Gundert Bungalow Travel Map

Gundert Bungalow was the residence of Dr. Herman Gundert, the German Missionary, who became a member of the Basal Mission in 1934. Dr. Herman Gundert was born in Stuttgart and arrived in India as a Christian missionary. On 27th February 1839, he shifted to Illikunnu, a place near Thalassery, and resided there for more than two decades. Dr.Herman Gundert completed the first Malayalam dictionary during the period extending between 1839 and 1859, while he was living in the Gundert Bungalow. The bungalow is also associated with the publishing of the Paschimodayam, the oldest Malayalam newspaper. The site was later transformed into a technical training institute imparting skills and knowledge to the residents of the region. The bungalow has typical colonial mansion style architecture and a wide veranda and several carved doorways. The Gundert Bungalow was once the residence of Mr. Thomas Stench, the earlier judicial magistrate of Thalassery. The bungalow was donated by him to the Basal Mission for its humanitarian services. The site also published Rajyasamacharam, the first Malayalam newspaper, in 1847 and also started a school in 1939.