Authors: Dr. Padmanabhan N
Abstract: Beypore Port, situated on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, has been one of the oldest maritime centres of the Indian Ocean. From the medieval period onward, it functioned as a strategic harbour linking South India with the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, Southeast Asia, and later Europe. The port became internationally renowned for the construction of traditional wooden ocean-going vessels known as Urus, a craft that has survived for centuries despite profound technological changes in global shipping. This study examines the historical evolution of Beypore Port from the thirteenth to the twenty-first century by analyzing maritime trade networks, indigenous shipbuilding traditions, and their socio-economic impact on the surrounding region. Using historical records, archival materials, travel accounts, government reports, and secondary scholarly literature, the paper evaluates the continuity and transformation of Beypore's maritime heritage. The study argues that Beypore's significance extends beyond commercial exchange, representing an enduring example of technological adaptation, cultural interaction, and regional economic resilience within the Indian Ocean world.
