Forts. They speak of the long battles and violent histories. As the nation celebrates another Independence Day, we give you a list of six forts spread across the state. From Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, here is a look at these historical monuments.
1) Anchuthengu Fort
In 1680's the English East India Company got permission to set up a factory and a fort at Anchuthengu from the Rani of Attingal. This fort served as the first signaling station for ships coming in from England. Battles were fought from this fort during the Anglo-Mysore wars and during the Attingal Rebellion when the local people rose in revolt against the British. Now a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India, the fort is open to the public on most of the days.
2) Pallipuram Fort
Built in 1503 by the Portuguese the Pallipuram Fort is considered as the oldest surviving European monument in India. Also known by the name Ayikotta or Alikotta the fort is a gigantic hexagonal structure. The fort fell into the hands of the Dutch army in 1663. In 1798 the fort was purchased by the Travancore Maharaja and is now a protected monument of the Kerala State Department of Archaeology.
3) Palakkad Fort
Yet another ancient fort is the one built by Hyder Ali, the king of Mysore, in Palakkad. Also known as Tipu's fort, it was constructed in 1766 AD and is today a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. In 1784, the British under Colonel Fullerton captured the fort.
4) Thalassery Fort
Thalassery Fort, built by the British in 1708, has witnessed the development of Thalassery into a full-fledged town. The fort is now one of the major tourist attractions in Kannur district. Read more
5) St Angelo Fort, Kannur
St Angelo Fort, according to records, was built in 1505 by Dom Fransico de Almeida, the first Portuguese viceroy to India. Situated 3km away from Kannur town, near Military cantonment and Moppila bay, this Fort has changed hands a couple of times. In 1663, the Dutch captured the Fort and eventually gave the Fort its present appearance.The Dutch sold the Fort to Arakkal Royal family in 1772. In 1790, the British conquered it and used it as one of their major military stations on the Malabar coast till 1947.
6) Bekal Fort
The Bekal Fort, which is more than 300 years old, is also one of the biggest forts in Kerala - and one which is maintained well too. According to some books, it was Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore who built the fort, but some say that it existed even before. And this is where 'Tu Hi Re' song from Bombay was filmed
Read more: Travel | Travel News | Beyond Kerala
Also read : An ode to Kerala's freedom struggle
