History of Kasaragod
Kasaragod District has a long history starting from pre-historic times to modern period.
Harkwillia
Arabs called Kasaragod ‘’Harkwillia’’.[1] They visited Kasaragod between the 9th and 14th centuries. At that time Kasaragod was an important trading center. Portuguese traveller Duarte Borbosa visited Kumbla in 1514 and observed that rice was being exported to Maldives islands in exchange for coir.[1]
Kumbala Kingdom
Kasaragod was part of the Kumbala Kingdom. The kingdom contained 64 Tulu villages. When Kasaragod was ruled by the Kolathiri Raja, Vijayanagara empireattacked it. Later the power came to Ikkeri Nayakas.[1]
Mysore Sultans
Hyder Ali conqaueraed Baindur in 1763 and his son Tippu Sultan conquered Kasaragod and other parts of Malabar. In 1792, Tippu surrendered Kasaragod and other Malabar districts to the British government in Madras.
After 1947
When India got freedom from the British, Kasaragod became part of Karnataka state in India. It was merged with Kerala state in 1956. Kasaragod was separated from Kannur district and made a separate entity in 1984.
