View source for Vattakottai Fort

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Vattakottai Fort
| native_language = Tamil
| image = Vattakottai Fort Entrance.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = 
| designation1 = 
| designation1_date = 
| designation1_number = 
| designation1_criteria = 
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_free1name = State Party
| designation1_free1value = {{IND}}
| designation1_free2name = Region
| designation1_free2value = 
| location = [[Kanyakumari]], [[India]]
| elevation = 
| built = 
| architect = 
| architecture =  
| coordinates = {{coord|8.125|77.565|display=inline}}
| locmapin = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
}}

'''Vattakottai Fort''' (or 'Circular Fort') is a seaside fort near [[Kanyakumari]], [[Tamil Nadu]], at the southern tip of [[India]]. It was built in the 18th century as a coastal defence fortification and barracks in the former [[Travancore]] kingdom. 

It was constructed in the 18th century by  Punachal/Elakkara Valiyaveetil Marthandan Chempakaraman Pillai for  the kings of [[Travancore]]. Marthanda Pillai was born in an aristocratic house in Punachal Elakkara near Kuzhikode near Palliyadi in Kanyakumari district. (Then  South Travancore).  The  house was a house that was associated with the royal family. Marthanda Pillai was born in the month of May 903 in Bharani Nakshatra, the son of Neelamma Pillai, a member of the said house, and Iravikurup, the bodyguard of Marthanda Varma.  Later it was modified under the supervision of Captain [[Eustachius De Lannoy]], an ex-Dutch naval officer of the [[Dutch East India Company]], who became commander of the Travancore Army (the very army that defeated him in the [[Battle of Colachel]]) in the 18th century, after he earned the trust of the Travancore King [[Marthanda Varma]]. De Lannoy reconstructed Vattakottai, as part of the defence-fortifications he undertook throughout Travancore.

The fort is  made of granite blocks and, today, a part of the fort extends into the sea.  It is a protected site under the Indian archaeological department.  A major renovation of the fort was undertaken recently by the department, and the site is now a popular tourist spot.

Vattakottai Fort commands a picturesque view of both the sea on the one side, and the hills ([[Western Ghats]]) on the other. Another interesting feature near the site is a beach of black sands. It is about {{convert|7|km|abbr=on}} from [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] town.

== Photo gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Vattakottai Fort 2.jpg|Inside of the fort.
Image:Vattakottai Fort - Highest Level Facing Sea.JPG|Elevated level of the fort, facing the sea.
Image:Hill-View from Vattakottai Fort.JPG|View of the hills from Vattakottai fort.
Image:View from Vattakottai Fort.JPG|View of the sea from Vattakottai fort.
Image:Vattakottai Fort and Sea.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.trodly.com/destination/4345/vattakottai-fort About Vattakottai Fort and Images]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041014055510/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/01/stories/2004050100210100.htm Forgotten fort Vattakottai: Elegant and steeped in history]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041031004917/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/24/stories/2004102402150300.htm Facelift planned for Vattakottai]
* [http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=44ed1346-6f6e-45db-b56d-5f1e10745b6a Vattakottai in 3D view]

{{Regions of Kanyakumari}}
{{Forts in Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:Forts in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Kanyakumari]]
[[Category:Archaeological monuments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Star forts]]