Historical Places in Kerala
St. Angelo's Fort
Location : Kannur, Kerala
Built In : 1505 AD
Built By : Don Francisco De Almeda
Historical Importance : Served as a Military Base for the British
A massive triangular laterite fort, replete with a moat and flanking bastions, St. Angelo's Fort is also known as Kannur Fort. The first Portuguese Viceroy, Don Francesco de Almeida in 1505, constructed it and it passed hands from Dutch to British who renovated and equipped it to be their most important military station in Malabar. A protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India, it offers a fascinating view of the Moppila Bay and Dharmadom Island situated 100 metres away from the mainland in the Arabian Sea. The Moppila Bay is a natural fishing bay and has turned into a modern fishing harbor. A sea wall projecting from the fort separates the rough sea and inland water.
Anchunthengu Fort
Location : 36 Kms From Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Origin : 17th Century.
Built By : British East India Company.
The historic remains of the Anchunthengu Fort in Thiruvananthapuram built by the English East India Company in the 17th century, and an adjoining cemetery are noteworthy relics of this first major British trading station on the Malabar coast.
Significance :
First Major British Trading Station on the Malabar Coast.
Prime Attractions of Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) :
Aaranmula Boat Race
The Aaranmula Boat Race is staged each year in the scenic village of Aaranmula in August/ September. This river carnival is part of the Aaranmula Temple festival.
Varkala Beach
Varkala is a sea side resort, as well as an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. High cliffs with rich mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. The 2,000 year old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Centre are the two main attractions here.
Ambalavayal Heritage Museum
Main Attraction : Rare Artefacts From 2nd Century
The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, the archaeological museum in Wayanad,- has one of Kerala's largest collections of the remnants of an era dating back to the 2nd century A.D. The exhibits here are evidences of an advanced civilisation that existed in the mountains of Wayanad. The articles on display are a fascination for the historian, the archaeologist and the ordinary man alike. At the museum you can see articles as varied as clay sculptures, ancient hunting equipments like bows and arrows, stone weapons and other curios.
Significance
One of the Best Heritage Museums in Kerala
Prime Attractions of Sultan Bathery
Edakkal Caves Situated on Ambukuthi Hills, Edakkal caves are 10 kilometers from Sultanbathery, in Wayanad district
Attractions Rare 2nd century artefacts.
Getting there : Sulthan Bathery, the nearest town, is about 98 km from Kozhikode city.There are frequent bus services between Sulthan Bathery and Kozhikode. Nearest railway station : Kozhikode, 97 km from Sulthan Bathery. Nearest airport : Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 120 km from Sulthan Bathery.
Thrissur Archaeological Museum
Location : Near the Thrissur Zoo, 2 km from Thrissur town, central Kerala.
Visiting hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays and national holidays.
The Archaeological Museum was until recently accommodated in the Thrissur Town Hall building. Now it has been shifted to the Kollengode Palace, an architectural delight.
The majestic building houses a gallery of murals from all over Kerala and preserves a rare treasure of Veerakallu, temple models, olagrandhangal (manuscripts on dry palm
leaves), megaliths etc.
Veerakallu or herostones are stone engravings and sculptures of figures and weapons belonging to the heroes of days gone by. Most of these were improved from the forests of Wayanad and Thrissur.
The megalith set includes earthen pots, urns etc. The temple models cast in plaster of Paris are outstanding representations of the very old temples in the State.
Getting there :
Air : Cochin International Airport, about 58 km to the south.
Nearest railway station : Thrissur
Bastion Bungalow
Location : Ernakulam, Kerala
Built in : 1667 AD
Style of Architecture : Indo-European Style
Presently the Residence of : Sub-Collector
Built in the Indo-European style way back in 1667 AD, Bastion Bungalow get its name from its position on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the old, Dutch fort. The building blends beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion, has a tiled roof and typical first floor verandah in wood, along its front portion.
