Mananchira Square

Preface
 
My intention to show you   how much difference it been taken to a specified place during years. The photos from 1880  of  Mananchira square tell all. You can derive your own conclusion after seeing  each photos.
My collection is not complete as i need more images from exactly from the same angles. I will try to post as soon as possible whenever it is available. Mananchira Tank, Comtrust schools around the tank,Ansaripark, CSI church, BEMP  School , Commissioner office,  LIC building, and all roads comprising this area a is collectively called Mananchira square. It was the centre of the town for centuries.

History

The Mananchira Square is a park located in the centre of the Kozhikode town in Kerala. The entire area adjacent to Mananchira has been converted into an arcade, complete with towering trees and plants, shrubs, sculpture, an open air theatre, an artificial hill, and a musical fountain. 



MANANCHIRA FROM SKY

Mananchira Square derives its name from the man-made lake ‘Mananchira’ around which it is situated. The square has been named after the erstwhile ruler Manadevan Samoothiri, and was earlier known as Mana-vedan Chira (pond), before being later transformed to Mana-an-Chira. The architecture of the Mananchira Square takes its visitor to the master craftsmanship of olden times. The arch at the entrance of the park is guarded by the cannons of Tipu Sultan, while the ethnic buildings that surround the Square lend it an old-world charm. There has been a recent addition of a public library, also built in the traditional style, inside the area of the maidan that blends well with the place.



 



Title: "Calicut. View from the living accommodation upstairs over the Basel Mission shop."
Creator: unknown
Date:


You can see Town Hall and Teacher education center(old High School)
 



Title: "No. 17. Drinking water reservoir in Calicut and its surroundings. It lies in the centre of the town. The trading company building was put up in 1872 and was built by me, Th. Els[aesser]-"
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1872-31.12.1893

MANANCHIRA, THE OLDEST PHOTO AVAILABLE. ASSUMING BEFORE 1890 

I think it is in a process of renovation. Note the sidewall has been demolished in  east side.look at the special design and highest of the Wall near  in front of comtrust.

View of Mananchira and Comtrust now  in same angle of the above photo









MANANCHIRA IN 1901


View of Mananchira and Comtrust from present Ansaripark on 1901 , -opposite to Comtrust.
Note is the structure leftside of photo . water fountain? 



Phot from Ansari Park Title: "The mission book store with the town garden and pond."
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1896-31.12.1914


 

modern image in same angle.



View of Mananchira  on 1901,   Ansaripark




Mananchira  as of  1901 note the Road, CSI church.etc. I still remember this road and travelled in city bus before 1994-95. now there is walkway only. History returns....



 
 




The same area in modern time.


This is a  edited image of the 1901 photos with photoshop in colour....



Title: "Calicut: Tank with the Girls' High School and a Basel Mission church."
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1901-31.12.1920

Mananchira with CSI church and BEM school




Another Arial VIEW OF MANACHIRA AND ADJACENT AREAS


This is a very good picture of the whole Mananchira, present park, Mananchira maidanam Mananchira sqare as of now. photo Taken from Comtrust building.1901
  Can you identify and corellate the  roads?  note how clean the whole area.




look at the same area., now




Title: "The house where mother was born, in Kalikut, with the embroidery workshop next door."
Creator: unknown
Date:



The unknown photographer shot the scenery for us  from here....
NOTE AND COMPARE HOW NEATLY IT KEPT IN 110 YEAR BEFORE





from    here...








Another view of Contrust building  from Mananchira ground.. on 1901



Mananchira Maithan, is the sublimation of the concept of a planned modern city. The historic maithan, adjacent to Manachira has been converted into an arcadia with beautiful trees and plants, artificial hill, shrubs, sculpture, an open air theatre and above all, a musical fountain. No doubt, locals and tourists seeking leisure and relief from the mad rush outside, find shelter here. Mananchira Maithan is managed by the Corporation of Kozhikode.


T, I remember in my prime youth inCalicut city I obseved directly the making o fmananchira square.   he park owes its current status and upkeep to Amithabh Kanth the former district collector of Calicut, who was responsible for its complete renovation.



Arial view of Manachira and ground. in relation with above photo....



Title: "Calicut: Tank with the Town Hall and the Commercial School."
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1901-31.12.1920




 I GOT THIS FROM A PAPER CUTTING. Volliball match.Anybody can date it?








