Development of Fort Architecture in Kerala

Abstract

The study entitled “Development of Fort Architecture in Kerala” deals with the developmental stages of forts in Kerala and its architectural importance. The study of fort is a desideratum in order to understand the system of defence and military architecture of Kerala. This study one can clearly understand the stages in the evolution of forts in Kerala and also the architectural features of fort.

Kerala is one of the main attractive places in Indian sub- continent. It lies between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea, from ancient time to present the Cochin port is famous and also known as “Queen of Arabian Sea”. Due to these attractions the land was continuously attracted by several foreigners. Some foreigner came here for trade and others for invasion. As part of these invasions, the foreigners and local rulers built so many palaces, ports, forts, lighthouses. This is considered as the background behind the origin of forts in Kerala. Most of the forts are located along the extended seacoast of Kerala.

Forts in Kerala have been influenced by the different rulers in different time, with beautiful architecture and design. These forts are the fusion of traditional Kerala and various foreign style of architecture. Each fort in Kerala is a piece of art and each has a story to tell. Most of the forts in Kerala have an overwhelming European feel to its architecture. Many of them were initially built by native rulers like Hyder Ali and later modified over by the Europeans. Some of the famous forts in Kerala are Anjengo fort, Baekal fort, Chandragiri fort, Pallipuram fort, Palakkad fort.

The origin of forts in Kerala is very ancient and interesting. Before the Cheras established themselves as a major force in Kerala, it was ruled by the Ay dynasty sometime between 7th to 11th centuries AD with Vizhinjam as the capital. The Ay dynasty ruled the land between Nagarcoil and Thiruvalla. Ay kingdom lay around the Podiyahill, the southernmost section of the Western Ghats. The Greek geographer Ptolemy wrote about one ‘Aioi’ ruling the country at that time which included Cape Comorin and Mount Bettigo. When the kings of the Ay dynasty shifted their capital to Vizhinjam, they built a fort which is now considered to be the oldest fort in Kerala dating to the eighth or ninth century.