Udayagiri Forts

About Udayagiri Forts

Udaygiri Fort is located at Puliyoorkurichi, near the Padmanabhapuram Fort on the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil National highway.The Udayagiri fort should not be confused with the fort of the same name located at Udayagiri Village in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.The fort was in a neglected state for many years till district administration took notice. A bio-diversity park is now established inside the fort. Tourists can now enjoy the sight of deer, ducks, fountains, birds along with more than 100 kinds of landscaped trees.Recently the Archeology department has discovered a secret tunnel within the fort. The fort is worth a visit especially for history and nature aficionados.

The fort is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil National highway at Puliyoorkurichi. This was the most important military barracks of the Travancore rulers, when Padmanabhapuram was their capital. The fort is built of massive granite blocks around an isolated hillock.

The tombs of the Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, (in whose honour the fort was once called Dillanai Kottai— De Lennoy’s Fort), and of his wife and son could be seen inside a partly ruined chapel in the fort.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation

Hotel Parvathy Residency
400, P.W.D Road, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu India, 400, P.W.D Road, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu India - 04652 227799‎

Hotel Seaview
East Car Street , Near Sea shore , Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, East Car Street , Near Sea shore , Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702 - 04652 246161

Gopi Nivas Grand Kanyakumari
East Car Street, Near Seashore, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702- 04652 246161

Help Line/Phone Number

Nearest Hospital:

CSI Hospital: 222222

Vijayakumar Hospital: 275045

Abdul Kadher Hospital: 240804

Catherine Booth Hospital: 275516

Dr. Kumarsamy Health Center: 270636

Kumaran Nursing Home: 231418

Irudhayams Hospital: 241561

Bedesta Hospital: 232233

Jeyasekhran Hospital: 271620

Krishnakumar Hospital: 230021

J. Mathias Hospital: 223137

Manju Nursing Home: 273849

Holy Cross Hospital: 230897

Moses Mathias Hospital: 232601

Moris Mathias Hospital: 276009

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Jaikwadi dam, also known as Nath Sagar is located near Paithan.It is about 50 km from Aurangabad, built on river Godavari and about 110 km from Ahmednagar. Its area is 1300 km². It supplies water to Aurangabad City and generates power.The power station is at the foot of dam and is generating 12 MW power with reversible type generator.The Jaikwadi Dam supplies water to Aurangabad City and generates ample hydroelectric power……more

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Location info

• **Address:**Udaygiri Fort ,Nagercoil,

• District: Kanyakumari

• Nearest City: Nagercoil

• Best time to visit: Throughout the Year

Climate & weather

Nagercoil has a pleasant, though humid, climate for a major part of the year. The maximum temperature during the summer hovers around 86°F or 30°C with extremely high humidity at times. Nagercoil receives both the north-east monsoon and the south-west monsoon. It rains more often in Kanyakumari district than in any other part of Tamil Nadu, with the exception of the Nilgiris. Due to geographical conditions, the southern tip of Kanyakumari is generally 2°C to 3°C warmer than Nagercoil during the daytime, though Kanyakumari is only 20 km away

History of Udayagiri Forts

The Udayagiri Fort built over an area of 90 acres is made using massive granite blocks. The fort really came to prominence during the reign of Marthanda Varma, the famous Venad King in the period 1741-44. When in the famous battle of Colachel Captain De Lennoy was captured with 24 other European prisoners he was pardoned by the king and entrusted with the charge of modernizing the Travancore Army. The captured officer remained loyal to the King and served him faithfully for 37 years. With D’Lannoy’s extensive knowledge of modern warfare, King Marthanda Varma extended his kingdom further north to Kuriyapalli. So much was the contribution of General De Lannoy that the fort came to be known as `Dillannai Kottai’ or fort of De Lannoy. At Udayagiri, De Lannoy stayed with his family till he died. Inside the fort premises lies buried the body of De Lannoy, his wife and son. There is also a chapel built around the grave. At his tomb a stone cross stands with inscription in both Tamil and Latin that reads: “Stand, Traveller, and behold! For here lies Captain Delannoy, who served Maharaja Marthanda Varma and Travancore faithfully for three decades” The sorry state of affairs has led to the decay of the tombs and the area around it. It is now out of bound for the visitors.

