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Friday, December 1, 2017

Vattakottai Fort, Kanyakumari

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.