24th January 2020.
The visit to this Fort was a part of 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 had covered Hindu Temples, Jain Monuments, an oldest Christian Church, Old Forts, 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 foreigner rulers and the same was reconstructed during Thiruvithangur King Marthandavarma’s ( 1729 – 1758 CE ) and Ramavarma Maharaja period under the supervision of Dilanai. Even-though this fort was called as Vattakottai ( Circular Fort ) – வட்டக்கோட்டை, actually it is square in shape with an entrance on the west side. Bastions are on all the 4 corners and North east corner bastion is extended in to 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 centre of the fort.
It was told 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 bas- relief, in which two elephants, a conch between their trunks and an interlaced letters of VR are shown. On the above the name of this fort is displayed as VATTAKOTTAI. This fort is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) since 1966.
FORT VISITING TIMINGS:
The fort will be open to public between 08.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs and issue of tickets will be stopped around 17.00 Hrs.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Rs 25 will be collected as entrance fee and Rs 25.00 for Indian citizens and Rs 300 for foreigners.
The Video Cameras with out 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 Kanyakumar and 800 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Kanyakumari.
LOCATION: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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