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Kerala has a rich history shaped by the colonial masters that once invaded this beautiful place as well as by the reign of its native rulers. Majestic forts are one of its existing landmarks from bygone eras found in Kerala’s long coastal line. Although they were built centuries ago, these massive structures have not lost their grandeur.
Here are 5 most stunning forts in Kerala that you should explore this year
1. Fort Emmanuel
The Portuguese built Fort Emmanuel, also known as Immanuel Fort, in 1503, making it one of the first European forts in India. Situated in Fort Kochi, it was once a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharaja of Kochi and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom it is named.
2. Pallipuram Fort
The oldest European fort still standing in India is Pallipuram Fort, which is located on Vypeen Island close to Kochi. It was also constructed by the Portuguese in 1503. Pallipuram Fort, often referred to locally as Ayikotta or Alikotta, is a large, hexagonal structure that still stands tall and keeps traces of its European past.
3. Bekal Fort
Bekal Fort is Kerala’s best-known fort. The huge, 3000-year-old, keyhole-shaped Bekal Fort is located in the Kasaragod region of Kerala, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. It is regarded as the state’s largest fort, spanning 40 acres.
4. St. Angelo’s Fort
Situated in the Kannur Cantonment region on the outskirts of the Kannur district, St. Angelo’s Fort was constructed in the early 16th century by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. They are situated in a picturesque setting between the Mappila fishing bay and the Arabian Sea.
5. Hosdurg Fort
Hosdurg Fort is a historic fort in Kanhangad that might not get as much attention or popularity as other forts in Kerala. Somashekara Nayak of the Ikkeri Dynasty of Bednore, Karnataka, built the Hosdurg Fort.
