Muziris Port - Kodungallur, Kerala

Where is Muziris?

Map of Ancient Muziris

Muziris  is a lost port city in Kodungallur, Kerala and was a major center of trade in Tamilakkam between the Chera Empire and the Roman Empire. Muziris opened the gates for Arabs, Romans, Portuguese, Dutch and English to Indian sub continent and South East Asia. Muziris dealers had set Indo-Greek and Indo-Roman trade with Egypt, which comes in gold and other metals, pepper and spices, precious stones and textiles. It was famous as a major port for trade and commerce for more than 2,500 years. 

Trade routes to ancient Indian Ports

Muziris is also mentioned in the epics Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Akananuru, and Chilappathikaram. The poets Pathanjali and Karthiyayan have referred to it, as well as the travelogues of both Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy under different names. Moreover, Kodungallur (Muziris) is mentioned in the stone writings of Ashoka. It was known as Muziris to Pliny the Elder , who describes it as primum emorium Indiae. The ancient Greek explorer Hippalus landed at this port after discovering the patterns of the Indian monsoon trade winds on his way from the aast African coast. Evidence of thePeutinger Table suggests that there was a temple dedicated to the Roman emperor Augustus. The Greeks, the Romans (known locally as the Yavanas) and the Jews, Arabs etc. all have come to this place at different times in its history.

First Christian Church in India. 

Mar Thoma Church at Kodungallur

St. Thomas sailed to India for  spreading the Christian faith. He landed at the ancient port of Muziris. He then went to Palayoor (near present-day Guruvayoor), which was a Hindu priestly community at that time. He left Palayoor in AD 52 for the southern part of what is now Kerala State, where he established the Ezharappallikal, or "Seven and Half Churches". These churches are at Kodungallur, Kollam,Niranam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kokkamangalam, Kottakkayal (Paravoor), Palayoor (Chattukulangara) and Thiruvithancode Arappally – the half church. 

Built around 52 AD, The Mar Thoma Church at Kodungaloor is believed to be the first Christian Church in India.

First Muslim Mosque in India.

Cheraman Perumal Mosque at Kodungallur

Cheraman Juma Masjid is a mosque in Methala, Kodungallur Taluk in the Indian state of Kerala.

Believed to be built in 629 AD by Malik Bin Deenar, Cheraman Juma Masjid is considered as the oldest mosque in India, and the second oldest mosque in the world to offer Jumu'ah prayers.

 Constructed during the lifetime of Muhammad, the bodies of some of his original followers are said to be buried here. Unlike other mosques in Kerala that face westwards this mosque faces eastwards.

The legend has it that a group of Muhammad's Sahaba (companions) visited Kodungallur. Soon after, the King Rama Varma Kulashekara Perumal travelled to Makkah, where he embraced Islam, and accepted the name Thajudeen. On his way back to India he died at Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman. On his deathbed he is said to have authorised some of his Arab companions to go back to his kingdom to spread Islam. Accordingly, a group of Arabs led by Malik Bin Deenar and Malik bin Habib arrived in north Kerala, and constructed the Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor. 

Decline of Muziris Port.

The flood of the river Periyar in 1341 AD resulted in the splitting of the left branch of the river into two just before Aluva. This resulted in the silting of natural harbour of Muziris. The flood silted the right branch (known as River Changala) and resulted in the creation of a new harbour at Kochi. An island was formed with the name Vypinkara between Vypin to Munambam during the flood.

After 1341 AD the decline of Muziris started.