Title: "Girls' grammar school in Kalikut."
Creator: Kühner-Frohnmeyer, Heinrich (Mr)
Date:

Teacher Education Center. and part of town hall





Title: "Calicut / shop."
Creator: unknown
Date:

 

Hajoor Kachreri in Mananchira where LIC buildig now on."Catcherry in Calicut."
Creator: unknown
Date: 01.01.1850-31.12.1897




Construction of LIC building is on...  note the demolition of old hajoor kachery....on leftside.

See the change.. or no change?






Title: "Calicut scene."
Creator: unknown
Date:





Title: "Church at Calicut."
Creator: Segesser, Margrit (Ms)
Date: 01.01.1932-31.12.1933



MAnachira





I got somebits from the papers an d book this info;
from history 

 But over 100 years ago, circuses pitched at the Mananchira Maidan in then Calicut were the talking point. They spurred angry letters and petitions from the European residents here who wanted them out of their sophisticated neighbourhood. It was an eyesore and a health hazard, and its practitioners were “undesirable” characters, they said. A dig into the archives from 1909-10 reveals a flurry of administrative activity centred around the circus, involving the Collector, the Municipal Council and even the Revenue Board in Madras.
Popular point
The Mananchira Maidan was the most popular space to pitch circus tents in Calicut of yore. It was near the bank, the hospital, the BGM Weaving Establishment and the Mananchira tank. A stone’s throw away was the then Municipal Hospital and the presence of the circus posed serious health hazards to patients there, wrote the district medical and sanitary officer to the Collector.
The medical officer, Captain R.D. Willcocks, writes in his letter in 1910, “The tent of the ponies is just opposite the septic wards.” He adds the dangers of the bacteria flying about the place cannot be ignored. He warns that the neighbouring Mananchira tank could be contaminated by the presence of circus animals. He requests the Collector “not to allow such performers to occupy the site in future.”
Circuses anchored here were a long-standing concern for the Europeans and a 1909 petition from F. Volz, manager of the Basel Mission Weaving Establishment, to the Collector and District Magistrate is testimony. “No circus or other similar group should be granted permission to play on the maidan later than 10 or 11 p.m.,” he writes. “The maidan is in the midst of the town surrounded by several European houses, the occupants of which are greatly disturbed if permission is granted to play longer.”
With each passing month, complaints against circuses appear to have gathered might. Circuses were just not a nuisance or a health issue, but also ate into the only cricket ground in Calicut. A petition from K. Langby sent directly to the Board of Revenue, Madras, in February 1910 took up the cause of the “whole European community, all the cricketers.” As a player and also a member of the inter school sports committee, he writes the Mananchira Maidan is indispensible to cricket. “I have spent more than Rs 3.50 out of my own pocket in keeping the maidan in suitable condition for cricket,” he writes.
Circuses, he argues, ravage the ground and destroy the pitch. He also puts in a word for the tank, the principal source of drinking water, which could be contaminated by the circus animals. “The presence of large number of filthy animals and still filthier camp followers so close to the tank is undesirable,” states his letter.
The circuses, he argues, bring undesirable characters to a sanitised neighbourhood. “The presence of a circus on the maidan brings a large collection of bad characters into a respectable portion of the town where their presence is undesirable,” he says, and emphasises that the Mananchira Maidan is best left alone, except for cricket and recreation. He urges the board to pass orders, “once and for all which will preserve the maidan in Calicut as an open space to be used for the recreation of the people of Calicut.”
Circuses and other performances in the maidan also drew the Municipal Council and the Collector, who represented the government, into a grey area regarding who had the charge of the maidan. A letter from council chairman M. Krishnan Nair to Collector R.B. Wood following Volz’s petition claims the practice of seeking the Collector’s permission to allow performances at the maidan was followed after 1903 and he also cites an act according to which “the chairman of the Municipal Council is the authority to grant licence.” A fence around the maidan was being maintained by the council, Krishnan Nair points out. “These were the reasons which induced me to think it was not necessary to consult the Collector before granting licence,” he writes.
Wood in his reply to Langby’s petition asserts the maidan was always under the Collector’s control. He goes back in time and highlights instances where the Collector intervened to prevent leasing out of the maidan for performances.
A note from the acting collector to the council chairman in mid-1910 tries to close the issue of circuses at the maidan. It says considering the money spent on cleaning the tank it is important to keep it unpolluted. He writes, “Circuses will not therefore be allowed to occupy the maidan in the vicinity of the tank in future.”
(Source: Regional Archives, Kozhikode A weekly column on the region’s past culled from historical documents)











