Vattakottai Fort, Kanyakumari
Vattakottai
Fort (or 'Circular Fort') is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari Town in
Kanyakumari District of Tamil
Nadu the southern tip of India. Vattakottai Fort was constructed in the 18th century
as a coastal defense for the former Travancore kingdom. It was constructed under
the supervision of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, an ex-Dutch naval officer of the Dutch East India Company, who became commander of the Travancore Army (the very
army that defeated him in the Battle of Colachel) in the 18th century, after he earned the trust of the
Travancore King Marthanda
Varma. It is rectangular and covers an
area of three-and-a-half acres. The fort is enclosed by walls 25-foot high,
including the parapet, 29-foot thick at the front, 18 feet at the corners and 6
feet in the rear.
The fort
is made of granite blocks and, today, a part of the fort extends into the sea.
It is a protected site under the Indian archaeological department. A major
renovation of the fort was undertaken recently by the department, and the site
is now a popular tourist spot. Vattakottai Fort commands a picturesque view of
both the sea on the one side, and the hills (Western
Ghats) on the other. Another interesting
feature near the site is a beach of black sands. The view from atop the Fort is
stunning on all sides. The calm and soothing sea that shimmers against the
horizon, the little river that trickles near the Fort, the bustling city that
glitters at a distance and the brilliant hues of green valleys and trees that
sway in a rhythmic motion is a sight to behold.
A small
river joins the sea on one side of the Vattakottai fort. It is possible to walk
to this side of the beach via a small road located a few Metres from the Fort
entrance. During rainy season, it may not be easy to cross the river to go to
the beach. The experience of being on this old stronghold is both peaceful and
capable in the meantime. The beach or bounds is gravelly and one has got to use
caution to not get slipped by the beach sand. However, because of its
comparatively a deserted place, it conjointly manages to stay peaceful and
quiet creating it an ideal place to induce removed from the hustle and bustle
of lifestyle.
History
Vattakottai
Fort was constructed in the 18th century as a coastal defense for the former
Travancore kingdom. It was built in the 18th century as a coastal
defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. It was constructed under the supervision
of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, an ex-Dutch naval officer of the Dutch East India Company, who became commander of the Travancore Army (the very
army that defeated him in the Battle of Colachel) in the 18th century, after he earned the trust of the
Travancore King Marthanda
Varma. De Lannoy constructed
Vattakottai, as part of the defence-fortifications he undertook throughout
Travancore.
Vattakottai
forms the terminal of the lines of ramparts, known as the South Travancore
lines, built by Marthanda Varma to serve as a defence for Nanjil Nadu. About
1810 A.D., the British forces, under the command of St. Leger, marched into
Nanjil Nadu, through the Aramboly pass, and demolished the defence lines. In
the olden days, the Padmanabhapuram Palace, which is 25kms away, could be seen
clearly from Vattakottai Fort. There was a secret passage running from
Vattakottai to the palace. Over time, the passage closed and is now
inaccessible.
Architecture
Vattakottai
Fort is an imposing seaside fort in Kanyakumari District in Tamilnadu. The fort
was constructed with granite blocks and today, a section of it extends into the
sea. Vattakottai translates into circular fort in Tamil. The fort is a
protected site under the Archaeological Department of India. Recently a major
overhaul of the fort took place. An interesting feature of the fort is the
predominance of the fish motif, which you will see on many walls. The fish
motif was believed to be a symbol of the Pandyas; consequently, archeologists
believe that the Fort must have been under the control of the Pandyas at some
point.
Contrary
to the name, Vattakottai fort, which means circular fort; the shape of this
fort is rectangular. This rectangular shaped fort is spread across an area of
around 3.5 acres of land. The fort is surrounded by majestic walls of 25-26
feet height. The front walls of the fort have a thickness of around 29 feet,
while on the side thickness is around 18 feet and at the back it is 6 feet. Vattakottai
Fort, presenting an impressive architecture, within its strong walls has watch
towers, weapon rooms, and many other sections to explore and admire. It is
constructed of granite blocks. The walls of the fort are carved with motifs of
fish.
The fish
motif was extensively used by Pandya Kingdom. As per various archaeologists,
this fort must have been under the rule of Pandyas for some time. It is also
said that in earlier days one can clearly see Padmanabhapuram Palace from the
top of Vattakottai Fort. There was also a secret path through a tunnel of
around 4 feet wide, connecting Vattakottai Fort to Padmanabhapuram Palace.
However, eventually the path was closed. There is a small pond in the centre of
the Fort, presenting an ideal location to sit and enjoy the view of the ocean
in front. The raised parade ground of the fort is the best place to get a view
of the surrounding area and the sea.
Fort
Timings
The
opening timings of Vattakottai Fort are from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM. Fort is closed
on Fridays.
Fees
·
Parking Fee: Free.
·
Video Camera Fee: Rs. 25/-
·
Still Camera Fee: Rs. 5/-
·
Entry Fee: Rs. 5/-
Connectivity
Vattakottai
Fort is located at about 9 Kms from Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari Town is well
connected to major cities by road / rail / air across India. Kanyakumari is
located at about 20 Kms from Nagercoil, 13 Kms from Suchindrum, 47 Kms from Thiruvattaru,
33 Kms from Thuckalay, 47 Kms from Marthandam, 100 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram
and 245 Kms from Madurai. Vattakottai Fort is located about 8 Kms from
Kanyakumari State Transport Corporation Bus Stand. Tourists can hire a cab for
Kanyakumari, and reach the fort without any hassle. For those who want to
travel by buses, there are also many buses that operate from Kanyakumari to
Vattakottai. Vattakottai Fort is located at about 6 Kms from Kanyakumari
Railway Station. The Fort is well connected from Railway Station by means of
Buses, Taxis and Autos. Vattakottai Fort is located at about 99 Kms from Trivandrum
International Airport and 235 Kms from Madurai International Airport.