24th January 2020.
The visit to this Fort was a part of the Nanjil Nadu
Heritage Walk organized by Yaaooyaakay and Celebrate Kanchi in association with
Tamil Nadu Tourism and Development Department, Kanyakumari, scheduled on 24th
to 26th January 2020. During this Heritage walk we covered Hindu
Temples, Jain Monuments, the oldest Christian Church, Old Forts, an overhead water
channel, and of course Natural Bonsai Garden too.
This was a military fort once and the period/purpose of construction is not known. It was used by different foreign rulers
and the same was reconstructed during Travancore/Thiruvithangur King Marthanda Varma’s (1729 – 1758 CE) and Ramavarma Maharaja period under the
supervision of Dilanai. Even though this
fort was called Vattakottai (Circular Fort) – வட்டக்கோட்டை, actually it is square
in shape with an entrance on the west side. Bastions are on all 4 corners and the Northeast corner bastion is extended into the sea. The extended
bastion can be accessed through both steps and a ramp. (It was told that the
ramp was used to move the Guns to the extended rampart bastion. The rampart is
about 25 feet high and the fort covers around 3.5 acres. Slots are provided on
the parapet wall of the rampart to keep the Gun/rifles against the enemies.
There are 4 mandapas built abutting the inner walls of the rampart. There is a
square pool at the center of the fort.
It was said that this fort might have been used to
monitor the movement of the enemy ships along the coastal region between
Kanyakumari to Aralvaimozhi. At the top of the entrance, there is an emblem-like
image, in the form of a bas-relief, in
which two elephants, a conch between their trunks, and interlaced letters of
VR are shown. On the above the name of
this fort is displayed as VATTAKOTTAI. This fort has been under the control of the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI since 1966.
FORT
VISITING TIMINGS:
The fort will be open to the public between 08.00 hrs to
18.00 hrs and the issue of tickets will be stopped around 17.00 Hrs.
TOURIST
INFORMATION
Rs 25 will be collected as an entrance fee Rs 25.00
for Indian citizens and Rs 300 for foreigners.
The Video Cameras without a stand will be charged Rs
25.00.
Violation of the above will be penalized with Rs
500.00
HOW
TO REACH:
Vattakottai is about 18 km from Nagercoil, 9 km from Kanyakumari, and 800 km from Chennai.
The nearest Railway Station is Kanyakumari.
LOCATION OF THE FORT: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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