Things to visit & highlights

Padmanabhapuram Palace
Colachel: An ideal beach

How to reach Udayagiri Forts

• **Nearest Railway Station:**Nagercoil Railway Junction

• Nearest Airport: Trivandrum

• Road Transport: Nagercoil is very well connected to all the major cities in the Southern India.there are good number of buses to every cities

Nearest petrol pump

Nagercoil Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu.

Best time to visit Udayagiri Forts

Nagercoil has a pleasant, though humid, climate for a major part of the year. The maximum temperature during the summer hovers around 86°F or 30°C with extremely high humidity at times. Nagercoil receives both the north-east monsoon and the south-west monsoon. It rains more often in Kanyakumari district than in any other part of Tamil Nadu, with the exception of the Nilgiris. Due to geographical conditions, the southern tip of Kanyakumari is generally 2°C to 3°C warmer than Nagercoil during the

Timings & opening hours

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily; closed on Mondays

Entry fee & tickets

INR 25 for Indians, INR 300 for foreign nationals; additional INR 25 for camera

Duration needed

2-3 hours

Safety tips

Wear comfortable walking shoes; carry water; be cautious on steep steps and uneven surfaces; avoid climbing restricted areas

Things to carry

Comfortable walking shoes; sunscreen; hat; water bottle; camera; sunglasses

Nearby visiting places

Historical monuments, palaces, museums, and local markets within the city

Nearest airport, railway & bus

Hotel Parvathy Residency
400, P.W.D Road, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu India, 400, P.W.D Road, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu India - 04652 227799‎

Hotel Seaview
East Car Street , Near Sea shore , Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, East Car Street , Near Sea shore , Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702 - 04652 246161

Gopi Nivas Grand Kanyakumari
East Car Street, Near Seashore, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702- 04652 246161

Mobile network coverage

Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Vi all provide coverage across Madhya Pradesh. 4G is reliable in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and along national highways. Coverage may be weaker in deep forest areas of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench national parks. Most hotels and resorts in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi.

Food & restaurants nearby

Forts in MP (Gwalior, Mandu, Orchha) have snack stalls and chai points near the entrance. Gwalior and Mandu have the best food options near their fort complexes. The nearest town offers traditional meals — dal bafla, poha, and kebabs.

Things to do at Udayagiri Forts

Explore the fort ramparts and bastions, visit the palace chambers and durbar halls, photograph the architecture, watch the sound and light show (if available), and enjoy panoramic views from the top.

Frequently asked questions

What is the history of this fort? Most MP forts date back to the medieval period, built by Rajput or Maratha rulers between the 10th and 18th centuries.

How much time is needed to explore? Typically 2-3 hours for a thorough visit.

Is there a guide available? Local guides are available at the entrance; audio guides may also be available.

Are there food facilities inside? Basic refreshment stalls are usually available; full meals are available nearby.

Accessibility

Historic forts typically have uneven stone pathways, steep staircases, and no ramps. Forts are built on elevated ground — reaching them requires a climb on foot or by vehicle to the base followed by stairs. Visitors with mobility issues may find the outer grounds and lower levels more accessible than the upper ramparts. Wear sturdy footwear and allow extra time.

Rules & restrictions

Do not climb on unstable walls or beyond marked boundaries. Some bastion platforms are partially collapsed. Graffiti and defacement are illegal. Alcohol and smoking are not permitted inside most historic sites. Drones may require permission. Large bags may be checked at the entrance. Photography is permitted but tripods may need special permission. Respect heritage rules — these monuments are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

Best photography spots

The ramparts offer the best panoramic views — arrive early morning or late afternoon for golden light across the landscape. The bastions and arched windows make excellent natural frames. Wide-angle lenses capture the scale of the fortifications; telephoto lenses isolate details of the stonework and distant views. Sunset silhouettes of the fort walls against the sky are iconic.

Quick facts

• Type: Tourist Attraction
• State: Madhyapradesh
• Category: Forts

Visitor information

Please check locally for current visitor information.