Though it has been said that a network of top secret tunnels runs beneath the bungalow, none has been found till now. Today, the bungalow is the official residence of the Sub-Collector.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum
A Museum to display a exclusive set of superior quality driftwood articles of very high artistic value, prepared through a rate and innovative modern art form, is functioning at the scenic village of Kumarakom. A Visitor would find there a huge collection of root sculptures of various shapes and designs.
Location : Bekal, Kerala
Built By : Sivappa Naik
Built In : Around 1650 A.D.
Unique Feature : Largest Fort In Kerala
INDIA is a country of forts and palaces and these forts were built as defense against invading enemies. Among the forts, Bekal fort is the largest and best preserved fort of Kerala. It is situated 10 Kms north of Kanhangad and is of great historical and archeological interest.
The fort has been under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India since the time of the British. Bekal Fort, which is about 350 years old, is the largest fort in Kerala. It is proposed to be developed into a tourist complex. This magnificent fort which is nearly 16 hectares in extent virtually juts into the sea with a beautiful bay on its southern side. The fortifications of the semi-circular construction with an imposing frontage is still intact as an architectural monument.
Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty is said to have built the fort between 1645-16660. But some other historians are of the opinion that the fort was built by the then north Kerala rulers, the Kolathiri Rajas. Sivappa Naik of Bednore captured the fort when the Kolathiri Raja stopped paying tributes to him. Later, the fort fell into the hands of Hyder Ali and later into his son, Tipu Sultan.
With the over throw of Tipu Sultan, Bekal was incorporated into the dominions of the English East India Company in 1799. A mosque and a Hanuman temple are located at the entrance of the fort as a symbol of religious harmony. The facade of the high walls with the battlement and the entire structure of the fort are architecturally commendable. There is a large tower in the middle of the fort at a height of 10 meters and with a circumference of 27 m. From this tower, one can see the entire fort and the sea on the west and the lush green valleys on the east and the undulating blue mountains. The fort must have been built with a view to spotting enemy vessels afar in the high seas. The waves lashing against its many extensions jutting into the water for years have not caused any serious damage. Neither time nor the mighty waves have dimmed the magnificence of the Bekal fort. Peeping through its ancient moss covered cannon holes, one can see the Arabian sea shimmering in the sun and stretching into the horizon in all its varying moods.
Prime Attractions of Kasaragod :
Anandasram
This internationally renowned spiritual centre founded by Swami Ramdas in 1939, offers a quiet, peaceful ambience best suited for meditation and spiritual studies. A 40 minutes drive away, is the unique Valiyaparamba Backwater stretch. The most scenic Backwaters of Kerala, it is fed by four rivers and is dotted with numerous islands. Valiyaparamba is perhaps the most scenic Backwaters of Kerala. A cruise centre offering exciting boat rides will soon be opened here.
Bishops House
Location : Ernakulam, Kerala
Attractions : 1506 AD
Famous As : Residence of Portugese Governor
Previously Acquired by : Dome Jos Gomes Ferreira
Built by the Portuguese in A.D.1506 as residence of the Portuguese governor, Bishop house is the oldest Catholic Dioceses in India located near the Parade ground, Fort Kochi. A prominent heritage of Fort Kochi, it is characterised by large arches in Gothic Style and has circular garden path winding up to the main entrance. The building was acquired by Dome Jos Gomes Ferreira, the 27th Bishop of the Diocese of Cochin whose jurisdiction extended over Burma, Malaya and Ceylon in addition to India. Inside the Bishop's house there is a parlour room with large walls. These walls are painted in bright colours-telling the arrival of Portuguese, the origin of Christianity in Kerala and the establishment of the Diocese. The Indo Portuguese Museum within the palace compound has some historically significant invaluable collections. There is also the dinning area, known as Dr. Mario Sorais Hall, senate hall, teak staircase, large attics, collection of Portuguese maps, small collection of antiques and the other historic materials preserved here.
