Turkey & Kerala , a 500 year connection

The historical connection between Turkey and Kerala spans over 500 years, rooted in Indian Ocean trade and shared religious and political ties. During the era of the Ottoman Empire, Kerala’s Malabar Coast maintained strong links with the wider Islamic world, including Anatolia. Kerala rulers and Muslim traders sought support from the Ottomans against Portuguese expansion in the Indian Ocean. Ottoman Caliphs were respected as leaders of the Muslim world, and their influence reached Kerala through diplomacy, trade, and religious networks. This connection is reflected in historical records, local traditions, and Kerala’s long-standing engagement with the Turkish-Ottoman world.