Cheraman Juma Masjid located at Methala in Kodungallur town of Kerala is the first and the oldest mosque built on Indian soil in 629 AD by Malik lbn Dinar.One interesting fact about this mosque is that it was built in Hindu Architectural style and has an ancient oil lamp which is believed to be more than a thousand years old.People of all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering. It is the only mosque where Vidyarambham (tradition of introducing kids to education) is done on Vijaya Dashami day.Another fact is that Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid faces eastwards unlike other mosques usually facing westwards. Since ancient times, trade relations between Arabia and India were active. Even before the days of Muhammad, Arab traders visited the Malabari region, which was a major link between the ports of India and Southeast Asia. With the advent of Islam, the Arab merchants became carriers of the new religion and they propagated it wherever they went. One of the myths around the mosque is that Cheraman Perumal, the Chera king, went to Arabia, embraced Islam and changed his name to Tajuddin. He spent some time there, and died while returning in Dhufar, Oman.From there he had sent letters with Malik Ibn Dinar to his relatives in Kerala, asking them to be courteous to the latter.See search of Burnell.In the 7th Century, a group of Arabs led by Malik Bin Deenar and Malik bin Habib arrived in Thrissur District constructed a Masjid at Kodungalloor, naming it after their contemporary Cheraman Perumal.The mosque has an ancient oil lamp which always burns and which is believed to be more than a thousand years old. People of all religions bring oil for the lamp as offering. Like most, this mosque allows entry for non-Muslims. The then president of India Abdul Kalam is among the notable visitors to this mosque.In April 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a gold-plated replica of the Cheraman Juma Masjid to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Phone: 0480 280 3170

Distance From Thiruvananthapuram to Methala 239 Kms

Distance From Chennai to Methala 654 kms