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| Palakkad fort or Tipu Sultan fort. Kaazhchakal - WordPress.com |
Standing majestically on the lower fringes of the Sahyadri Ranges of the great Western Ghats in the heart of Pallakad town, Kerala state is the historic fort of ‘Pallakad Fort’. It also goes by the name of Tipu Sultan Fort. Believed to be one among the most well-preserved forts in the whole of South India, perhaps next to Gingee fort (built between 9th and 13th century) near Villupuram and Vellore fort (built in the 16th century by the Vijayanagara rulers) at Vellore of Tamil Nadu, Palakkad fort was built in 1766 AD by Hyder Ali of Mysore whose son Tipu Sultan was the sworn-enemy of the East India Company. After prolonged efforts the British killed him in 1799 at Srirangapatna, Karnataka in the final Angelo-Mysore war. Hyder Ali fortified the existing fort with help from the French. The history of this fort is vague and no information is available either on its origin or on its first builder.
In reality, the Palakkad fort had been in existence since ancient
time prior to the invasion of Hyder Ali and the Mysore ruler reinforced the fort to the present form to suit his needs. The local ruler, Paliyath Achchan, under the the Zamorin, used to pay tributes to them and later became independent rulers on their own before the beginning of the eighteenth century. In the aftermath of their betrayal of allegiance to the Zemorin rulers, they became were furious and made threats to avenge them. Fearing retribution and invasion, to face the powerful Zamorin, Paliyath Achan sought the help of Hyder Ali and sent a delegation in 1757
to the Mysore ruler to face the imminent threats from the Zamorin. Hyder Ali, being shrewd as he was, knew the strategic importance of Palakkad and its fort, seized upon the opportunity given to him on a silver platter to gain possession of a rich land. He took over the fort in the late 1750s and till 1790 it was under his control. When his son Tipu was killed by the British toward the end of 18th century, the British - East India company took possession of this strategically important fort.
The history of this medieval fort is a chequered one. From Hyder Ali the British captured the fort in 1768 under Colonel Wood but, Hyder Ali did not give up his efforts and managed to recapture it after a few months. it was retaken by Hyder a few months later. In 1783, it again changed hands and Captain Fullerton recaptured it after a siege that lasted eleven days but was abandoned in the the following year. In the meantime, the Zamorin rulers took possession of the fort and it did not last long. . At last in 1790 the fort was finally captured by the British under Colonel Stuart. It was renovated and strengthened to be used as a base for military operations. For the rest of the period, the British used it as garrison until early 1900s . Later, it was converted into a taluk office. There is small shrine dedicated to god Anjaneya inside the fort. Also functioning in the fort ground are the Taluka Jail and the office of the ASI - the Archaeological Survey of India. Yet another attractions are a Children's park on one side of the fort an open air auditorium called "Rappadi".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad_Fort
www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ASI-seeks-relocation-of-govt.-offices-from-Palakkad-fort/article14500851.ece
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| Palakkad fort/Tipu Sultan fort. LOOKERALA |
time prior to the invasion of Hyder Ali and the Mysore ruler reinforced the fort to the present form to suit his needs. The local ruler, Paliyath Achchan, under the the Zamorin, used to pay tributes to them and later became independent rulers on their own before the beginning of the eighteenth century. In the aftermath of their betrayal of allegiance to the Zemorin rulers, they became were furious and made threats to avenge them. Fearing retribution and invasion, to face the powerful Zamorin, Paliyath Achan sought the help of Hyder Ali and sent a delegation in 1757
to the Mysore ruler to face the imminent threats from the Zamorin. Hyder Ali, being shrewd as he was, knew the strategic importance of Palakkad and its fort, seized upon the opportunity given to him on a silver platter to gain possession of a rich land. He took over the fort in the late 1750s and till 1790 it was under his control. When his son Tipu was killed by the British toward the end of 18th century, the British - East India company took possession of this strategically important fort.
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| Palakkad Fort, Kerala Kaazhchakal - WordPress.com |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad_Fort
www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ASI-seeks-relocation-of-govt.-offices-from-Palakkad-fort/article14500851.ece
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