Udayagiri Fort stands on a 200-foot hillock at Puliyoorkurichi in Padmanabhapuram taluk, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. A massive black granite wall surrounds the fort, and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department now manages it. Inside are a biodiversity park, an old foundry, a chapel with graves and a fish museum.
Quick facts
| Location | Puliyoorkurichi, Padmanabhapuram Taluk, Kanyakumari District (district website) |
| Visiting hours | 9:30 am to 5:30 pm according to the district website. Incredible India lists 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Confirm locally before you go. |
| Entry fee | Neither official page states a fee |
| Managed by | Tamil Nadu Forest Department |
History
The district website says the site was rebuilt in the 18th century by Marthanda Varma, the King of Travancore. Incredible India describes the fort as built for the kings of Kerala by a naval commander of the Dutch East India Company after the Battle of Colachel in 1741, when Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch. The two official pages tell the story differently, so read both on the district page and the Incredible India page.
What you can see
- An old foundry that was used to cast cannonballs
- A Christian chapel with the tombs of the Dutch admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, his wife and his son
- A biodiversity park with spotted deer, peacocks, rabbits and small parrots
- A fish museum and a canteen
Incredible India also calls the fort a hillside citadel with panoramic views.
How to reach
The district website lists town buses to Udayagiri from Nagercoil: routes 382, 303, 310, 313 and 307 from Vadassery, and several more from Anna Bus Stand. It does not give road distances. Incredible India lists Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as the nearest airport and Kanniyakumari railway station as the nearest station, without distances.
Nearby places
Incredible India lists Padmanabhapuram Palace, Chitharal Jain Monuments, Vattakottai Fort, Gandhi Memorial, Kumari Amman Temple and Vivekananda Rock Memorial among the attractions nearby.
Where to stay
Search hotels near Kanyakumari below, or see our Hotels & Stays page.
Frequently asked questions
What are the visiting hours?
The district website says 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Incredible India says 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Check at the gate.
Who looks after the fort now?
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
What is inside?
A biodiversity park, an old cannonball foundry, a chapel with the De Lannoy family tombs, a fish museum and a canteen.
Hours and fees can change, so confirm on the district website before you travel. For help planning a Kanyakumari trip, call +91 91105 83839.
About the Author
Vikram Reddy
Vikram Reddy contributed travel content to Xploreall in 2025. That engagement has ended, and content on this site is now researched, written, and verified directly by the Xploreall team — see our Editorial Policy for how we source and fact-check our articles.
