Tamil Nadu Tourism - Vattakottai, Kanyakumari
Circular Fort or Vattakottai is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India. It is about 7 km from Kanyakumari town. It was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. It is set up as the southernmost sea coast defense point by the Dutch. It was constructed under the supervision of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy during the reign of Mathandavarma (1729-58).
It is rectangular in shape and covers an area of about three and a half acres. The fort is enclosed by walls 25 to 26 feet high, including the parapet, 29 feet thick at the front, 18 feet at the corners and 6 feet at the rear. It is said that there is a subway or tunnel about four feet width, supposed to connect the Padmanabhapuram palace. Now the tunnel has been closed. 
Circular Fort or Vattakottai is a seaside fort near Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India. It is about 7 km from Kanyakumari town. It was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence-fortification and barracks in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. It is set up as the southernmost sea coast defense point by the Dutch. It was constructed under the supervision of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy during the reign of Mathandavarma (1729-58).The Vattakottai occupies an area of about three and a half acres of land. There was previously a tunnel, four feet in width, which connected the Circular fort with the Padmanabhapuram but later this path was sealed due to various reasons.
The fort is enclosed by walls 25 to 26 feet high, including the parapet, 29 feet thick at the front, 18 feet at the corners and 6 feet at the rear. The portion running into the area is the most strongly built under the orders of De Lannoy during the reign of Mathandavarma (1729-58).
About 1810 A.D. the British forces under the command of St. Leger marched into Nanjilnad through the Aramboly pass and demolished the defence lines. The small river by the side of the fort, and the green vegetation all around add to the scenery of the fort and has now become a holiday resort and picnic centre.
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. Another interesting feature near the site is a beach of black sands.
Next to Vattakottai, we can see the traces of a light house in Leepuram being called so after Colonel Lee who has destroyed most of the Kadukkarai Kanyakumari Fort in 1806. This is a picnic spot, the sea is calm and suitable for bathing. The fort surrounded by sea is so pleasant to watch.
Get the different experience of watching a sea from the top of a fort. The seashore with lot of coconut trees is a wonderful place to sit and relax. The sea is so calm so that you can play with the waves without any fear.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment