Thangasseri Fort

Thangasseri Fort is one of the important tourist attractions of Thangasseri and it is situated in Kollam district. The Thangasseri Fort is also called as 'Dutch Quilon'. Thangasseri literally means Gold village in Malayalam language. The place was named as Thangasseri because this was the place where trade was done using gold as the currency.Thangasseri was the favorite spot of the Dutch and the Portuguese. The Thangasseri Fort was constructed in the 16th century and right now only the ruins are left behind. The fort was about 20 feet tall.

The place remains today as an Anglo-Indian settlement, though few Anglo-Indians remain. Presently, the Thangasseri Fort is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India  the Thangasseri Fort.The famous lighthouse of Thangasseri which is 144 ft high, constructed in 1519 by the British is another important attraction of this place,is open to visitors from 1530 - 1730 hrs.

How to reach
Nearest Railway Station: Kollam railway station.
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Tipu Sultan Fort at palakkadu

The Tipu's Fort, also known as Palakkad Fort, stands in the heart of Palakkad town. Palakkad is a small town on the lower edges of the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats, with patches of dense forests and crisscrossed with rivers.One of the well preserved forts in south India, Tipu's Fort was constructed in 1766 AD and is today a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The sober majesty of the laterite walls of the fort reminds one of the old tales of valour and courage.The fort was built by Hyder Ali (1717 - 1782), the emperor of Mysore province (now part of Karnataka State), supposedly to facilitate communication between both sides of the Western Ghats, (Coimbatore and the West Coast). He had captured the Malabar and Kochi regions which come under the West Coast area. His son Tipu Sultan (1750 - 1799) a warrior as well as a linguist was known as the 'Lion of Mysore'. Tipu waged a series of wars against the British colonial rule.In 1784, after an eleven-day seige, the fort was captured by the British under Colonel Fullerton. Though it later fell into the hands of the troops of the Kozhikode Zamorin, it was recaptured by the British in 1790. Tipu Sultan lost his life in 1799 in an encounter with the British and the fort later came to be known in his name

Best Season: All seasons

Transport Terminals: Nearest Bus station: Palakkad 

How to Reach: 
Nearest Railway Station: Palakkad, 5 kms away.
Nearest Airports: Coimbatore (55 kms away) in Tamil Nadu; Cochin International Airport (140 kms away) in Kerala

St Angelo's Fort

		St. Angelo Fort is situated in Kannur district. It is also called as Kannur Fort or Kannur Kotta. This fort faces the Arabian Sea and lies in the Cantonment area in Kannur. It is separated from the sea by a huge wall. A stair case leads to the top of this wall. It is triangular in shape and made of laterite stone.  This fort was constructed by the Viceroy of Portuguese named Don Francisco De Almeida with the consent of the Kolathiris. This fort came into the hands of many powers that ruled here before. It was conquered by the Dutch in 1663 which was then later sold to the Ali Raja of Kannur in the year 1772. The Dutch had made some modifications for this fort. They constructed the bastions Hollandia, Zeelandia and Frieslandia which is at present the main feature of this fort. With the arrival of the British it came into their hands. This fort was used by the British as their station in Malabar. The fort was then modified and rebuilt by them.  Inside the fort there are rooms for punishing the prisoners. They are kept in dark rooms which had just a hole for supplying the food. Once the food is supplied that hole will be closed and the prisoner has to sit in the dark. There is a grave stone in the fort with an inscription on it. It is believed to be the grave of the Dutch commander’s family. Inside the fort there is also a chapel and a stable.  How to Reach                    Nearest Bus Station        :Kannur bus station Nearest Railway Station  :Kannur railway station at a distance of 3 kms Nearest Airport              :Karipur International Airport at a distance of 93 kms

Pallipuram fort

Pallipuram fort is situated in Vypeen Island in Ernakulam district. The outpost of this building is a hexagonal shaped structure and is also called as Ayakkotta or Alikkotta. This fort was built in the year 1503 by the Portuguese and is the oldest European fort that exists in India. This fort was conquered by the Dutch in the year 1661 who then sold it to the state of Travancore in the year 1789. It is clear that this fort had witnessed numerous lords who mastered this territory. The lower floor of this fort is raised to five feet. A cellar is used to store gun powder. There is a square wall which was once a source of fresh water. An opening in the northern side leads to the cellar. The dimensions of the face of the fort are 32ft length, 34 ft height and with a thickness of 6 feet. Laterite, Chunam and wood are used for constructing this fort and the door way is made of granite. The walls are plastered with mortar. 

It is an important tourist destination in Kochi which is worth mentioning. This fort has a rich cultural heritage. People from all over visit this fort to view and admire the beauty of this fort. At present it is considered as a protected monument of the Archaeological department. An important pilgrim center near to this fort is the Catholic Church at Pallipuram.

How to reach

Nearest Bus Station: Vypeen bus station

Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam railway station at a distance of 20 kms

Nearest Airport:		Cochin International Airport at a distance of 40 kms

Kizhakke kotta (East fort) Thiruvananthapuram

East fort is located in Thiruvananthapuram district. This fort is built around the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple. The construction of the fort started during the rule of Maharaja Marthandavarma, but it came to a completion during the reign of Karthika Thirunal Dharma Raja in the year 1787. The fort is around 15 feet tall. This main fort has 4 gateways namely Kizhakke kotta (East Fort), Padinjare Kotta (West Fort), Thekke kotta (South Fort) and Vadakke kotta (North Fort). Besides, there are gateways in the south east side as well.

Inside the East fort, there are some Palaces like Ananthavilasam palace, Krishnavilasam palace, Sree Padam kottaram, Saraswathivilasam, Sundaravilasam and the Kuthiramalika. Many princes and princesses had lived in these palaces. The most beautiful palace of all is the Ananthavilasam Palace which lies to the south of the temple. Krishnavilasam palace has a structure which is a blend of both traditional and western styles. The oldest of all the palaces here is the Sree Padam kottaram that lies to the north of the temple. The Saraswathivilasam palace has very high walls, roofs, lengthy corridors, arch gates etc. Sundaravilasam palace is the place that is meant for royal hunting or the pallivetta which is a ritual conducted during the festival in the temple.  Kuthiramalika also known by the names Puthenmalika or Horse Palace is very famous. This palace has many horse shaped wooden carvings structure in the upper floor of the palace. At present Kuthiramalika is a museum with many rare and valuable articles kept for display. To the right of the East fort is the Navarathri mandapam. There is also a Padmatheertham pond near to the temple. 

The term East Fort is derived from the massive forts which surround the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Fort on the eastern side measures 20 ft in height and the temple faces the eastern side of the Fort, which accounts for its name.

This fort has great historical significance and so is considered as a protected monument by the Archaeological department. The fort is known by the name East fort due to the eastern entrance of the fort. The city of those times was completely inside the fort together with the Padmanabha swamy temple at the center. At those times, there was also a decorated metal gate with various symbols imprinted on it. This whole East fort area has been declared by the government as a heritage site.

How to reach

Nearest Bus Station: East Fort bus station

Nearest Railway Station:Thiruvananthapuram railway station 

Nearest Airport:Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Thalassery Fort

The British arrived in Thalassery in 1683 and errected a goods shed there. They shifted their commercial capital to Thalassery from Kozhikode, following obstruction from the Dutch.

In 1700, the British built the Thalassery Fort on a small hill called Tiruvellapadkunnu and in 1708, it was strengthened by increasing its height and with bastions. The fort is a square structure built of laterite and is distinguished by its massive ventilated walls and strong flanking bastions. It was here that Haider's captain was imprisoned.The famous St.John's Anglican church is behind this fort.The fort has a cemetery and the collector's mansion nearby. Many British officials have been laid to rest in this cemetery that is named after Sir Edward Brennen.

Location: Thalassery, 21 kms south of Kannur.


How to reach:
Nearest Railway Station: Thalassery
Nearest Bus Station: Thalassery
Nearest Airports: Mangalore(140 kms), Kozhikode (100 kms)