Palakkad Fort, located in the center of Palakkad city in Kerala, southern India, is a historic structure. It was captured and extensively rebuilt by Sultan Hyder Ali in 1766 AD and is now considered one of the best-preserved forts in Kerala.
The Palakkad Fort is believed to have existed since ancient times, though its current form was likely constructed in 1766 AD. However, details about its early history remain scarce. The local ruler, Palakkad Achchan, was initially a vassal of the Zamorin but gained independence before the 18th century. In 1757, he sent a delegation to Hyder Ali seeking assistance against a potential invasion by the Zamorin. Hyder Ali took advantage of this situation to seize the strategically significant location of Palghat. From then until 1790, the fort was controlled either by the Mysore Sultans or the British. In 1768, Colonel Wood captured the fort during a raid on Hyder Ali’s fortresses, though it was quickly retaken by Hyder. It was again captured by Colonel Fullarton in 1783 after an eleven-day siege but was abandoned the following year and eventually came under the control of the Zamorin’s forces. In 1790, the British, under Colonel Stuart, took possession of the fort, which was then renovated and used as a base during operations leading to the capture of Srirangapatnam. The fort continued to house a garrison until the mid-19th century, after which, in the early 1900s, it was repurposed as a taluk office.