You Must read this  to have a good aidea of these days culture:



An excerpt from mathrubhumi daily 1978. Has some description of calicut of 1920's
Courtesy: Calicut heritage blog.
Calicut of today (1978) is not very different externally from the town in my childhood memories (1920). In fact, if Vasco da Gama were to land here again, he would have no difficulty in finding his way to the Zamorin’s Palace.
Varakkal (West Hill) those days housed the barracks of the European soldiers. Local teams and European teams would often play football and hockey matches at the Mananchira playground.
The Mission Shop’ (Commonwealth Trust) was also known as the German Shop. It had been seized by the British during the First World War and run as the Commonwealth Trust. The southern and north-eastern side of Mananchira – which was the heart of Calicut – was in possession of the Germans.
To the east of Mananchira (where an educational office and text book store stand today ) was a hospital. Attached to it was the Medical College (School?) I would be scared to look at the skeletons which used to be hung in the open from a jackfruit tree in the compound. One wondered why they had to display the scary skeletons, meant for the anatomy lessons of medical students, in the open rather than store safely in a room.
Muthalakkulam was then also the centre of activities for the washer men of the town. East of this ground was a large garden of jasmine. To its south, opposite the Women and Child Hospital, there was a coffee plantation. An abattoir stood to the south of the W&C Hospital.
The road to the east of the vegetable market in Palayam led one to a marshy land where buffaloes were kept in sheds. There was extensive sugarcane cultivation to the north of the Sreekantheswara Temple, where the present Mavoor Road is laid.
A ‘red light area’ functioned to the south of the present Polytechnic, catering to the European soldiers of West Hill barracks. Another centre for prostitution was near the third Railway gate. In fact, prostitution was known locally as ‘third gate’. Palayathe Kuttippennu was a notorious prostitute of those days and many were the salacious stories circulating about her.
The Calicut of old was much more colourful. Even now we find a few Arab traders landing here in country boats and pattemmaris. But in the olden times Arabs would come by the hundreds – coal black giants in long gowns and tight caps. It was fun to watch them move around the streets in groups, eating from the bunch of plantains which one of them would be holding. They would usually descend during the summer.
Kabuliwallahs also would come in groups and would camp in the outskirts of the town in tented colonies. They used to hawk things like knives, scissors and stone garlands on the streets of Calicut. Their women, who wore colourful skirts and shirts with a yellow bandana tied on their foreheads, were stout but unalloyed beauties. But they could also be violent at times. I still remember how one such female caught hold of a handsome 16 year old boy in my neighbourhood and molested him till he fainted!

 


കോഴിക്കോടിന്റെ പൈതൃകം

എന്ന പുസ്തകത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്




പണ്ടുപണ്ടു മാനവേദന്‍ സാമൂതിരി രാജാവ് ഒരു കുളം കുഴിപ്പിച്ചു, രാജകുടുംബാംഗങ്ങള്‍ക്കു കുളിക്കാന്‍വേണ്ടി. ആ കുളത്തിനെ നമ്മള്‍ മാനാഞ്ചിറ എന്നു പേര്‍ വിളിച്ചു. കുളത്തിനോടു ചേര്‍ന്നുകിടന്ന ഒഴിഞ്ഞ വിശാലതയെ മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനമെന്നും. സത്യത്തില്‍ ഇതു വള...രെ വലിയ ഒരു മൈതാനമായിരുന്നു. കനോലി എന്ന കളക്ടര്‍ ഈ മൈതാനത്തുനിന്നാണ് തന്റെ മുസ്‌ലിം പട്ടാളക്കാര്‍ക്ക് പള്ളി പണിയാന്‍ സ്ഥലം കൊടുത്തത്. സപ്തംബര്‍ 1871-ല്‍ ബി.ഇ.എം. സ്‌കൂളിനായും 1890 ആഗസ്ത് 5 ന് മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ ഹോസ്പിറ്റലിനു (പഴയ ആര്‍. ഡി. ഒ. ഓഫീസ്) വേണ്ടിയും ഈ മൈതാനത്തുനിന്നുതന്നെ സ്ഥലം കണ്ടെത്തി. അങ്ങനെയങ്ങനെ മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനം ഇന്നത്തെ രൂപത്തിലായി.
REF: Kerala Old Photos And Heritage

