Chandragiri Fort: A Historical Gem of Kasaragod
The fort is the legacy of the architectural prowess of those days that shows the nature of strategic thinking at that time. It is situated in the Kasargod district of Kerala at the point where the Payaswini River is said to meet the Arabian Sea. Chandragiri Forting was originally constructed by the Vijayanagara kings, and the place is full of an unspoiled history, far away from the touch of the ravages of time. In Chandragiri Fort will find lovers of history flood in: photographers to click it in their cameras and nature lovers, there are also stunning all-around views one can forget not to remember. The fort is known to be enriched with the touch of those times in history and to possess an architectural record, as well as having fine strategic thinking.
Historical Significance
The 17th century saw the construction of the fort of Chandragiri by the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire. The fort marked the southernmost limit of the empire until the Keladi Nayakas of Vijayanagar fell from power, but later it became a part of the Bednore Nayakas, and subsequently the Mysore rulers— including Tipu Sultan—before it came under the purview of the British during the colonial period.
Its strategic location on the bank of a river and into the sea underscores its significance as a defensive structure on Chandragiri Fort, in that it was built to watch over enemy movement and protect the entire regions from renewed invasions. The fort still today stands as a mute symbol of the various cultural exchanges, maritime trade, and political upheaval that the past several decades have seen in Kasaragod.
