ARTICLES
Palakkad Fort
- Padma Mohan Kumar, freelance writer
email: padma413@gmail.com
November 23, 2019
Palakkad is a small town in Kerala located on the
lower ranges of the Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats. It is known as
the rice granary of Kerala, but its chief claim to recognition lies in
Palakkad Fort, which is believed to have existed since ancient times.
Situated in the very heart of the town, the fort is spread over an area
of 15 acres. It is one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala.
It was built in its present form in 1766 AD by Sultan Hyder Ali the
ruler of Mysore. It was an important military base in those times. The
walls of the fort are mute witnesses to the battles fought over it, and
the various stories of valour and courage.
Palakkad Achchan who was the head of the state of Palakkad was earlier a
subordinate of the Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut. However, with the
onset of the 18th century he had secured his independence. In 1757, he
perceived a threat from the Zamorin and sought help from Sultan Hyder
Ali. The Mysore ruler took advantage of the situation to acquire Palghat
which was of strategic importance. However, it continued to change
hands almost till the end of the century. In 1768 the British captured
it during a raid on the Mysore ruler’s fortresses. But Hyder Ali retook
it a few months later. However In 1783 the British took it after a siege
of 11 days, only to abandon it the following year. The Zamorin took the
fort again but it remained in his possession only for some years. In
1790 the British finally captured it. They renovated it and used it as a
base for their operations against Srirangapatnam (a small town of
Mandya district in Karnataka). It served as a military base till the
middle of the 19th century. It was converted into a taluk office during
the early years of the 20th century.
In the centre of the fort, there are extensive grounds. During the reign
of Tipu Sultan, stables had been built here for the steeds and
elephants which had formed a part of his army. These grounds are now
used for sports and for holding meetings. The walls of the fort are of
enormous thickness and are quite high. They are topped by seven bastions
or watch towers which are connected with each other. The steps leading
to the bastions are a little steep. There is a moat surrounding the
fort. These features would have formed the fort’s defenses against
bombardment by the enemy. There are well-maintained lawns outside of the
fort. There is a bridge over the moat by which one can enter the fort
through a massive door. Unfortunately, in contrast to the neat lawns
outside, the fort walls now bear unsightly etchings and scribbling by
visitors who seem to have no appreciation of heritage. The site has also
been used as a dumping ground for trash.
There is a Hanuman temple inside the fortification. An open-air
auditorium is also located within the fort grounds. Known as ‘Rappadi’
it is preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. The large ground
between the fort and the town hall nearby is known as the Kota Maidanam
or the fort grounds. Cricket matches, exhibitions and public meetings
are held here. Moreover, there is a children’s park on one side of the
fort. This spot is highly popular among picnickers. It is open to
visitors from eight in the morning till six in the evening. The nearest
railway station is Palakkad which is about five kilometers away from the
fort, while Coimbatore airport is about 55 kilometers away. Cochin
International Airport is about 140 kilometers away. |