Photo



ഈ മൈതാനത്തെ 1845-ല്‍ 'പരേഡ് ഗ്രൗണ്ട്' എന്നാണ് നാട്ടുകാര്‍ വിളിച്ചുവന്നത്. സായിപ്പിന്റെ പട്ടാളക്കാരുടെ കവാത്ത് കണ്ട് കോഴിക്കോട്ടെ നായരും തിയ്യനും മാപ്പിളയും മൂക്കത്തു വിരല്‍വെച്ചങ്ങനെ നില്ക്കുമായിരുന്നത്രേ! അവര്‍ ഇതിനു മുന്‍പ് കവാത്ത് കണ്ടിരുന്നില്ല. സാമൂതിരിയുടെ നായര്‍പ്പടയ്ക്ക് കവാത്ത് പരിചയമില്ലായിരുന്നു.

വിശാലമായി കിടന്ന മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്തെ ആദ്യമായി വേലി കെട്ടി ത്തിരിച്ചത് 1906-ലായിരുന്നു. അന്നത്തെ ധനാഢ്യനും പൗരപ്രമാണിയുമായിരുന്ന രാരിച്ചന്‍ മുതലാളിയാണ് ഈ സാഹസത്തിന് ഒരുമ്പെട്ടത്. ഇതിനിടയാക്കിയത് ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് രാജകുമാരന്റെ കോഴിക്കോട് സന്ദര്‍ശനമാണ്. ഈ രാജകീയസന്ദര്‍ശനം ഒരു 'സംഭവ'മാക്കാന്‍ കോഴിക്കോട്ടെ പൗരാവലി തീരുമാനിച്ചു. ഇന്നത്തെപ്പോലെ അന്നും നഗരത്തില്‍ സ്ഥിരം കമ്മിറ്റിക്കാര്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നിരിക്കണം. 'റോയല്‍ വിസിറ്റ് കമ്മിറ്റി' എന്നൊരു കമ്മിറ്റി രൂപീകൃതമായി. ഈ കമ്മിറ്റിയാണ് രാരിച്ചന്‍ മുതലാളിയുടെ സഹായം സ്വീകരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്തിന് വേലി കെട്ടിത്തിരിച്ചത്. തീര്‍ന്നില്ല, 'പ്രിന്‍സ് ഓഫ് വെയില്‍സ്' എന്നൊരു പേരും മൈതാനത്തിനിട്ടു.

ഇനി നമുക്ക് അക്കാലത്തുണ്ടായ രസകരമായ ചില തര്‍ക്കങ്ങളിലേക്ക് കടക്കാം. മാനാഞ്ചിറയിലെ പുല്ലാണ് ആദ്യ പ്രശ്‌നത്തിന് വഴിവെച്ചത്. 'ഫ -പുല്ലേ' എന്ന് സുരേഷ് ഗോപി സ്റ്റൈലില്‍ തീര്‍ക്കാവുന്ന ഒരു പ്രശ്‌നമല്ലേ ഇതെന്ന് നിങ്ങള്‍ ചോദിച്ചേക്കും. പക്ഷേ ഈ 'പുല്ലു' വിഷയം അങ്ങനെ അങ്ങ് അവസാനിച്ചില്ല. മൈതാനത്തിന്റെ ഉടമസ്ഥാവകാശത്തില്‍ ഒരു തീര്‍പ്പുണ്ടാക്കിയതിനു ശേഷമേ ഇത് അവസാനിച്ചുള്ളൂ. മാനാഞ്ചിറയില്‍ അക്കാലത്ത് വളരെയധികം പുല്ലു വളരുമായിരുന്നു. അത് മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കൗണ്‍സില്‍ വില്‍ക്കാറായിരുന്നു പതിവ്. ഇവര്‍ക്കെന്താണ് ഇതിനവകാശമെന്ന് അന്നത്തെ കളക്ടറായിരുന്ന ഫ്രാന്‍സിസ് ഒന്നു ചിന്തിച്ചുപോയി. തങ്ങള്‍ക്കാണ് അധികാരമെന്ന് മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കൗണ്‍സിലും ചിന്തിച്ചുവശായി. പോരേ പൂരം! ഒട്ടനവധി ഏറ്റുമുട്ടലുകള്‍ക്കൊടുവില്‍ ഗവണ്മെന്റ്തങ്ങളുടെ നയം വ്യക്തമാക്കി ഒരു വിജ്ഞാപനം പുറപ്പെടുവിച്ചു (ജി. ഒ. 567 ആര്‍. ഇ. ബി-25. 02. 1908). മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്തില്‍ യാതൊരു അവകാശവും മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കൗണ്‍സിലിന് ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കുന്നതല്ല എന്നതായിരുന്നു അത്. തുടര്‍ന്ന് ഗവണ്മെന്റ് ആദ്യമായി ചെയ്തത് മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്തിലെ പുല്ലിന് അവകാശം കോഴിക്കോട്ടെ പോലീസ് കോണ്‍സ്റ്റബിള്‍മാരുടെ പശുക്കള്‍ക്കു മാത്രമാണെന്നൊരു കല്പന പുറപ്പെടുവിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. നല്ല പുല്ല് കിട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍ പശുക്കളും നല്ല പാല്‍കിട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍ പോലീസുകാരും ഒരുപോലെ നന്നായി എന്ന് ചരിത്രസത്യം.

