Forts & Heritage
Gundert Bungalow
The Illikkunnu home where Hermann Gundert compiled the first Malayalam dictionary.
- 28.8 km from Nesma Palace
- 35 min drive
- Best: October to March
- Ideal for language, history and heritage enthusiasts
- Distance from Nesma Palace
- 28.8 km
- Drive time
- 35 min
- Best time
- October to March
- Time to allow
- 45 minutes
- Category
- Forts & Heritage
- Ideal for
- Language, history and heritage enthusiasts
About Gundert Bungalow
The Gundert Bungalow stands on a hill at Illikkunnu in Thalassery. The German missionary and scholar Hermann Gundert lived and worked here in the mid-1800s, and it was in this house that he compiled the first Malayalam-English dictionary and a Malayalam grammar, and helped start one of the earliest Malayalam newspapers.
For anyone interested in the language and its history, this is where a lot of it was first written down.
Things to see and do
Gundert's work
Gundert produced the first Malayalam dictionary and grammar here and shaped early Malayalam printing.
The house and hill
The old bungalow sits on a quiet, green rise above Thalassery.
A quiet, specific stop
It is more a place of significance than a big attraction, best for those who care about the story.
Best time and tips
October to March. Check whether it is open, as access can vary.
- Confirm it is open before making the trip.
- It is a heritage house, not a large museum, so keep expectations right.
- Pair it with Thalassery Fort and Overbury's Folly.
- It is quiet and green, good for a short peaceful stop.
Local tip
The nearest of all the heritage sites to Nesma Palace, an easy first stop on a Thalassery day.
Getting there
The drive from Nesma Palace
Road route and geography © OpenStreetMap contributors
By road from the hotel
28.8 km · about 35 min
- Time to allow there
- 45 minutes
- Starting point
- Nesma Palace, Mattannur
- Flying in
- Kannur International Airport is 7.8 km from the hotel, about 10 minutes by road
Plan your stay
Stay 35 min away at Nesma Palace
The bungalow is about 35 minutes from Nesma Palace and rounds out a Thalassery heritage day.
Nesma Palace is a 4-star hotel in Mattannur, 7.8 km from Kannur International Airport, and an easy base for exploring Kannur.
Nearby places to explore
Make a day of it · Half day
Thalassery in a Day
Colonial Malabar packed into a few square kilometres, and the best biryani on the coast at the end of it.
Nesma Palace, Mattannur
28.8 km · 31 min drive
Gundert Bungalow (you are here)
2.8 km · 3 min drive
Thalassery Fort0.7 km · 1 min drive
Overbury's Folly5.1 km · 6 min drive
Dharmadam Island
Frequently asked questions
Why is Gundert Bungalow important?
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Hermann Gundert compiled the first Malayalam-English dictionary and grammar here in the 1800s and helped start early Malayalam printing. It is a landmark in the history of the language.
Can you visit Gundert Bungalow?
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It is a heritage building at Illikkunnu in Thalassery. Access can vary, so it is worth confirming it is open before you travel.
Where to stay near Gundert Bungalow?
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Nesma Palace in Mattannur is about 35 minutes away and central to Thalassery's heritage sites.