Rebranding to boost Thangassery's fortunes

Kollam: The historic Thangassery village bearing the reminiscence of Dutch and British rule is set to become a breakwater tourism destination.

The area including the lighthouse at Thangassery, a mascot of Kollam, will be developed into a tourism hotspot under the Rs 2.5-crore project. An amphitheatre will be the main attraction for tourists.

“The fund has been allotted by the tourism department based on the proposal put forward by the harbor engineering department. The project will give a major boost to the tourism prospects of Kollam as the port adjacent to Thangassery is also starting passenger shipping services in near future, which will bring in more tourists. The major attraction is the lighthouse and the Portuguese Fort,” K. Prasad, Kollam DTPC secretary, told DC.

The 144-ft high tower and the fortress constructed in 1902 by the Portuguese make Thangassery a favourite destination for tourists visiting the spot.

A tourist facilitation center and the boating in the breakwaters will also be introduced as part of the project under the harbour engineering department.

The conservation works of the Thangassery Fort undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India is fast progressing. The areas adjacent to the fort will get a facelift with landscaping. It will also get a park enclosing the fort and the beach constructed in association with the tourism department.

The present remnant of the fort is 20-ft high, built using lime plaster and laterite. The beach will also be developed parallel to the renovation works providing facilities to promote water sports.

Construction of a harbor museum is next on the priority list next to the project which is envisaged to complete within a year.