About Anchuthengu Fort
Anchuthengu Fort, also known as Anjengo Fort, is a historic British East India Company fort located in the coastal town of Anchuthengu near Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. Completed in 1699, it was the first permanent trading post established by the British on the Malabar Coast. The square-shaped laterite fort features four bastions and offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and surrounding backwaters. Today it stands as a well-preserved colonial-era landmark with ruins of a church, a cemetery with British graves, and an adjacent lighthouse.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore the square-shaped laterite fort with its high walls, four bastions, and cannons facing the Arabian Sea. Inside the fort grounds are the ruins of a chapel, a cemetery with British tombstones, and manicured lawns. A 130-foot tall lighthouse nearby offers panoramic coastal views and is open for climbing from 3 PM to 5 PM. The fort is situated on a narrow sand spit between the sea on one side and backwaters on the other, providing scenic coastal landscapes and peaceful surroundings for photography and historical exploration.
Key highlights
- 01
First permanent British East India Company post on the Malabar Coast, completed in 1699
- 02
Square-shaped laterite fort with four bastions mounted with historic cannons
- 03
Ruins of a chapel and cemetery with British graves inside the fort
- 04
Adjacent 130-foot tall lighthouse offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea
- 05
Strategic location on a sand spit between the sea and backwaters
- 06
Well-preserved colonial-era architecture and fortifications
History of Anchuthengu Fort
Anchuthengu Fort was the first permanent trading post established by the British East India Company on the Malabar Coast. Construction began in January 1696 after obtaining permission from the Queen of Attingal, and the fort was completed in 1699. It served as a major trading hub for pepper and cotton cloth, the first signaling station for ships arriving from Britain, and an ammunition store during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. The fort witnessed the Attingal Rebellion in 1721, considered the first collective resistance against British rule in Kerala. In 1792, its status was reduced to a Residency, and the factory was closed in 1813.
Culture & Context
The fort represents an important chapter in Kerala's colonial history and maritime trade heritage. It stands as a testament to early British commercial presence in South India and the complex interactions between European powers and local rulers. The cemetery within the fort contains tombstones of British residents and reflects the multicultural history of the region.