St. Angelo Fort

St. Angelo Fort (also known as Kannur Fort or Kannur Kota), is a fort facing the Arabian Sea, situated 3 km from the town of Kannur, a city in Kerala state, south India.

History

St. Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. The fort changed hands several times. In 1663 the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal Royal Family in 1772. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast. It is fairly well preserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The Dutch captured the fort from the Portuguese in 1663, then later sold the fort to king Ali Raja of Arakkal.

In 1790 the British seized it and transformed it into their chief military station in Malabar.

In the 19th century, the British established the Cannanore Cantonment, which includes the St. Angelo Fort.

Tourism

St Angelo's fort is a most important historical monument and tourist centre. Here, the Kerala Police have posted six tourism policemen for protection and guidance to the tourists. Among them one policeman, Sathyan Edakkad, has detailed knowledge about this fort and the surrounding places. He wrote and published a book in Malayalam named "Vasco da Gamayum Charitrathile Kaanapurangalum" [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/25/stories/2007012501430200.htm News report in the Hindu] ] (Vasco da Gama and the unseen pages of history). In this book, he describes the past and present situation of the fort. [ [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/india/cannanore/cannanore.html St.Angelo's Fort] Old Map]

The "Moppila Bay Harbor" and "Arakkal Mosque" are near the fort. The fort is now well-maintained under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India. Tourists are allowed entry to the fort every day of the week between 8 AM to 6 PM.

Photo Album: St.Angelo's fort

References

ee also

*Arakkal Museum
*Cannanore Lighthouse
*Cannanore Cantonment
*Payyambalam Beach
*Meenkunnu Beach
*Muzhappilangad Beach
*Parassinikkadavu Snake Park
*Muthappan temple
*Kannur
*Thalassery Fort