Quilon

Quilon, a town of Southern India, in the state Travancore, is situated on the west coast, 85 miles NW. of Cape Comorin. A settlement of the ancient Syrian Church and subsequently of the St Thomas Christians, it was, under the names Coilon and Columbium, a famous mart for the trade in timber, ginger, pepper, &c. The Portuguese built a fort there in 1503, which the Dutch took in 1653. From 1803 to 1830 it was garrisoned by the British. Pop. 13,588.