St. Angelo's Fort , also known as the Kannur Fort lies next to the Government Hospital in the Cantonment area. This massive fort is built of laterite . The beautifully manicured gardens, surrounding moats, underground secret tunnels, cliff like end overlooking the sea , horse stable, church , a worn out lighthouse, underground cells, all add to the beauty and fascination of this structure.
That it was built as a strategic military base is apparently clear.
Kannur started to hobnob with European history as soon as Vasco da Gama set foot in Calicut in 1498.
Sensing dissent in the local rule, the first Portuguese viceroy of India, Francisco D. Almeida, built a fort on a cliff adjacent to the sea , which is today called the Kannur Fort.The year was 1505.
Dutch defeated the Portuguese in 1663 and captured the fort only to sell it to Ali Raja.
The British later took hold of the fort in 1790 from Beevi of Arrakal.
The fort offers fascinating views of Moplah Bay, the natural fishing bay, and of Dharmadom Island, in the Arabian Sea.
Apart from the fascinating history it is just a beautiful place to spend an afternoon or an evening at.
The place is well kept and will surely take you back in time with visions of maritime invasion, captured prisoners,hand to hand duelsm fight for power and takeover bids.
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| There is no entry fee involved .Open on all days |
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| Layout map of the fort |
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| Laterite construct |
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| Fort canon |
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| Canons at all vantage points |
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| Main entrance to the fort |
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| Posing next to the cannon |
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| The tree seems old |
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| Can you spot the underground cell, the circular pit behind me? |
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| View of the Arabian sea |
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| Man and the sea |
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| Feeling relaxed |
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| The fishermen have come out for the evening |
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| Stables |
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| Stables |
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| Dilapidated lighthouse juts out in the backdrop |
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| Stables as viewed from the top |
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| Fishermen and the sea |
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| Fort Chapel |
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