St. Thomas Fort (Thangasseri Fort)

Originally built by the Portuguese in 1519, St. Thomas Fort was one of the earliest European settlements in Kerala. The fort served as a crucial trading post and a strategic defense point. Later, the Dutch captured the fort in 1661, further fortifying it and expanding its influence in the region's spice trade. In the 18th century, the British East India Company took control, adding their own modifications and using it as a military outpost. Over the centuries, the fort witnessed numerous battles and power shifts, contributing significantly to the region's complex history. Today, the ruins of St. Thomas Fort stand as a reminder of the colonial era and the various European powers that sought to control the valuable trade routes of the Malabar Coast.