Kodungallur situated on the west coast, was once a great port during the time of the Chera rulers of Tamil Nadu. It was known to the Greeks as Muziris and is a place immersed in rich history. Kodungallur or Kodungalloor, surrounded by backwaters and the sea was also known as Cranganore and has an illustrious past, to tell. The ancient port here at Kodungallur was a busy port in the first century BC and was the gateway for various religious faiths like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and others. Cargo vessels from West Asia, Mediterranean and East Africa used to drop anchor at the Port of Muziris. St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ is believed to have set foot in Kerala through the Muziris port and so did the Islamic missionaries. It is here that India’s first church, St. Thomas Church and the first mosque, Cheraman Jumma Masjid, are located.