Vatta Kottai (Circular Fort)

India / Tamil Nadu / Kanniyakumari /
 fortification, interesting place
This information is provided by Archelogical Survey of India. The Vattakottai fort lies 18 kms from Nagarkoil in Agastheeswaram taluk of Dt. Kanyakumari. It is about 7 kms from Kanyakumari. The word is derived from the Tamil word 'Vattam' (Circle). This fort was reconstructed in the 18th century by the Venad kings of Travancore. Originally, a brick fort it was strengthened by the Dutch Army General De'Lanoy with Granite stone. The British troops in 1809 did not destroy the present fort. All the four sides of the inner fortification are provided with simple pillared mandapa with flat roof.
It is persumed that this fort was a military base to protect Kumari port, which was a 'pearl' harbor. The inner bastion is accessible by a ramp built of granite slabs. It is flanked by flight of steps to faciilitate the transport of cannons. The entire outer vaneer of the fort has well dressed granite blocks.
The main entrance has arched decorations on the top with emblem of Travancore Raja. At the centre of the fort there is a small tank, which supplied perennially water to the personnel in the fort.
The walls are 7.62 m high. The depiction of fish design on the ceiling of the mandapa inside the fort led some scholars to think to trace its origin to Pandya Kings (12th Century A.D.)
It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu.
This is a centrally protected monument under the control of Archelogical Survey of India since 1966.
kanyakumaritourism.in/vattakottai-fort-kanyakumari
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vattakottai_Fort
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   8°7'32"N   77°33'55"E

Comments

  • nice place
  • Portuguese Fort? Any correct information would be appreciated. As a child this was one of the few "safe" beaches for swiming near Kanyakumari -- notorious for unsafe swimming due to rocks, currents, and abruptly deep water .
  • round fort... not oval fort...
  • good tourest spot & super maintained
  • ..it is not a Portugese fort.. it has been built by the kings of Travancore, even the workmanship is the same as on the city walls of Trivandrum and Padmanabhapuram. However, even if its called "circular fort" - it has a square shape with a shapeless extension into the sea. The beach is safe for swimming but the water is milky from the lime stones and one can not see the sharp rocks everywhere.
  • can somebody say some details about this fort i like it very much and am interested in collecting more information about this place,,,,,,,,,
  • Awesome place
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 5 years ago