West Fort - Fortress in Thiruvananthapuram - Thiruvananthapuram, India

West Fort got its name from the Western entrance to the fort built by the Kings of Travancore. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at the center. It is said that there were huge metal gates on this entrance to the Fort which was decorated with the symbol of a conch, which was the insignia of Travancore.The works of the fort around the Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram was started in 1747 during the reign of King Marthanda Varma of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. It was completed during the reign of Karthika Thirunal Dharmaraja in 1787.There are four major entrances to the fort namely East Fort, West Fort, North fort and South Fort. Besides, there are small entrances at Sreevaraham, Sreekandeswaram and Vettimuricha Kotta. Kumaramangalas Mana in West Fort has a fascinating link with the 'Ettuvettil Pillamar', who were vanquished by Marthanda Varma, the architect of erstwhile Travancore Located near the West Fort gate, the old archway to Saraswathy Vilasam palace, with its neo-classical architectural elements, easily captures our attention. However, not many spot the old nalukettu situated beside the archway, for it is veiled by the cool shade of several trees. Kumaramangalas Mana, the nalukettu, has a fascinating link with the 'Ettuvettil Pillamar'. History tells that Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1706-1758), when he strengthened the foundation of monarchy, put an end to the powerful 'Pillamar', the Nair nobles associated with the Padmanabha Swamy temple and the 'Ettara Yogam'. The 'Pillamar' were not to go down easily. It was believed that even after their death, the ghosts of the 'Pillamar' gave sleepless nights to the royal family members of erstwhile Travancore. In order to put an end to this ordeal, the royal family consulted scholars and sought the assistance of the members of Changanacherry Kumaramangalas Mana to exorcise the spirits. "According to popular tradition, the patriarchs of the Mana, with their tantric powers, managed to control the spirits. The spirits, confined in 'kumbhams , ' were taken to Changanacherry and installed at the Vettadikavu temple owned by the Mana. The eight niches, believed to be the resting place of the spirits, can still be seen in the temple. That is how our association with the Travancore royal family began," says K.G.K. Namboothiripad, the present occupant of the Mana in the Fort area. The ancient Kumaramangalas Mana in Changanacherry had its roots in 'Kadamuri Kara', near Puthupally. "It was from Puthupally that our ancestors settled in 'Puzhavathu Kara' in Changanacherry, where the old ancestral house is still located," says Namboothiripad. After the exorcism, the bond between Kumaramangalas Mana and the Travancore family strengthened and soon the members of the family were granted a residence inside the Fort, beside the Thevarathu Koikkal complex. "In olden days, it was customary for some of my family members to stay here in Thiruvananthapuram, as we conducted regular pujas at the Sreepadam palace." Namboothiripad recalls his early years in Thiruvananthapuram, "As a young man I often went to the Sreepadam Thevaram to conduct pujas. If we wanted to go home, we had to make alternate arrangements with some other Namboothiris to do the puja in our absence," adds Namboothiripad. According to him, in olden days, the Thevarathu Koikkal compound had only few other residences in its vicinity. Thiruvalla Madhom and Kumaramangalas Mana flanked either side of the Saraswathy Vilasam Palace, the abode of the celebrated Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran, the 'Kerala Kalidasa'. Despite all this attention, it has been told that members of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore, for long, never visited the Vettadikavu temple. There was a belief that, if the King of Travancore ever set foot on the soil of Changanacherry, the spirits of the 'Pillamar' would break free from their bondage and return to Thiruvananthapuram!

Gone to Murugan's Thattukada for having tea with my classmate. Tea and Parippuvada was nice. Murugan is giving food regularly to more than 30 crows, squirrel etc.

One amoung the archaeological building which prevailsfrom our royal family time. During this the festivel time Lord padthabanabtha swami goes for aaratu through this way

Historical fort that protects Padmanabhaswami temple at West side.

WEST FORT OR PADINJARE KOTTA IS THE GATEWAY WHERE SREE PADMANABHA SWAMI TEMPLE PROCESSION TRAVEL OUT TO SANKUM MUGHAM BEACH FOR FESTIVAL RITUALS....... FORT BUILT BY MARTHANDA VARMA MAHARAJA IN 1747 AD AND COMPLETED BY KARTHIKA THIRUNAL RAJA IN 1787. THAIKKAD VISHNU NAMBOODIRI WAS THE CHIEF ARCHITECT. 15 FEET TALL FORT WALL IS HUGE BLOCKS OF GRANITE LOCKED PRECISELY. FOUR MAIN ENTRANCE AND THREE MORE GATEWAYS ARE IN THE FORT WALL.

One of the best heritage place in the heart of the city

best atmosphere, no traffic,well maintained roads and footpaths,buildings are remembering us the beauty of keralality as well

West fort identified as a cultural icon associated with the celebrated Arattu procession of Padmanabha Swamy temple. The grand procession starting from the western gopuram of the temple exits the fort and proceeds further west, to the Shangumugham beach, through the 200-year-old Padinjarae Kotta