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Introduction
St. Angelo Fort is also famous as Kannur Fort or Kannur Kotta. Kannur is a city of
Kerala state, South India. The fort is also known as Kannur Fort and it is one of
the prominent tourist attractions of Kerala, is crafted entirely out of
laterite and thus it sports an old sporadic look. The fort is an architectural
epiphany, with its massive triangular design and it adjoining bastions. The
protected monument is replete with a big moat which runs around the fort. This
famous fort was constructed by the first Portuguese viceroy in India, Don
Francesco de Almeida in the year 1505. The fort is situated just 3km west from
the town of Kannur. From the fort one can run his eyes on the Moppila Bay and
Dharmadom Island, which are situated near the fort. The beautiful Dharmadom
Island is a small island just five acres in area and is located just 100 meters
away from the coast in the Arabian Sea. The Moppila Bay is a natural fishing
bay, which is until now used for the same purpose. St. Angelo's Fort, which
faces the Arabian Sea, provides a mesmerizing view of the Sea during sunrise
and sunset.
History
St. Angelo's Fort has an interesting historical background, as it has seen a
number of rulers and invaders. This fort has also seen a number of battles
almost all were fought for gaining the possession of this fort. After the
construction of this fort in 1505 by Don Francesco de Almeida, it constantly
remained under attacks from a number of native rulers in the Siege of Kannur in
1507. However, all their efforts were in vain, as the Fort provided its
inhabitants security from any kind of attack. Later on, Almeida refused to surrender
the fort to Afonso de Albuquerque who came to supersede himself as the new
Governor. Almeida instead captured Afonso de Albuquerque and imprisoned him
inside the Fort.
In the year 1663, the Dutch captured the Kannur Fort from the Portuguese. They
modernized the fort by adding the bastions Hollandia, Zeelandia and Frieslandia
which are the major features of the present structure of St Angelo's Fort. The
original Portuguese Structure was pulled down later. The Dutch later on sold
the fort to a native king Ali Raja of Arakkal, in the year 1772. But in 1790
the British seized the Fort, renovated it into a military base and used it as
their chief military station in Malabar. Today, St. Angelo’s Fort or Kannur
Fort is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, which
takes care of its maintenance.
Attractions
Kannur Fort, after much renovation, remains a classic example of Portuguese
architecture, though modernization throughout time makes it more of a fusion of
various European architectural styles. St. Angelo's Fort has an interesting
feature which is worth mentioning, when it comes to its architecture. A wall
protruding from the Fort separates the saline sea water of the Arabian Sea from
the inland water. The Moppila Bay is now turned into a modern fishing harbor
with modern fishing equipments, which is an Indo-Norwegian Project. The
adjoining bastions, which give the fort a triangular form, are a piece of
architectural mastery.
How to Reach
By Road
The network of road is well set and it is ideal to visit Kannur Fort by road.
However, one is advised to book a private vehicle or a taxi to visit this Fort,
as this is located in interiors of Kannur.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is the Kannur Railway Station, which is located
about 3 km from the Fort. One can board on a train to any major city of India.
By Air
The nearest airport to St. Angelo’s Fort is Karipur International Airport,
located at Kozhikode, which is 93kms away from the fort. From here, you can
take flight to almost all the major domestic and international destinations.
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