Kerala · 2 days
Kerala's lost port, on the mouth of the Periyar
This journey is through the historic centres of Kodungallur, Kottappuram, Paliam, Chendamangalam, Paravur, and Pallippuram—once integral parts of the ancient port city of Muziris. As we visit centuries-old places of worship, palaces, forts, and historic trading centres, we will explore the rich history and cultural heritage that continue to echo through these remarkable landscapes.
Although the exact location of the ancient port of Muziris, mentioned in the Greco-Roman texts of the 1st and 2nd centuries CE and in the Tamil Sanghom literature, has not yet been conclusively identified by historians, archaeological excavations at Pattanam have firmly established, through material evidence, that the site formed part of a Roman trading emporium. This heritage journey traces the history of the legendary port city of Muziris, believed to have been destroyed by catastrophic floods. Along with the excavation site at Pattanam, the tour also explores the historical monuments of later periods at Kodungallur, Chendamangalam, Paliam, Paravur, and Pallippuram.
The places of worship in Kodungallur—the point of arrival for all the major religions that spread into Kerala—bear witness to successive waves of migration that shaped the region's history. Many scholars identify Kodungallur with Vanchi, the capital of the Sangam-age Chera kingdom. It is also home to the ancient Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, regarded as one of Kerala's oldest Shaktheya shrines. Nearby Thiruvanchikulam was the site of Mahodayapuram, the royal capital during the Kulasekhara Perumal period, while Kodungallur was also home to the earliest Nalu Thalis, the renowned centres of scholarly assemblies.
The forts of Kodungallur and Pallippuram, together with the historic Vypeen Seminary, preserve the legacy of Kerala's colonial past. The histories of Villorvattom and Paliam reveal the evolution of local principalities under the swarupam system. The synagogues of Chendamangalam and Paravur stand as enduring reminders of the Jewish community's migrations, settlements, and eventual return to the Promised Land. Likewise, the churches and Christian heritage sites of Kottappuram and Paravur represent the cultural legacy of Kerala's earliest Christian communities.
For centuries, this remarkable region also served as the political heartland of ancient Kerala. For Malayalis, a journey to Muziris is therefore more than a heritage tour—it is a pilgrimage in search of their own ancestral homeland. It is a journey back through time, reconnecting with the roots of Kerala's civilisation.
Throughout this immersive experience, the rich history and cultural heritage of this extraordinary landscape are interpreted and presented by historian Pallikkonam Rajeev.
Historian Pallikonam Rajeev interprets the sites through archaeology, literature and historical records, bringing the story of Muziris to life from the Sanghom Age to the colonial period.
Highlights
Itinerary
Depart Kottayam at 11:00 am by A/C bus (Expo Travels), arriving Kottappuram by 2:30 pm. Afternoon visits to Kottappuram jetty & market (3:00 pm), Cheraman Parambu (4:00 pm), Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple (4:30 pm), Cheraman Juma Masjid (5:00 pm), Sringapuram Thali Temple (5:30 pm) and Kodungallur Devi Temple (6:30 pm), followed by dinner and overnight stay at the Muziris Heritage Project campus.
Breakfast, then Keezhthali Shiva Temple and Thrikulasekharapuram Temple, followed by a boat ride on the Muziris Heritage Project's A/C boat from Kottappuram past Kodungallur Fort to Paliyam (a road option is available for those who prefer not to travel by boat). The day continues through Paliyam Kotaram, the Paliyam Naalukettu, Chendamangalam Synagogue, Holy Cross Church & Vypin Kotta Seminary, Govindaraja Temple, lunch, Paravur St. Thomas Church (burial place of Mar Abdul Jaleel Bawa) and Paravur Synagogue, Kottakkavu St. Thomas Church, Munambam Harbour, Pallipuram Fort and Manjumatha Church, before the return journey to Kottayam with dinner en route, arriving back by 10:00 pm.
Included
Not Included