# Udayagiri Fort

- **Country:** India
- **Coordinates:** 8.243000, 77.335000

Udayagiri Fort, located in the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu, India, stands approximately 14 kilometers from Nagercoil on the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil National Highway. Originally constructed in the 17th century, this strategic military barracks was significantly rebuilt between 1741 and 1744 by Maharaja Marthanda Varma of Travancore. The reconstruction was supervised by Eustachius De Lannoy, a former Dutch East India Company commander who later led the Travancore Army. Spanning roughly 90 acres, the fortification is built from massive granite blocks surrounding an isolated 260-foot hillock and once housed a sophisticated foundry for casting guns, mortars, and cannonballs.

Historically, the site served as a crucial defense point and prison, notably holding captives from campaigns against Tippu Sultan. It also witnessed significant conflict when East India Company troops marched through the Aramboly Pass in 1810 to suppress a local rebellion. The fort remained garrisoned by British forces until the mid-19th century. A unique feature of the complex is the partly ruined chapel containing the tombs of De Lannoy, his wife, and son, with inscriptions in both Tamil and Latin. The site was once known as Dillanai Kottai in honor of the Dutch admiral buried there. Recent archaeological surveys have also revealed the presence of a hidden tunnel within the fortifications.

Today, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has transformed the area into a bio-diversity park while preserving its historical elements as protected archaeological sites. Although the property was acquired by the state government for social forestry purposes, leading to ongoing legal disputes regarding its ownership, the fort remains an important eco-tourism spot. Visitors can explore the scenic Western Ghats views from the hillock and view the historic tombs, which stand as a testament to the region's complex colonial and royal past.

![Photo of Udayagiri Fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Udayakiri_fort.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udayagiri_Fort (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)