Udayagiri Fort, in Puliyoorkurichi near Thuckalay in Kanyakumari (Kanniyakumari) district, Tamil Nadu, is an 18th-century Travancore fort wrapped around a granite hillock, best known for the tomb of Eustachius De Lannoy and the biodiversity park that the state forest department now runs inside its walls. It sits about 2 km east of Thuckalay on the Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil highway, a short hop from Padmanabhapuram Palace.
Udayagiri Fort is a granite hill fort in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, rebuilt under Travancore king Marthanda Varma in the 1740s and now a Tamil Nadu Forest Department biodiversity park. Its chapel holds the grave of Dutch East India Company commander Eustachius De Lannoy.
Key takeaways
- Udayagiri Fort lies about 2 km east of Thuckalay and roughly 13–14 km from Nagercoil, on the Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil National Highway, per Incredible India and the Thuckalay town record.
- The fort was rebuilt under Travancore king Marthanda Varma between 1741 and 1744, supervised by Eustachius De Lannoy, a Dutch East India Company commander captured at the 1741 Battle of Colachel (Incredible India; Wikipedia).
- De Lannoy, his wife and son are buried in a chapel inside the fort; his tombstone carries inscriptions in both Tamil and Latin (Incredible India; Wikipedia).
- The site spans about 90 acres (36 ha) around a hillock roughly 79 m (260 ft) high and is now a Tamil Nadu Forest Department biodiversity park with spotted deer, peacocks and a fish museum.
- Timings listed are 9.30 am–5.30 pm (Kanyakumari district site) or 9 am–5 pm (Incredible India); the district site states there is no online booking. Reconfirm before you go.
- The nearest railway is Eraniel (about 5 km from Thuckalay) and the nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International (about 51 km), making this an easy half-day stop near Padmanabhapuram Palace.
About Udayagiri Fort and quick facts
Udayagiri Fort is a hill fort of the former kingdom of Travancore, set on a granite outcrop at Puliyoorkurichi, in Padmanabhapuram (Kalkulam) taluk of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. According to Incredible India, it stands on the Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil National Highway and was once the main military barracks of the rulers when nearby Padmanabhapuram was the Travancore capital.
The fort is built of large granite blocks around an isolated hillock. Incredible India and the Thuckalay town record describe the site as covering about 90 acres (36 ha), with the hillock rising roughly 79 m (about 260 ft). An old foundry inside was used to cast guns, mortars and cannonballs. The fort is now managed as a biodiversity park by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
| Location | Puliyoorkurichi, near Thuckalay, Padmanabhapuram taluk, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu |
| Nearest town | Thuckalay (about 2 km); Nagercoil about 13–14 km |
| Built / rebuilt | Rebuilt 1741–1744 under Marthanda Varma, supervised by Eustachius De Lannoy |
| Managed by | Tamil Nadu Forest Department (biodiversity park) |
| Timings | 9.30 am–5.30 pm (district site) / 9 am–5 pm (Incredible India) — reconfirm |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 hours |
Which Udayagiri? Clearing up the confusion
This guide covers only the Udayagiri Fort in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, not the several other Udayagiris in India. The name is common, so it is worth being precise before you plan a trip.
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri, Odisha: rock-cut Jain caves near Bhubaneswar, a completely different site.
- Udayagiri Caves, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh: Gupta-era Hindu and Jain rock-cut caves in the Vidisha area.
- Udayagiri Fort, Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh: a separate hill fort; fee and timing listings for that fort circulate online and should not be applied here.
The Tamil Nadu fort described below is the one linked to De Lannoy and Travancore. If you are planning a wider south India trip, our Tamil Nadu travel guide sets the fort in context with the rest of the state.
History: Marthanda Varma and De Lannoy
The fort’s story runs through the 18th-century rise of Travancore. According to Incredible India, Udayagiri was originally built in the 17th century and rebuilt by Maharaja Marthanda Varma of Travancore between 1741 and 1744. The work was supervised by Eustachius De Lannoy, a commander of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) who had been captured by Travancore forces.
De Lannoy was born in Arras (in present-day France) on 30 December 1715 and served the VOC, says the English Wikipedia biography that cites his tomb. He led a Dutch naval force that landed at Colachel, where Marthanda Varma’s army defeated the Dutch at the Battle of Colachel on 10 August 1741. Taken prisoner, De Lannoy entered Travancore service, rose to senior admiral, and was known to local people as “Valiya Kappithaan” (the Great Captain). He reorganised the Travancore army on European lines and is linked to several forts, including Udayagiri.
De Lannoy served Travancore until his death on 1 June 1777 and, according to Incredible India and the Wikipedia account, was buried in a chapel inside Udayagiri Fort; his wife and son lie beside him. The fort was once called Dillanai Kottai after him. East India Company troops were later stationed here, and a gun foundry operated within the walls into the 19th century. The De Lannoy tomb is noted as a protected historic site.
