Anjuthengu Fort

Anchuthengu, Kerala, India

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Anjuthengu Fort, also known as Anchuthengu Fort, is a 17th-century British fort located in the coastal village of Anchuthengu near Varkala, Kerala.

It was constructed between 1696 and 1699 and is historically significant as the first trade settlement of the British East India Company in Kerala. The fort played a crucial role in the trade of pepper and cotton cloth and served as the first signaling station for ships arriving from Britain.

Its square structure has four bastions, each equipped with multiple guns, and is built with laterite stones and lime mortar, combining European architecture with local aesthetics. The fort also witnessed the early local rebellion against British rule in 1721, known as the Attingal Revolt.

Today, Anjuthengu Fort is known for its military history, panoramic views of the Arabian Sea, an adjacent pristine beach, and a nearby historic cemetery dating back to the early 1700s. It remains an important heritage site that attracts visitors interested in Kerala’s colonial past and scenic coastal beauty.