Nedumkotta

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Nedumkotta or Travancore lines was a wall built as a protection against consistent invasion and threats from northern kingdoms mainly Zamorins of kozhikode. It was built by the Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal, King of Travancore with the support and permission of the Kingdom of Kochi.

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[edit] Background

The Zamorin of Kozhikode had long standing enmity with the kingdom of Kochi. The Zamorin had usurped Kochi's native Village. This led to dispute and then wars. With the stature and strength of Zamorin, he had become a threat not only to kochi but travancore too. Hence it was decided to construct a defence fortification jointly with the help of British. This led to the building of the wall across the kingdom from the sea to the Western Ghats. It was completed before 1766.[1] Later the Zamorins was defeated and kingdom came under Hyder Ali, the army commander of Mysore. And it was this structure that came in between the invading forces of Tipu Sultan to run over both Southern Kingdoms.
The fort was designed by the Army Commander De Lennoy under the supervision of Ayyappan Marthandan Pillai, Dalawa of Travancore and Komiachan, Minister of the Kochi Kingdom.

[edit] The structure

The wall was 56 km (36 miles) long. It started from Pallipuram Kotta near the sea, touches kottamukku, krishnankotta and extended till the Foot hills of the Anamalai in the Western Ghats. The Chalakudy river and lagoon which falls on the alignment was left alone as they themselves were a barrier. A trench 20 feet deepnad 16 feet wide was built along the northern side of the wall for the full length. At some places the wall reached 50 ft in height. Hollows were made inside where about 100 soldiers could hide and make an ambush. A company of soldiers was stationed about every kilometer with ammunition store house at strategic points. There were also caves in the nearby wells to hide in the possibility of an unannounced attack.

The places where fortification once stood is in the present Mukundapuram Taluk in Thrissur District, Kerala.

[edit] Attack of Tipu Sultan and its Destruction

24 years after his father, Hyder Ali had attacked Kochi, Tipu Sultan had again started on a conquest to conquer Kochi and Travancore. On December 28, 1789 Tipu attacked the fort and gained entry but was ambushed from behind by the hiding travancore army and had to retreat. Later in April he came back with reinforcements and this time was victorious and the travancore army retreated. He destroyed the wall at Konoor kotaa or kottamuri and advanced further. He filled trenches for a few kilometers so that his army could advance. By this time he received information that the British army was planning an Attack on Srirangapatnam and had to return back.

The most portions of the wall was destroyed during war, later eroded away due to heavy rains and trenches were filled up. The most of the ruins whatever left have also been lost due ignorance about the historical structure among the locals.[2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Valath, V.,V., K., Keralathile sthalacharithrangal - Thrissur Jilla(in Malayalam)[3], Kerala Sahitya academy 1981.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ When Hyder ali attacked kochi next in year 1766 this structure had been already been built.
  2. ^ Valath,V.,V.,K mentions a news in a local Daily, Mathrubhumi on 1978 July 6 about a cave being founf when a village road was being excavated near krishnankotta and subsequently being destrioyed. This he mentions was part of the structure
  3. ^ Place histories of Kerala - Thrissur District
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