Best time to visit
The comfortable window is roughly October to March, when Kanyakumari district’s coastal-plain heat eases. This is a low, humid part of Tamil Nadu close to the Kerala border, so mid-day summer visits can be tiring; mornings are best year-round for the walk up the hillock.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler, dry | Oct–Feb | Most pleasant for walking the fort and the park; pair with Padmanabhapuram Palace. |
| Hot | Mar–May | Hot and humid by late morning; start early, carry water and a hat. |
| Monsoon spells | Jun–Sep | Greenery is at its best; expect rain showers and slippery stone steps. |
The region receives rain from both the southwest and northeast monsoons; exact dates vary each year, so treat the seasons above as a general planning guide rather than fixed forecasts.
How to reach Udayagiri Fort
Udayagiri Fort is easiest to reach by road from Nagercoil or Thuckalay, both on the main Thiruvananthapuram–Kanyakumari highway. The fort is about 2 km east of Thuckalay town.
By air: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International (TRV) in Kerala, about 51 km from Thuckalay per the town record. Madurai and the far-off Chennai airports connect the wider state; see our Chennai travel guide if you are routing through the capital.
By rail: The nearest railway station is Eraniel, about 5 km from Thuckalay, with Nagercoil Junction the larger railhead nearby. Travellers coming across Tamil Nadu often break the journey at temple cities covered in our Madurai travel guide.
By road: Town and district buses from Nagercoil’s Vadassery and Anna bus stands pass Thuckalay; the Incredible India listing names several route numbers (such as 382, 303, 307, 310 and 313 from Vadassery). Autos and taxis run the short distance from Thuckalay to the fort gate.
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thuckalay | ~2 km | Nearest town; autos available |
| Padmanabhapuram Palace | ~2 km | Combine the two in one trip |
| Nagercoil | ~13–14 km | District headquarters; bus hub |
| Eraniel railway station | ~5 km (from Thuckalay) | Nearest station |
| Thiruvananthapuram airport | ~51 km (from Thuckalay) | Nearest airport |
| Kanyakumari | ~34 km (from Thuckalay) | Cape town; day-trip base |
Things to see inside the fort
The main draws inside Udayagiri Fort are the granite ramparts, De Lannoy’s chapel tomb, the old foundry and the forest-department biodiversity park. Most visitors spend about 1.5–2 hours here.
- De Lannoy’s tomb and chapel: a partly ruined chapel holds the graves of De Lannoy, his wife and son. His tombstone carries inscriptions in Tamil and Latin, per Incredible India and Wikipedia.
- Granite ramparts and hillock: black granite walls encircle the roughly 79 m (260 ft) hillock; the climb gives views over the coastal plain.
- Old foundry: the fort’s foundry was used to cast cannonballs and guns, a reminder of its military role under Travancore and later the East India Company.
- Biodiversity park: the Tamil Nadu Forest Department maintains spotted deer, peacocks, rabbits and small parrot species, with a fish museum and a visitor canteen on site, per Incredible India and the district tourism page.
| Spot | Why go | Time |
|---|---|---|
| De Lannoy’s chapel tomb | Bilingual Tamil–Latin inscription; the fort’s headline relic | 20–30 min |
| Ramparts and hillock | Granite walls and plain views | 30–45 min |
| Old foundry | Military history of the fort | 10–15 min |
| Biodiversity park and fish museum | Deer, peacocks, family-friendly stop | 30–45 min |
A suggested half-day itinerary
Udayagiri Fort pairs naturally with Padmanabhapuram Palace, about 2 km away, for a relaxed half day.
- Morning: Reach the fort soon after opening (around 9.30 am) while it is cool. Walk the ramparts, visit the chapel and foundry, then the biodiversity park.
- Late morning: Drive 2 km to Padmanabhapuram Palace, the old Travancore capital complex (note: it is in Tamil Nadu but maintained by the Kerala government), and tour the wooden palace halls and murals.
- Afternoon: Lunch in Thuckalay or Nagercoil, then continue to Kanyakumari (about 34 km from Thuckalay) for the evening, or return to your base.
Where to stay
There is no hotel inside the fort; most visitors base themselves in Nagercoil or Kanyakumari, both within easy reach. The figures below are indicative planning bands for 2026 (reconfirm at the time of booking).
- Budget (indicative, reconfirm): around ₹800–1,500 a night for simple lodges and guesthouses in Nagercoil and Thuckalay.
- Mid-range (indicative, reconfirm): roughly ₹1,500–3,500 for business-style hotels in Nagercoil.
- Higher-end (indicative, reconfirm): from about ₹3,500 upward for sea-view and resort stays around Kanyakumari.
Book ahead during the October–March season and around Tamil and Malayali festival weekends, when Kanyakumari fills up. These bands are planning estimates we could not verify against live tariffs this session.
