Mal: പൊന്നാനി ponnāni
‘Gold Coin’ Town/Taluk, Kerala
From Mal: pon, ‘gold’; and nāṇayaṁ, ‘coin’.
Gold coins were introduced by Arab and Persian traders. Ponnani has been an important port since ancient times.
It was the principal principle trade route between Malabar Coast (Kerala) and the Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu) and has been identified with Tyndis, an ancient seaport which was one of the centres of trade between the Cheras and the Roman Empire (2ndC BC-3rdC).
For related place names see Indian Place names and Kerala place names.
