Hosdurg Fort

Hosdurg Fort, also known as Kanhangad Fort, is a historic fort in Kanhangad, Kasaragod district, Kerala. Built in the early 18th century by Somashekara Nayaka of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty, it occupies a low hillock and features distinctive round bastions and a rectangular watchtower. The fort served strategic purposes for monitoring coastal trade routes and later came under Hyder Ali and British control.

Visitors can explore the ruins of this Dravidian-style fort constructed from laterite stones. The site features seven round bastions, broad wall-walkways, and a massive rectangular watchtower offering panoramic views of the surrounding region. The fort grounds contain remnants of vaulted chambers and stone-flagged courtyards. Nearby are the Nithyanandasram with its network of caves and the Poonkavanam Karpooreswara Temple.

Constructed in the early 18th century by Somashekara Nayaka of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty to consolidate control over northern Kerala after defeating the Kolathiri chieftains. In 1763, Hyder Ali's forces overran the region. Following his defeat in 1799, the East India Company assumed control and used the fort as a local administrative post until its decline in the mid-19th century.

The fort represents an important example of Keladi Nayaka military architecture in Kerala. It holds cultural significance as part of the chain of forts built by the Ikkeri Nayakas and served as a key trade and commercial hub for the Dutch, Portuguese, and Arabs in the past.