East fort
Encyclopedia
The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram
city, the capital city of Kerala
- a South India
n state.
. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at the center. It is said that there were huge metal gates on this entrance to the Fort which was decorated with the symbol of a conch, which was the isignia of the Royal Family of Travancore
.
Kuthiramalika Palace museum
, built by His Highness Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
, Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore
is also situated inside the Fort complex and its remains.
Gandhi Park is situated in front of the fort, which is famous for hosting socio-politico gatherings. Gandhi Park has been completely remodelled with modern urban landscaping, and is a popular spot for a relaxing stroll or time-out. The Gandhi Park provides a maginificient view of the entrance to the East Fort which is lit up.The archeological department, cognizant of the great and long heritage of the East Fort, undertakes the maintenance and upkeep of the East Fort. It is a national monument and is flood lit in the evenings. The East Fort has it own Police Station and Post Office. This place of the city is said to be the very heart of Trivandrum and used to be the centre of Administration,arts,literature as Sri Bala Rama Varma was the patron of this city who himself was a virtuoso and a connoisseur at these fields.
The Ganesha
temple, Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple, is also situated at the East Fort.
It is from the East Fort that one enters the Chalai Bazaar (Market), which was the main business center of Travancore
. Gold, Flowers, Iron and Steel, Fruits and Vegetables to Cars and Computers, this is one spot where you get everything. The central road is over 2 km long.
In the vicinity of Lord Vishnu there are numerous other temples iside the fort complex dedicated to Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Lord Ganesh and also an ashramam dedicated to Swami Abhedanada.As one enter the fort they can see TVM District co-operative bank on their left side,besides that one of the oldest SBT buildings resides within the fort complex along with the palatial buildings which once served to house the rulers of Earstwhile travancore. The street facing East Fort once were full of Agraharas and small shops belonging to Brahmins.Because of the advent of business tycoons and their vested interest in east fort it has become the hottest shopping point in trivandrum rsulting it to have one of the highest real eastate values in Trivandrum.
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
city, the capital city of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
- a South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
n state.
History
East Fort got its name from the eastern entrance to the fort built by the Kings of TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at the center. It is said that there were huge metal gates on this entrance to the Fort which was decorated with the symbol of a conch, which was the isignia of the Royal Family of Travancore
Travancore Royal Family
The Travancore Royal Family descended from the Venad line of the Cheras and ruled over the Indian state of Travancore until 1947.The Royal family, alternatively known as the Kupaka Royal Family, Thripappur Swaroopam, Venad Swaroopam, Vanchi Swaroopam etc., has its seat today at Trivandrum in...
.
Significance
East Fort or Kizhakke Kotta, as it is known in Malayalam, is today the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city. It is the central bus depot for the city bus services run by the state-run KSRTC. It is linked by MG Road to rest of downtown Thiruvananthapuram, and is the point of diversion to other parts of the city, as well as the famed Kovalam beach. The city's Central railway station, as well as the Central Bus Stand (for long distance buses) are both a few minute walk from East Fort, so are most of Thiruvananthapuram's cinemas, as well as top cultural venues and shopping malls.Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple, from which the city takes its name (Thiru Anantha Puram means 'the city or puram of Holy (Thiru) Anantha, another name for Vishnu, who is the deity of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple), is situated inside the East fort entrance.East Fort during the past few decades has trasformed itself into one of the biggest commercial hubs of trivandrum with majority of Branded Jewellery showrooms like Alukkas,Alappat,Josco,Prince,Kalyan.Apart from that it also house the biggest textile shops of southern kerala.Some of other major landmarks are Pattom thanu pillai park for children, Rajadhani buildings,Theerthapada mandapam,Attukal shopping complex,Sri karthika thirunal theatre, Transport office, Taluk office.The majort KSRTC terminal is just outside east fort facing putharikkandam fields which offer a base ground for major political rallies and demonstrations.Gandhi park which gives a recreational comfort to passengers as well as others is just 50 meters infrot of it.Kuthiramalika Palace museum
Kuthira Malika
Puthen Malika Palace , most popularly known as Kuthira Malika , is a palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.-Etymolgy:...
, built by His Highness Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore , in India. He reigned under the regency of his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1813 till 1815 and henceforth under the regency of his aunt Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi from 1815 till 1829...
, Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
is also situated inside the Fort complex and its remains.
The Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
temple, Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple, is also situated at the East Fort.
It is from the East Fort that one enters the Chalai Bazaar (Market), which was the main business center of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. Gold, Flowers, Iron and Steel, Fruits and Vegetables to Cars and Computers, this is one spot where you get everything. The central road is over 2 km long.
In the vicinity of Lord Vishnu there are numerous other temples iside the fort complex dedicated to Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Lord Ganesh and also an ashramam dedicated to Swami Abhedanada.As one enter the fort they can see TVM District co-operative bank on their left side,besides that one of the oldest SBT buildings resides within the fort complex along with the palatial buildings which once served to house the rulers of Earstwhile travancore. The street facing East Fort once were full of Agraharas and small shops belonging to Brahmins.Because of the advent of business tycoons and their vested interest in east fort it has become the hottest shopping point in trivandrum rsulting it to have one of the highest real eastate values in Trivandrum.
Places of interest
- Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple and Padmatheerthakkulam - 200 m
- Pazhavangadi Ganapathi temple - 250 m
- Chalai bazaarChala, ThiruvananthapuramChalai Bazaar is an old shopping area in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The market is spread through the narrow 2 km road connecting Killippalam and East Fort, which runs from East to West. The by-lanes too have an array of shops...
- 100 m - Kuthira MalikaKuthira MalikaPuthen Malika Palace , most popularly known as Kuthira Malika , is a palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.-Etymolgy:...
- 150 m - Abhedananda Ashram - 200 m