Kodungallur, Kodungallur - Ancient fame, Kodungallur - Flood of 1341AD, Kodungallur - Sights, Kodungallur - Various names, Cochin Jews, Knanaya, Kerala, Saint Thomas Christians, Trichur
Cranganore (modern day Kodungallur) and known in ancient times as Shinkli, Muchiri (anglicised to Muziris), Muyirikkodu, Muchiripattinam was a famous and prosperous sea-port at the mouth of the Periyar (also known as Choorni Nadi) river in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is located about 38 km from the present day city of Kochi at 10°13′N 76°13′E.
The name Muchiri (Malayalam for broken lips) denotes the three branches of the Periyar river that open into the Arabian Sea at the town.
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The flood of the river in 1341 AD resulted in the splitting of the river into two tributaries at Thottummukham. That silted up the natural harbour at the mouth of the river, and resulted in the creation of a new harbour at Kochi. That development also led to the rise of the Samoothiri Rajas of Kozhikode. A local era called the Putu Vaipu era was commenced in commemoration of this event.
The town was nearly completely destroyed by the Portuguese (Suarez de Menezes) on September 1, 1504 in retaliation for the Samoothiri Raja's actions against themSee also:
Kodungallur was a critical trade link in Indian Ancient Maritime History. It was known as Muziris to Pliny the Elder (N.H. 6.26) who describes it as primum emporium Indiae.
The port was familiar to the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea which described it as being situated on river Pseudostomos (Greek for "false mouth" - a precise translation of the Malayalam description of the mouth of the Periyar, Alimukam) two miles from its mouth See also:
