SETHUPATHI FORT

SETHUPATHI FORT , KAMUDI, KAMUDHI TALUK, RAMANATHAPURAM DISTRICT ,TAMIL NADU,INDIA

Fort at kamudi is 280 years old situated on the high ground above the GUNDAR river near the town Kamudi. This was built by King Thiru Udaya Thevar alias Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi of Ramnathapuram whose reign extended up to 1725. According to the Manual of Ramanathapuram Samasthanam published in 1891 this fort was originally planned and built with the assistance of French Engineers.

This is a small fort but had two lines of fortifications and contained buildings and a fine wall. In another document related to 1770 AD available at the Tamilnadu archives at Chennai this fort was in the midst of thick forest and it was considered as the strongest fort next to Ramanathapuram since it was situated on the Highway leading to Panachalankurichi and Tirunelveli.

During the armed rebellions organized by one Mylappan servaikarar, captain and faithful servant of King Muthuramalinga Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi (1762 - 1796AD) attempts were made by British Garrison and to seize the fort 1799 AD which was defeated. After the fall of Panachalankurichi on 25^th August 1801 the forces of East India Company controlled this strong fort of Kamudi belonging to Ramanathapuram. The forest of Sivagangai under Marudhu brothers captured this fort. But the fort was soon recaptured by the company’s forces.

To avoid further recurrence of local rebellion for which the Britishers paid heavy praise, the court of Madras Presidency ordered the demolition of all forts in Tirunelveli, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Dindigul in 1801 itself.

As such the collector of Ramanathapuram made necessary arrangements to demolish the Kamudi fort also. The inner and outer wall of the fort completely destroyed the present walls were belonging to the core wall portions.

Legend also says that Kattabomman stayed for a day in this fort on his way to Ramanathapuram to meet the then English Collector Jackson on 9^th September 1978.Eventhough it was constructed by Sethupathi king, this fort was called ‘Kattabomman Fort’ by the local people.

This ancient fort is preserved by the Tamilnadu State Archaeological Department by declaring it as a protected monument.

COURTESY : TNSDA