Bolghatty Palace
Location : Kochi, Kerala
Attractions : The Dutch
Famous As : 1744 AD
Presently : A KTDC Hotel
Built by the Dutch in 1744, the Bolghatty palace in Ernakulam is on an island, off Cochin in the Arabian Sea. The building was once a Governor's palace for the Dutch and later the home of the British Residents. Today, this is one of the prestigious hotels of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
The palace is two-storeyed and contains well-decorated bed chambers, a huge lounge wherein historical portraits are displayed. The ferry ride from the mainland Ernakulam to the island is a pleasurable experience. There is a golf course to boot.
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Anchunthengu Fort
Location : 36 Kms From Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Origin : 17th Century.
Built By : British East India Company.
Significance :
First Major British Trading Station on the Malabar Coast.
Aaranmula Boat Race
The Aaranmula Boat Race is staged each year in the scenic village of Aaranmula in August/ September. This river carnival is part of the Aaranmula Temple festival.
Varkala Beach
Varkala is a sea side resort, as well as an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. High cliffs with rich mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. The 2,000 year old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Centre are the two main attractions here.
Main Attraction : Rare Artefacts From 2nd Century
The Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, the archaeological museum in Wayanad,- has one of Kerala's largest collections of the remnants of an era dating back to the 2nd century A.D. The exhibits here are evidences of an advanced civilisation that existed in the mountains of Wayanad. The articles on display are a fascination for the historian, the archaeologist and the ordinary man alike. At the museum you can see articles as varied as clay sculptures, ancient hunting equipments like bows and arrows, stone weapons and other curios.
Significance
One of the Best Heritage Museums in Kerala
Prime Attractions of Sultan Bathery
Edakkal Caves Situated on Ambukuthi Hills, Edakkal caves are 10 kilometers from Sultanbathery, in Wayanad district
Attractions Rare 2nd century artefacts.
Getting there : Sulthan Bathery, the nearest town, is about 98 km from Kozhikode city.There are frequent bus services between Sulthan Bathery and Kozhikode. Nearest railway station : Kozhikode, 97 km from Sulthan Bathery. Nearest airport : Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 120 km from Sulthan Bathery.
Thrissur Archaeological Museum
Location : Near the Thrissur Zoo, 2 km from Thrissur town, central Kerala.
Visiting hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days except Mondays and national holidays.
The Archaeological Museum was until recently accommodated in the Thrissur Town Hall building. Now it has been shifted to the Kollengode Palace, an architectural delight.
The majestic building houses a gallery of murals from all over Kerala and preserves a rare treasure of Veerakallu, temple models, olagrandhangal (manuscripts on dry palm
leaves), megaliths etc.
The megalith set includes earthen pots, urns etc. The temple models cast in plaster of Paris are outstanding representations of the very old temples in the State.
Getting there :
Air
Nearest railway station : Thrissur
Bastion Bungalow
Location : Ernakulam, Kerala
Built in : 1667 AD
Style of Architecture : Indo-European Style
Presently the Residence of : Sub-Collector
Built in the Indo-European style way back in 1667 AD, Bastion Bungalow get its name from its position on the site of the Stromberg Bastion of the old, Dutch fort. The building blends beautifully into the circular structure of the bastion, has a tiled roof and typical first floor verandah in wood, along its front portion.
Though it has been said that a network of top secret tunnels runs beneath the bungalow, none has been found till now. Today, the bungalow is the official residence of the Sub-Collector.
Bay Island Driftwood Museum
The admirers and connoisseurs of this rare and innovative form of art frequent the Bay Island Driftwood Museum. The student community finds the art form adopted in the preparation of the exhibits in the museum interesting and educative as the museum inculcates in them the qualities of imagination, creativity, originality and initiation to produce useful articles out of materials normally considered waste.
Bekal FortLocation : Bekal, Kerala
Built By : Sivappa Naik
Built In : Around 1650 A.D.
