a revenue village and a Gram Panchayat in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, Kerala, India. The village is located south-west to the city of Malappuram.
Kadungathukundu, Puthanathani, Kurukathani, and Randathani are four majo ...
, and
Tirurangadi
Tirurangadi is a municipal town in Malappuram district of the Indian state Kerala. It is a historic town famed for its active participation in the freedom struggle, especially those dating back to the 1920s. It serves as a local taluk and i ...
.
Tanur is also headquarters of one among the six subdivisions of Malappuram District Police.
The police stations at Tanur, Parappanangadi, Tirurangadi, Kalpakanchery, and
Kadampuzha
Kadampuzha is a small town and a pilgrimage centre in Malappuram district of Kerala situated near the Thrissur-Calicut national highway.
Kadampuzha Temple
This village is known for Kadampuzha Devi Temple believed to have been consecrated by Ad ...
comes under the jurisdiction of Tanur subdivisional zone of district police.
Transport
Tanur railway station, in the heart of the town, is located from
Malappuram
Malappuram (also Malapuram) () is a municipality and town in Kerala and the headquarters of the Malappuram district in Kerala, India. It is the List of most populous urban agglomerations in Kerala, 4th largest urban agglomeration in Kerala and ...
on the Shoranur - Mangalore Section of the Southern Railway.
The nearest airport is
Karipur Airport
Kozhikode International Airport , also known as Calicut International Airport (locally referred to as Karipur Airport), is an international airport serving the cities of Kozhikode and Malappuram in the state of Kerala, India. It also serves ot ...
, which is approximately from the town. Tipu Sultan Road (
Tirur
Tirur is a major municipal town in Tirur Taluk, Malappuram district, in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of .
It is one of the major business centers in Malappuram district and is situated west of Malappuram and south of Kozh ...
-
Kadalundi
Kadalundi is a village in Kozhikode district, Kerala, India. It is a coastal village close to the Arabian Sea. Kadalundi is famous for its bird sanctuary, which is home to various migratory birds during certain seasons and has been recently decla ...
Road), one among the oldest roads of Kerala (laid in 18th century CE), passes through Tanur town.
Geography

Tanur is located at . It has an average elevation of .
Places of interest
*
Tanur Beach
* Tanur harbour
* Purappuzha estuary (''Purappuzha Azhimukham'')
* Kodinhi backwater (''Kodinhi Kayal'')
Education

Govt Arts and Science College Tanur: C.H. Muhammad Koya Memorial Govt. Arts & Science College Tanur was established in 2013.
The college is affiliated to the
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut, also known as Calicut University, is a State ownership, state-run public university headquartered at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district of the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1968, it is the first university to ...
.
Now the college is temporarily located at Puthentheru, about 3KM away from Tanur town.
College offers UG courses in B.A English, B.COM, BBA, BCA, and B.Sc. Electronics as well as a PG course in Integrated MA
alayalam(IPMA). The college has been an entrance to the world of higher education for the public, especially for the people from coastal area.
Islahul Uloom Arabic College: Islahul Uloom Arabic College in Tanur town is one among the oldest Arabic Colleges in Kerala.
It was built in 1924 under the leadership of
Pangil Ahmed Kutty Musliyar
Pangil Ahmed Kutty (1305– ?), title Musliyar, was an Islamic scholar from Pangu in Malabar District, Madras Presidency.
Ahmed Kutty was born to Nur ud-Din and Pazhedathu Vayottil Thithu in Malabar District. After the initial religious educa ...
, a personality who died in 1946.
The decision to building an Islamic Institution in Tanur was made by Asasul Islam Sabha of Tanur, in a meeting held at Tanur Valiya Kulangara Palli, on October24 1924.
Devadhar Government Higher Secondary School: Established in 1919, it is one of the oldest secondary schools in Kerala.
There are also many private and government schools as well as a state
Industrial training institute and a government arts and science college.
Another important school near Tanur is Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kattilangadi, Tanur.
A Govt. Fisheries Vocational Higher Secondary school is also there.
Wards of Tanur

Tanur Municipality is composed of the following 44 wards:
Suburbs of Tanur
On Kadalundy Route
* Chiramangalam, Mukkola and Moolakkal
* Devadhar, Puthentheru and Vattathani
* Valiyapadam, Moochikkal and Cherumoochikkal
* Peruvazhiyambalam, Pookkayil and Naduvilangadi
Tanur Block
Tanur Block Panchayat is the local body responsible for the block-level administration of the following
Gram panchayats:
*
Cheriyamundam
*
Niramaruthur
*
Ozhur
*
Perumanna-Klari
*
Ponmundam
*
Tanalur
*
Valavannur
Valavannur is a Grama Panchayat in the Malappuram District of the Indian state of Kerala The town is located south-west of Malappuram.
Places
* Valavannur Juma Masjid
* Cheravannur North Juma Masjid
* Kadungathukundu Mahallu Juma Masjid
...
See also
*
Tanur (State Assembly constituency)
Tanur State assembly constituency is one of the 140 Kerala Legislative Assembly, state legislative assembly constituencies in Kerala in southern India. It is also one of the seven Kerala Legislative Assembly, state legislative constituency. As ...
*
Tanur railway station
*
Kingdom of Tanur
The Kingdom of Tanur (also referred to as Vettathunadu, Vettam, Tanur Swaroopam, and Prakashabhu; or the Kingdom of Light) was a feudal List of feudal states of Kerala, principality on the Malabar Coast of the Indian subcontinent during the Mi ...
*
Tirur Taluk
Tirur Taluk comes under Tirur revenue division in Malappuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Its headquarters is the town of Tirur. Tirur Taluk contains four municipalities - Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, and Valanchery. Most of the adminis ...
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Populated coastal places in India
Cities and towns in Malappuram district
Parappanangadi area