Thangasseri-Kollam Kerala-India. 5.21

Thangasseri or ‘Dutch Quilon’ as it was called, was once a British enclave. Meaning ‘gold village’ in local parlance, this was the hub of a flourishing trade that used gold as currency. This seaside village of historic importance shelters the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built during the 18th century.
The famed lighthouse of Thangasseri was built in 1902 and stands 144 ft high. The beacon can be seen up to 13 miles out at sea..Get to see the sun setting and the moon rising simultaneously at Thangasseri on the drive down the Lighthouse Road, which gives you a breathtaking view of the sea as well.

History
Tangasseri or Thangassery is a thickly populated beach area on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India. It is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the city center and 71 kilometres (44 mi) from Thiruvanthapuram, the state capital. The splendid cultural and historical background of Thangassery harbour often makes it a pride land mark of Kollam. Archaeologists recently discovered Chinese coins and other artifacts from the cost which reveals the splendid historic background of Thangassery Kollam Port also making Thangassery an important place in the world maritime map.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center in Tangasseri, Kollam, in 1502. It became a major centre of trade in pepper. In the wars with the Moors/Arabs that followed, the ancient church of St Thomas was destroyed. In 1517, the Portuguese built the St Thomas fort Tangasseri Quilon, which was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. In 1661, the Dutch took possession of the city. The remnants of both the Dutch and Portuguese forts can be found at Tangasseri. In the 18th century, the kingdom of Travancore conquered Kollam, followed by the British in 1795. Tangasseri remains an Anglo-Indian settlement in character, though there are few Anglo-Indians in the population. The Infant Jesus Church in Tangasseri, an old Portuguese-built church, remains as a memento of Portuguese rule. The old cathedral was demolished and replaced by a new cathedral at a cost of around INR4.5 crore (US$730,000); it was consecrated and blessed on 3 December 2005. The metallic cross on the top is one of the largest crosses in India.
Tourist attractions
Tangasseri is a picturesque seaside village with a three kilometre long beach on which stands a 144 feet tall lighthouse—a silent sentinel warning seamen since 1902 of the treacherous reefs. There are also ruins of Portuguese and Dutch forts and 18th century churche
Tangasseri fishery harbour
The fishery harbour at Tangasseri is a basin for traditional fishermen, achieved by the construction of two breakwaters. The length of the main breakwater is 2100 m and of the leeward breakwater 550 m. This provides sufficient beach length for landing facilities for all operational craft.
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