(East Fort- Vettimurichakotta- Pazhavangadikotta- West Fort- Srivaraham Fort)
Village: Vanchiyoor
Taluk: Thiruvananthapuram
GPS Coordinates:
Notification Year: 1985
The Thiruvananthapuram Fort, built around the Padmanabha Swami Temple, was originally a mud fort. But the social situation during the reign of Marthanda Varma (1729–1758) demanded a strong fortification instead of the old mud fort. The reconstruction of the fort using granite was started around 1747. The fortification was completed only in 1787, during the period of KarthikaThirunal Dharmaraja (1758–1798). The fort has four main gateways, such as Kizhakkekotta (East Fort), Padinjarekotta (West Fort), Thekkekotta (South Fort), and Vadakkekotta (North Fort). Besides, there are gateways at Sreevaraham, Sreekanteswaram and Vettimurichakotta for the convenience of the public.
East Fort: This is the most important part of the fort. The construction of the fort gate is of western style.
Vettimurichakotta: Vettimurichakotta is a part of East Fort. It is situated on the south side of the east fort. This part of the fort, which was once a wall, was demolished to build a new gate. It has an attractive western style fort gate.
Pazhavangadikotta: A new road was constructed inside the fort from the west fort gate to the east fort gate during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal. Pazhavangadi fort includes the fort gate built near the Pazhavangadi temple.
West Fort: The west fort is one of the main parts of the fort of Thiruvananthapuram. In 1814, during the reign of Rani Parvati Bhai, its fort gate was renovated in the western style. The festival Arattu procession from the Padmanabha Swamy temple passes through this fort gate.
Srivaraham Fort: In this part of the fort, the fort gate has two lions on top of the pillars on either side.
