Udayagiri Fort, Kanyakumari - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 14 km from Nagercoil town, & 34 km from Kanyakumari, the Udayagiri Fort is an ancient fort situated at Thuckalay town in the Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu. It is one of the famous places of heritage in Tamilnadu, and among the most prominent tourist places in Kanyakumari.

Originally a mud-fort, the Udayagiri Fort was used as a military barrack by Travancore rulers during the 17th century. In the initial days, the fort served as a prison for people who protested against Tipu Sultan - the ruler of Mysore. Later, it was rebuilt using massive blocks of granite by Maharaja Marthanda Varma of Travancore in the 18th century. The renovation of the fort was done under the supervision of De Lannoy, chief of the Dutch East India Company. It was once known as Dillanai Kottai, meaning De Lannoy's Fort, in the chief's honour. Until the middle of the 19th century, East India Company's troops were stationed here.

Sprawling over an expanse of about 90 acres, the fort was built of massive granite blocks around an isolated hillock. It comprises a foundry that was used to manufacture gun, mortar and cannon balls. One of the main feature of the fort is a 16 ft long brass gun, which could not be removed even with the help of 16 elephants. Visitors can also see tombs of De Lannoy, his son and his wife in the fort's ruined chapel here during their Kanyakumari tour. Recently, a biodiversity park has been set up within its premises by the Forest Department, where visitors can find a wide variety of flora, fauna and avifauna.

Timings: 8 AM - 7 PM

Entry: Rs. 10 for Person, & Rs. 10 for Camera