qollanadi

Qollanadi is a fictional coastal city and port in the archipelago of Ahelira, featured in the fantasy series The Sea of Threads. It serves as the capital of the province of Niran and as a major hub for maritime trade and cultural exchange.

The name is said to derive from local terms in the island language, with qolla meaning “windward harbor” and nadi meaning “city”; spellings vary across texts in the series.

Qollanadi sits on a natural crescent harbor on the eastern coast of Ahelira. It experiences a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced wet season and sea-breeze moderation that shapes daily life.

According to the lore, Qollanadi was founded by seafaring clans in the 9th century and grew as a trading entrepôt for spices, timber, and textiles. It passed through several regional empires before emerging as an autonomous city-state in the early modern era, later integrating into the archipelago’s administrative framework.

The economy centers on port activities, shipyards, fisheries, and market crafts such as lacquerware and sailmaking. The city hosts the Coral Festival, a maritime cultural event. The local language, Qollanadi, has dialects spoken across the archipelago, reflecting its diverse trading communities.

Qollanadi is governed by a municipal council elected by residents, with a provincial governor coordinating with the archipelago’s central administration. Notable landmarks include the East Lantern Lighthouse and the Timber Market district, alongside the University of Maritime Arts, which anchors the city’s cultural and educational life.