Mahé, Port town in Kannur district, India.
Mahé is a port town in Kannur district where the Mahe River flows into the Arabian Sea, flanked by forested hills and coconut groves. The settlement spreads along a narrow coastal strip, where fishing boats rest on the beach and small shops line the main streets that form the town center.
French traders founded a trading post on the riverbank in 1724, later expanding it into a fortified settlement that handled spice exports to Europe. French administration continued until Indian independence in 1954, when the territory became part of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Malayalam remains the primary language, while the architecture combines Indian and French colonial elements throughout the town streets.
Buses run regularly from the central bus stand to surrounding towns, with journeys to Kannur taking about an hour. Kannur International Airport sits roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) to the north and is accessible by taxi services.
The town belongs administratively to the Puducherry Union Territory even though it is completely surrounded by Kerala state and has no direct land connection to other parts of Puducherry. Locals speak mainly Malayalam like in Kerala but carry French surnames left over from the colonial period.
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