| Palakkad Fort, Palakkad | |
|---|---|
 An aerial view Palakkad Fort | |
| Location | Palakkad, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 10°46′03″N76°39′41″E / 10.7676°N 76.6614°E |
  Location in Kerala, India | |
Palakkad Fort is an old fort situated in the heart of Palakkad city of Kerala state, southern India. It was recaptured and rebuilt grandly by Sultan Hyder Ali in 1766 A.D and remains one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala.
The Palakkad Fort is said to have existed from very ancient times but believed to be constructed in the present form in 1766 A.D, but little is known of its early history. The local ruler, Palakkad Achchan, was originally a tributary of the Zamorin but had become independent before the beginning of the eighteenth century. [1] In 1757 he sent a deputation to Hyder Ali seeking help against an invasion threatened by the Zamorin. Hyder Ali seized upon the opportunity to gain possession of a strategically important location such as Palghat and from that time until 1790 the fort was continually in the hands of the Mysore Sultans or the British. It was first taken by the latter in 1768 when Colonel Wood captured it during his raid on Hyder Ali's fortresses, but it was retaken by Hyder a few months later. It was recaptured by Colonel Fullarton in 1783, after a siege that lasted eleven days but was abandoned the following year. It later fell into the hands of the Zamorin's troops. In 1790 it was finally captured by the British under Colonel Stuart. It was renovated and was used as a base for operations that ended with the storming of Srirangapatnam. The fort continued to be garrisoned until the middle of the 19th century. In the early 1900s, it was converted into a taluk office. [2]
There is a large ground between the Fort and the Palakkad Townhall, known as Kota Maidanam (Fort Maidan/Fort Grounds). The ground is now used to stage cricket matches, exhibitions, and public meetings. An open-air auditorium called "Rappadi", currently under the preservation of the Archeological Survey of India, is also located within the spacious grounds of the Fort. Additionally, there is a children's park on one side of the Fort.This children's park is known by the name "Vatika" , which has a beautiful garden alongside outdoor playground equipments for kids.
The Palakkad Special Sub Jail is also located within the fort. There is a small shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman known as Anjaneya Swamy temple, The temple is situated on the Eastern entrance of the fort, Figure Anjaneya is carved on the inner side of the fort wall. The murti of Lord Anjaneya is south facing, while the lord himself is facing west. It is believed that Tipu and his warriors worshipped the lord to protect them from all enemies. A garden called Vatika-Shilavatika is maintained inside the court.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO6JWIjp2dQLIHBa4Oz_S8c1vL53N6EBxA0wiFg dileepthenur
Hyder Ali was the Sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born as Hyder Ali, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers. Rising to the post of Dalavayi (commander-in-chief) to Krishnaraja Wodeyar II, he came to dominate the titular monarch and the Mysore government. He became the de facto ruler of Mysore as Sarvadhikari by 1761. During intermittent conflicts against the East India Company during the First and Second Anglo–Mysore Wars, Hyder Ali was the military leader.
Palakkad District is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was carved out from the southeastern region of the former Malabar District on 1 January 1957. It is located at the centre of Kerala. It is the largest district in the state since 2006. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram district, on the southwest by the Thrissur district, on the northeast by Nilgiris district, and on the east by Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. The district is nicknamed "The granary of Kerala". Palakkad is the gateway to Kerala due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap, in the Western Ghats. The 2,383 m high Anginda peak, which is situated in the border of Palakkad district, Nilgiris district, and Malappuram district, in Silent Valley National Park, is the highest point of elevation in Palakkad district. Palakkad city is located just 50 km away from Coimbatore, a major city in Tamil Nadu state.
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Ravi Varma Raja (1745–1793) was a Samantan Nair warrior prince of the Royal House of Zamorins from Calicut who fought a two-decade long revolt against the Mysore Sultanate under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan between 1766–1768 and 1774–1791, and later the British East India Company in 1793.
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