Forts and Palaces
St Angelo's Fort
The colossal St Angelo’s Fort, which stands majestically on a hill overlooking the sea, has a significant place in the historical map of Kerala. The fort, also known as the Kannur fort, lies three kilometres west of Kannur, near the Government hospital.
Kannur’s exposure to European powers began soon after Vasco da Gama’s expedition to Calicut in 1498. In 1501, a Portuguese called Joao DNova set up a factory at Kannur and fortified it.
The era witnessed many disputes and gory battles among local rulers. Kolathiris, the local rulers of North Kerala were at loggerheads with the Zamorins of Kozhikode. The European powers took advantage of the situation and with the consent of the Kolathiris, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, Francisco D. Almeida, built a fort on a cliff overlooking the sea, in 1505. The fort which was later known as the St Angelo’s Fort became a strategic military base for the Portuguese navy. During the Dutch invasion of 1663, the Portuguese were defeated. The fort was captured by the Dutch, who then sold it to Ali Raja. The British later took it over from the Beevi of Arakkal in 1790.
The Arakkal family followed a matriarchal system of descent. The eldest member of the family, whether male or female, became its head and ruler. While male rulers were called Ali Rajas, female rulers were known as Arakkal Beevis. They renovated the fort and established it as their military base. Today, the fort is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.
Thalassery Fort
Elegant and steeped in history, the Thalassery Fort stands in the town of Thalassery, about 22 kms south of Kannur, near the Municipal cricket stadium.
History
The East India Company established its settlement on the Malabar Coast in 1683. As they gained prominence, the British built a small fort with the permission of the Kolathiris, the then rulers of the land. The fort helped the British establish a stronghold in Malabar, and eventually they made it their administrative centre in 1776.
The fort became the strategic centre for military activities of the British. It was here that Arthur Wellesley planned his strategy to fight the great warrior, Pazhassi Raja.
After independence, the fort housed many government offices. Its historical significance was recognized later and was handed over to the Department of Archaeology.
Hosdurg fort
Hosdurg Fort, half a kilometre south of Kanhangad (and 15 kms south of Bekal), is one of the many forts built by the Ikkeri Nayakas. It is a fine example of the opulent and diverse history of Kasaragod but is now in ruins.
The Nayakas also built the Poonkavanam Karpooreswara Temple. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and located to south-west of the fort.
An internationally renowned spiritual centre called Nithyananda Ashram is also located nearby.
History
The East India Company established its settlement on the Malabar Coast in 1683. As they gained prominence, the British built a small fort with the permission of the Kolathiris, the then rulers of the land. The fort helped the British establish a stronghold in Malabar, and eventually they made it their administrative centre in 1776.
The fort became the strategic centre for military activities of the British. It was here that Arthur Wellesley planned his strategy to fight the great warrior, Pazhassi Raja.
After independence, the fort housed many government offices. Its historical significance was recognized later and was handed over to the Department of Archaeology.
Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort, which was controlled by many powerful invaders during various times, has a unique place in the history of Kerala.
Historians differ in their opinions regarding the original builders of the fort. Some credit Shivappa Nayak of Badnore with building the fort that was of immense strategic importance to him during the last decades of the 17th century.
Others trace the origin to the period of the Kolathiris or the Chirakkal Rajas. They are of the view that the Ikkeri Nayakas, who rose to power after the fall of Vijayanagar Empire, had captured Bekal Fort and the surrounding territory from the Kolathiris. They rebuilt the fort and made it their military base in Malabar.
One illustrious ruler who captured Bekal Fort was Hyder Ali, the king of Mysore. Later, when his son, Tipu Sultan, took over the reins, he made the fort a major military base. After Tipu Sultan’s death in 1799, the fort fell into the hands of the British East India Company.
The East India Company incorporated the area into their administrative domain, and Bekal became the headquarters of Bekal Taluk of the district in South Canara. In 1862, South Canara became part of Madras Presidency and Bekal Taluk was disbanded to form the new Kasaragod Taluk.
With the state reorganization of 1956, Bekal and Kasaragod became part of Kerala State. The present custodian of Bekal Fort is the Archaeological Survey of India.
Chandragiri Fort
South-east of Kasaragod town, about four kms from Bekal, stand the ruins of the Chandragiri fort.
History
In ancient times, River Chandragiri, which flows near the fort, bordered the two kingdoms of Kolathunadu and Tulunadu. Later, the region around the river came under the Vijayanagara Empire. When the empire fell, the Keladi Nayakas, who had carried out the administration, took control of the area.
When Shivappa Nayak took over the reins, he renovated and built many forts. One of them was the Chandragiri fort, which he built in the 17th century. The fort is now managed by the Department of Archaeology.
Ambience
Near the confluence of the Payaswini River and the Arabian Sea, remnants of the Fort can be seen, on a small hill on which it was built. The ruined fort is about 46 m above sea level and covers an area of seven acres. The old laterite walls that overlook the sea still bear the marks of the cannonball attacks. The incessantly flowing river and the estuary where the river meets the sea are visible from the Fort. It is a delight to watch the sunrise and sunset from the ruins of the Fort.
The ancient Kizhur Sastha temple and a Mosque are also situated nearby the Fort.
Speedboat and houseboat rides can be arranged on the backwaters to visit the nearby islands.