Unique Feature : Largest Fort In Kerala
INDIA is a country of forts and palaces and these forts were built as defense against invading enemies. Among the forts, Bekal fort is the largest and best preserved fort of Kerala. It is situated 10 Kms north of Kanhangad and is of great historical and archeological interest.
The fort has been under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India since the time of the British. Bekal Fort, which is about 350 years old, is the largest fort in Kerala. It is proposed to be developed into a tourist complex. This magnificent fort which is nearly 16 hectares in extent virtually juts into the sea with a beautiful bay on its southern side. The fortifications of the semi-circular construction with an imposing frontage is still intact as an architectural monument.
Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty is said to have built the fort between 1645-16660. But some other historians are of the opinion that the fort was built by the then north Kerala rulers, the Kolathiri Rajas. Sivappa Naik of Bednore captured the fort when the Kolathiri Raja stopped paying tributes to him. Later, the fort fell into the hands of Hyder Ali and later into his son, Tipu Sultan.
With the over throw of Tipu Sultan, Bekal was incorporated into the dominions of the English East India Company in 1799. A mosque and a Hanuman temple are located at the entrance of the fort as a symbol of religious harmony. The facade of the high walls with the battlement and the entire structure of the fort are architecturally commendable. There is a large tower in the middle of the fort at a height of 10 meters and with a circumference of 27 m. From this tower, one can see the entire fort and the sea on the west and the lush green valleys on the east and the undulating blue mountains. The fort must have been built with a view to spotting enemy vessels afar in the high seas. The waves lashing against its many extensions jutting into the water for years have not caused any serious damage. Neither time nor the mighty waves have dimmed the magnificence of the Bekal fort. Peeping through its ancient moss covered cannon holes, one can see the Arabian sea shimmering in the sun and stretching into the horizon in all its varying moods.
Prime Attractions of Kasaragod :
Anandasram
This internationally renowned spiritual centre founded by Swami Ramdas in 1939, offers a quiet, peaceful ambience best suited for meditation and spiritual studies. A 40 minutes drive away, is the unique Valiyaparamba Backwater stretch. The most scenic Backwaters of Kerala, it is fed by four rivers and is dotted with numerous islands. Valiyaparamba is perhaps the most scenic Backwaters of Kerala. A cruise centre offering exciting boat rides will soon be opened here.
Bishops House
Location : Ernakulam, Kerala
Attractions : 1506 AD
Famous As : Residence of Portugese Governor
Previously Acquired by : Dome Jos Gomes Ferreira
Built by the Portuguese in A.D.1506 as residence of the Portuguese governor, Bishop house is the oldest Catholic Dioceses in India located near the Parade ground, Fort Kochi. A prominent heritage of Fort Kochi, it is characterised by large arches in Gothic Style and has circular garden path winding up to the main entrance. The building was acquired by Dome Jos Gomes Ferreira, the 27th Bishop of the Diocese of Cochin whose jurisdiction extended over Burma, Malaya and Ceylon in addition to India. Inside the Bishop's house there is a parlour room with large walls. These walls are painted in bright colours-telling the arrival of Portuguese, the origin of Christianity in Kerala and the establishment of the Diocese. The Indo Portuguese Museum within the palace compound has some historically significant invaluable collections. There is also the dinning area, known as Dr. Mario Sorais Hall, senate hall, teak staircase, large attics, collection of Portuguese maps, small collection of antiques and the other historic materials preserved here.
Bolghatty Palace
Location : Kochi, Kerala
Attractions : The Dutch
Famous As : 1744 AD
Presently : A KTDC Hotel
Built by the Dutch in 1744, the Bolghatty palace in Ernakulam is on an island, off Cochin in the Arabian Sea. The building was once a Governor's palace for the Dutch and later the home of the British Residents. Today, this is one of the prestigious hotels of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
The palace is two-storeyed and contains well-decorated bed chambers, a huge lounge wherein historical portraits are displayed. The ferry ride from the mainland Ernakulam to the island is a pleasurable experience. There is a golf course to boot.