സര്‍ക്കസും മാനാഞ്ചിറയും തമ്മില്‍ എന്ത് ബന്ധമെന്ന് അത്ഭുതപ്പെടേണ്ടതില്ല. അക്കാലത്ത് മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്തായിരുന്നു സര്‍ക്കസുകാര്‍ തമ്പടിച്ചിരുന്നത്. ഇതിലേക്കായി 50 രൂപയാണ് സര്‍ക്കസ് കമ്പനിക്കാര്‍ ഗവണ്മെന്റിലേക്ക് അടയ്‌ക്കേണ്ടിയിരുന്നത്. എന്നാല്‍ പിയേഴ്‌സ് ലെസ്ലി കമ്പനിയിലെ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥരായ വോള്‍സും ലാംഗലിയും ഇതിനെതിരേ രംഗത്തു വന്നു. അവര്‍ കളക്ടര്‍ക്ക് ഇങ്ങനെ എഴുതിക്കാണുന്നു. 'സര്‍ക്കസു കാരണം നഗരം ആഗ്രഹിക്കാത്ത ആള്‍ക്കാര്‍ ടൗണില്‍ വരുന്നു. മാത്രവുമല്ല, വൃത്തികെട്ട സര്‍ക്കസ് മൃഗങ്ങള്‍ മാനാഞ്ചിറ കുളത്തില്‍ ഇറങ്ങുന്നു. ഇതിനു പുറമേ സര്‍ക്കസുകാരുടെ പരസ്യമായ ചെണ്ടയടി മുനിസിപ്പല്‍ കൗണ്‍സില്‍ ഹോസ്പിറ്റലിലെ (പഴയ ആര്‍.ഡി.ഒ. ഓഫീസ്) രോഗികള്‍ക്ക് ഒരു ശല്യമാകുന്നു. പോലീസ് കോണ്‍സ്റ്റബിള്‍മാരുടെ പശുക്കള്‍ മൈതാനത്ത് കടക്കുന്നതും നിരോധിക്കേണ്ടതാണ്.' ഈ പരാതിയെത്തുടര്‍ന്ന് 1910 ജൂണ്‍ 7 ന് കോഴിക്കോട് കളക്ടറായിരുന്ന നാപ് ഒരു നിയമംമൂലം സര്‍ക്കസ് നിരോധിച്ചു. അതുപോലെത്തന്നെ പോലീസുകാരുടെ പശുവിനെ മേയ്ക്കുവാനുള്ള അവകാശവും റദ്ദാക്കി.

സ്‌പോര്‍ട്‌സും മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനത്ത് ചില പ്രശ്‌നങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കി.

