Wikimapia is a multilingual open-content collaborative map, where anyone can create place tags and share their knowledge.

Anjengo Fort (Anchuthengu)

India / Kerala / Attingal / Anchuthengu
 fortification, interesting place
Located about 36 Kms north of Thiruvananthapuram, near the famed beach of Varkala, and lying on the seacoast is Anjengo or Anjuthengu, meaning five coconut trees. A place of historic importance as well as beautiful natural setting, Anjengo is an ideal destination for those who don't mind walking around and explore what is in store.

The historic significance tagged to Anjengo comes through foreign powers like the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the English East India Company. In the year 1684, the English East India Company chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. Following the English East India Company's presence, the place came to be known as Anjengo, meaning five coconut trees. According to local folk, the name Anjengo owes its genesis to a small area of land with five coconut trees, which was given on lease to the English East India Company by the then Queen of Attingal for trade purposes.

At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort, which was targeted several times by other foreign powers, who were at that time fighting each other to get a firm footing in Kerala. The Fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery inside the fort, which most probably would be having the remains of the occupants of the fort, and the oldest among the burial sites dates to 1704.

The backwater stretch here at Anjengo, and the avenue of coconut trees that crisscross the water channels are indeed a sight to behold. Another attraction at Anjengo is the serene beach, which is very clean and ideal for picnickers. The fishing village adjoining the beach adds to the overall charm of Anjengo, with the fishermen and their routine activities adding to one's interest.

Getting there:

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 46 kms.

Nearest railway station: Kadakkavur Railway station, about 2 kms.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchuthengu
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   8°39'45"N   76°45'52"E

Comments

  • rgnath4
    This is the orginal shape of the 'ANJENGO FORT'.Re-edited by Gopinath.
  • George Pereira (guest)
    In the discribtion it is said that the word Anjengo came from five coconut tree. it is wrong. It came from Anjuthangu (Five Chumaduthangi).It is beleived that from land to sea in between there are five chumaduthangi is placed.(chumaduthangi means there is stand like thing which is made up of rock to help the head load workers to keep their head load on top of this (thangi) and take rest.even there is nobody to help them they can reload their weight by themself. the chumaduthangi's hieght is aroud 4 ft. From Anjuthangu, it became Anjuthengu then it became Anjengo.
  • George pereira Antony (guest)
    it is not the British East India Company made this Fort. It is built by the Dutch people.
This article was last modified 13 years ago