town, northern Kerala state, southwestern India. It was established in 1683 by the British for the pepper and cardamom trade, and it was their first settlement on the Malabar Coast. A fort was built there in 1708 and was attacked unsuccessfully by the Indian ruler and military commander Hyder Ali of Mysore in 1781. Thalassery is still a major port for the export of pepper, coffee, sandalwood, and coconuts. It has a thriving furniture industry as well as coffee curing, rope and mat making, and other industries. The town is the site of Government Brennen College (established 1862). Pop. (2001) town, 99,387; urban agglom., 498,207.