Sadras Dutch Fort - Fortress in Kalpakkam - Chengalpattu, India

Very old one.. Entire fort was already destroyed ... Only 17th Century Dutch cemetery was there... Otherwise not useful to spend time here... It will take 10 mins to go around the fort.. There is no museum here and no entry fee... Good thing, it is walkable to seashore... so you can spend sometime in the beach area.

Sadras Fort. Built by the Dutch in 1612. The watch tower has two cannons on either side. But the Dutch VOC emblem is missing. The fort is in a ruined state. There are two warehouses on either side of the walkway. They were used for storing spices and opium. They are empty now. There are steps that lead up to a ledge to sit on an elephant. Dutch soldiers imbibed Tamil culture and used to play 'aadu - puli' game on stone tiles. An ancient folk game of goat and tiger. There is a cemetery from the 1600's. There is a ground stone and table stone of a mother and son. Excellent engravings on almost each grave. Engraving of a sailing ship. But they are all fading away. The British captured the Fort in 1781 and imprisoned Dutch soldiers in Fort St George, some of whom died. There is a Memorial Stone transported from Fort St George.

Sadras fort was built by the Dutch 350 years back. It was major trade hub. First war between the Dutch and British was fought here. Fort Was captured by British. The ruined fort is being restored by Archeological Survey of India.

Dutch fort with watch tower guarded by 2 canons. One of the best historical sites with vast open area. This fort was raided by British and came under the control of East India company .

The British left plenty of marks from their colonial heritage in Chennai, but not many know that the coastal areas surrounding Chennai were once the center of Dutch colonial power on the Coromandel Coast, and boast a rich Dutch heritage still evident today. A key example is the hidden coastal fort town of Sadras, located on the scenic East Coast Road, just south of Mahabalipuram. While the fort itself is in near-ruins today, its enchanting high walls, centuries-old halls, and a lone cemetery remain as one of the last remnants of Chennai's Dutch heritage. You should visit once

Sadras Dutch fort located on the shores of bay of Bengal. It is currently not well maintained. Looks like ruins from outside. There is a gate from one side of the fort which is generally closed. Sometimes, movie shooting also takes place at this location. It is located very near to kalpakkam township.

This is a work-in-progress. ASI is doing some restoration work. So don't waste time visiting this place. To make it safe for visitors, the place needs to be cleaned and dangerous areas should be roped off. Explanatory inscriptions should be provided identifying the structures and their purpose. Rest room facilities should be provided nearby. A small museum may be organised to provide information to those interested in Dutch East Indian history. A visitor fee may be collected and the place advertised so that visitors to Mamallapuram can make a side trip to this site.

Soaked in history - finally some restoration work is happening - great place to visit near Mahabalipuram on the way to Pondicherry