ഏതൊക്കെ സമയത്ത് ആര്‍ക്കൊക്കെ മാനാഞ്ചിറ മൈതാനം ഉപയോഗിക്കാം എന്നതായിരുന്നു തര്‍ക്കം. അക്കാലത്തെ ക്ലബ്ബുകളും സംഘടനകളുമായിരുന്നു ഇതില്‍പ്പെട്ട പാര്‍ട്ടികള്‍. ഇവിടെയും ഒരു കമ്മിറ്റി രൂപീകൃതമായി. 'മാനാഞ്ചിറ കമ്മിറ്റി' എന്ന പേരില്‍. 1918-ല്‍ കളക്ടറായിരുന്ന ഇവാന്‍സ് കമ്മിറ്റിയെ അംഗീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. തര്‍ക്കം തീര്‍ക്കുന്നതിലേക്കായി കമ്മിറ്റി എടുത്ത തീരുമാനം ഇങ്ങനെ: ശനിയാഴ്ച പോലീസിനും ക്രിക്കറ്റിന് വെള്ളിയാഴ്ചയും ഞായറാഴ്ചയും, തിങ്കളാഴ്ച മെഡിക്കല്‍ സ്‌കൂളിനും നാറ്റീവ് സ്‌കൂളിനും, ചൊവ്വാഴ്ചയും വ്യാഴാഴ്ചയും 'ഏര്‍ലി ക്ലോസേഴ്‌സ്' എന്ന ക്ലബ്ബിനും, ബുധനാഴ്ച ഗുരുവായൂരപ്പന്‍ കോളേജിനും മൈതാനം ഉപയോഗിക്കാം. എന്നാല്‍ കളക്ടര്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നപക്ഷം പോലീസിനും മലബാര്‍ റൈഫിള്‍സിനും മൈതാനം എപ്പോഴും ഒഴിഞ്ഞുകൊടുക്കേണ്ടതാണെന്ന നിബന്ധനയും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.

(കോഴിക്കോടിന്റെ പൈതൃകം എന്ന പുസ്തകത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്)




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Kerala Old Photos And Heritage
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Other Blog links on Calicut

A walk back to Calicut 11 Mavoor
 The Kozhikode (Calicut) Beach with photos
Old Mosques in Calicut, Mishkal Masjid, Kuttichira
Calicut City Map 16th Century
 Calicut -Rare photos
തളി അമ്പലത്തിന്റെ ലിങ്ക് ഇവിടെ
 ചിത്രങ്ങൾ കഥ പറയുമ്പോൾChevayur Leprosy Hospital
 Kozhikode Railway Station will celebrate its 125 birthday
 THALI TEMPLE,A PHOTO HISTORY
 Mananchira Square
 Maps of Malabar Cost
 Varakal Durga devi Temple

 പൂർവികന്മാരുടെ അവസ്ഥ ഇങ്ങിനെയൊക്കെ ... - kalli valli
 അന്ധവിശ്വാസപരമായ സ്വാധീനം-മലബാര്‍ മാന്വല്‍-വില്യം ലോഗന്‍

Kerala old Photos part 2. 1850 മുതല്‍ 1937 മലബാറിലെ ജീവിതവും കാലവും സ്ഥലവും എങ്ങനെയായിരുന്നുവെന്ന് കാട്ടിത്തരുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ .




















THALI TEMPLE,A PHOTO HISTORY


Tali Temple.

I was inspired by the charm when entered first entered this temple in my 8th or 9th year of life. history reveals all but  the Purana and Aitheehya says a different story. I think  it will be interesting if documented by pictures,and hence I do this.

HISTORY by photo

The following is an undated photo and most probably the oldest available in my opinion
May be this is the most dated back photo. 1880s. It is described in British library and archaeological survey of India as :west view of the main entrance with the image of Kshetrapala, Thaligai temple Calicut:
It assumes around 1880 s. I got this picture from British library
The Kozhikkode Thali temple is an ancient one, dating back to the days of the Zamorin rule. The term Thali refers to a Shiva temple; however, the temple complex also houses a shrine to Krishna. Legend has it that Parasurama, associated with several temples in Kerala, worshipped Shiva here. Several legends associated with feudal rivalry, curses and relief from curses are associated with this temple. In its glorious days, this temple celebrated the Revathi Pattattaanam festival for seven days in the malayala month of Tulaa where learning and scholarship was celebrated with feasting and awards. The Zamorin is also asociated with the pomp and splendor of the now extinct Mahamakam festival at Tirunavayi.

There was a small tree Present at the entrance that time.Now there is a banayan tree. Lot of time I Parked my bike in the same place in 1998-2000. British library describes as — at west view of the main entrance with Krishna Shrine, Thaligai temple Calicut:.

 

Thali Temple.(probabaly).Inside view


 



It is of 190o.

Thaligai temple front view early 20th C, Photograph of the Thali Temple, Malabar District, Calicut Taluk, Kerala, taken by a photographer of the Archaeological Survey of India around 1900-01.


This temple suffered destruction at the hands of Tippu Sultan and Hyder Ali and was renovated in the 18th century. The current structure dates back to the period of the ruler Manavikraman.



The two storeyed sanctum has works of art in terms of stone sculptures and wood work with scenes from the puranas. 




 LOCATION

The Tali Temple situated in the heart of the Kozhikode Town, about one kilometer east of the Railway Station and a treasure house of historical memorable is under the Trusteeship of the Zamorin of Calicut.

the place in google map 2013












The founding and prosperity of Kozhikode town is closely linked with the 

sanctity of this ancient temple.


The way I walked. it s 110 year old photo. But it seems same

in 1901 .. with Puthiyapalam road




The building and the tree is still there as same. rt side of the road is the compound wall of Zamorins High Scool.
The Jyothirlingam in the sanctum – Sanctorum of the Temple was installed towards the end of Dwaparayuga by Sri. Parasurama, who was responsible for the creation of Kerala, by retrieving the land from the sea by throwing his powerful axe from the top of Sahyadri, The posture in the sanctum-sanctorum is that of Umamaheswara. Though this divine power existed from time immemorial, the attention of the citizens of Kozhikode was (bestowed on the temple) only by about 1500 years ago. It reached its zenith during the rule 
of the Zamorins, who had the prestigious title Sailabdheswara (The lord of the mountain and the sea).

 
The views in 1901. North-west view of Garbhagrihani, Thaligai Temple, Malabar District,

Platform facing the sanctum-sanctorum, the four walls skirting the sanctum-sanctorum with the lighted lamps on all the four sides, Dwajastambam, Anakottil (flag-staff platform for elephants) the gopurams (large entrance gate), Deepasthambhum (pillars of lighting) and large outer walls are all there in the grand temple. Tali Ganapathy, Thevarathil Ganapathy, Thrumandhakunnu Bhagavathy, are all the additional deities located in the inner walls of the temple. Outside the inner wall, but within the temple premises are Lord Ayyappa in the south west.



 I  could not get this view now because photography is prohibited inside. This is also from 1901-02

North-west view of Kalasamadam in the outer courtyard, Thaligai Temple, Malabar District, Calicut Taluk
 Thevarathil Bhagavathy just behind Lord Ayyappa and Naga in the west, facing in the eastern direction. In the north eastern side, just outside the Siva Temple premises, but inside the four wall of the temple, there is a separate Vishnu temple with a Dwajastambam of its own. Besides there is a small temple dedicated to Narasimha Moorthy in the southern side of the Vishnu Temple. Inside the compound and north of this also Eranjipuram.

west view of the main entrance with the image of Kshetrapala,

Thaligai temple front view early 20th C, Now the Shrine Disappeared. Photograph of the Thali Temple, Malabar District, Calicut Taluk, Kerala, taken by a photographer of the Archaeological Survey of India around 1900-01.
 Inside the four walls of the Sreekrishna Temple, there is also the presence of Sreevalayanad Bhagavati. So with its special architectural beauty and the presence of several Gods and Goddesses in the premises, this great temple has special significance of its own. 
don't know the date of the following  photo. May be in the 1960s. notice the people, their dress and the bicycle.



the building in left side of the picture seen as a permanent structure now

Watch the people, Moslems too. Thali is famous for communal harmonically rituals including Muslims.


This temple also got a special place in the cultural history of Kerala. It was here that Revathi Pattathanam, a sort of seminar on Bharatha Meemamsa, Prabhakara Meemamsa, Vedanta Meemamsa and vyakarana were conducted. Eminent pandits and philosopher from far and near used to participate in this unique function. This is still being conducted annually here. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, eighteen and a half poets used to assemble here.





After the Colour photo Era. Changed to the electricity and the big lamp at front roof. Note board with letters. One more step is added. more soil eroded. but it will recover in next photos.




the tree grows on the right side. A granite lamp post just in the street. check the No Parking boards.
Now, it has come to such a stage that an immediate repair, particularly renovation of the sanctum-sanctorum has become an absolute necessity. The two storied sanctum-sanctorum which is in the shape of a chariot is adorned with decorative mural paintings on the walls and the sculptures in granite of lord Siva's retinue, and birds and animals, mentioned in puranas. The roof of the sanctum-sanctorum is completely worn out. In the first stage, worm out wooden rafters have to be replaced and fresh complete roofing with copper plates have to be undertaken.





THE TREE GROWN A LITTLE MORE.
See the changes in traffic and vehicles.

 
I request any body having more photos, please add.

with new Brass lamp posisionsted of granite one as seen in previous images.

the bills for Vazipadu and Hoardings for Revathi Pattathanam taken place in front.and new model Car.



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