Food to try nearby
Being on the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border, the Kanyakumari belt mixes Tamil and Travancore flavours, with seafood close to the coast. There is a basic canteen inside the fort; for a proper meal, eat in Thuckalay or Nagercoil.
- Meen kuzhambu (tangy fish curry) and fried fish, strong along this coast.
- Appam (soft, lacy rice pancake) and idiyappam (steamed rice-flour string hoppers), common across the border region.
- Puttu (steamed cylinders of ground rice and coconut), a filling breakfast.
- Nagercoil-style parotta with salna (spiced gravy) at roadside eateries.
Budget breakdown
A day trip to Udayagiri Fort is inexpensive; the biggest variable is how you travel and where you sleep. The table gives an indicative per-person day estimate for 2026 and should be reconfirmed before travel.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fort entry | Small nominal fee (reconfirm) | No official fee verified this session; carry cash |
| Local transport (Nagercoil base) | ₹300–800 | Bus, auto or shared taxi |
| Lunch | ₹150–350 | Local eatery in Thuckalay/Nagercoil |
| Padmanabhapuram Palace add-on | Separate ticket (reconfirm) | Charged by the palace, not the fort |
| Day total (excl. hotel) | ~₹600–1,500 | Assumes you already have a base nearby |
Assumptions: single traveller, local meals, public or shared transport from Nagercoil, no overnight stay added. Prices rise with private cabs and higher-end hotels.
Permits, fees and rules
No special permit (such as an inner-line permit) is needed to visit Udayagiri Fort; it is an open heritage and forest site in mainland Tamil Nadu. On entry fees, we could not confirm an official figure this session. The Incredible India listing and the Kanyakumari district page do not publish a ticket price, and the district page states there is no online booking; a nominal counter fee is likely, so carry small cash and reconfirm at the gate.
Because the site is a forest-department biodiversity park, treat it as you would any protected area: do not feed or disturb the animals, carry out your litter, and avoid plastic. Follow any photography or drone restrictions posted at the gate, and dress modestly as you would at any heritage and religious site (the chapel contains graves).
Practical tips
- Timings vary by source: the Kanyakumari district site lists 9.30 am–5.30 pm and Incredible India lists 9 am–5 pm. Aim to arrive mid-morning and reconfirm locally.
- Cash and connectivity: carry cash for the entry counter and canteen; mobile coverage is generally fine around Thuckalay and Nagercoil, but keep change handy.
- Footwear: the hillock has granite steps that get slippery after rain; wear grippy shoes.
- Combine your trip: Padmanabhapuram Palace is about 2 km away, so plan both in one outing.
- Health: Nagercoil, about 13–14 km away, has the nearest major hospitals and the district headquarters.
- Solo and women travellers: this is a mainstream, family-visited site; usual daytime precautions apply, and it is quietest on weekday mornings.
- Season packing: light cottons and sun protection for Mar–May; a compact umbrella or rain jacket for the Jun–Sep monsoon spells.
Nearby places
Udayagiri Fort sits in a cluster of Travancore-era sites, so it is easy to add to a Kanyakumari-district itinerary.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Padmanabhapuram Palace | ~2 km | Old Travancore capital; wooden palace and murals (ticketed) |
| Thuckalay town | ~2 km | Buses, food, nearest services |
| Thirparappu Falls | ~25 km (from Thuckalay) | Seasonal falls, picnic spot |
| Nagercoil | ~13–14 km | District hub, temples, hospitals |
| Kanyakumari | ~34 km (from Thuckalay) | Cape, sunrise/sunset points, Vivekananda Rock |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Udayagiri Fort located?
Udayagiri Fort is at Puliyoorkurichi near Thuckalay, in Padmanabhapuram taluk of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. It stands about 2 km east of Thuckalay and roughly 13–14 km from Nagercoil, on the Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil National Highway, according to Incredible India and the Thuckalay town record.
Who was De Lannoy, buried at Udayagiri Fort?
Eustachius De Lannoy was a Dutch East India Company commander, born in Arras in 1715, captured by Travancore at the 1741 Battle of Colachel. He then served Marthanda Varma as a senior admiral and died in 1777. He is buried in a chapel inside the fort with his wife and son.
What is the Udayagiri Fort biodiversity park?
The biodiversity park is run by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department inside Udayagiri Fort. According to Incredible India and the Kanyakumari district tourism page, it maintains spotted deer, peacocks, rabbits and small parrot species, and the site also has a fish museum and a visitor canteen, making it a family-friendly stop.
What are Udayagiri Fort’s timings and entry fee?
Sources differ on timings: the Kanyakumari district site lists 9.30 am–5.30 pm and Incredible India lists 9 am–5 pm, so reconfirm before visiting. No official entry fee was verifiable this session, and the district page notes there is no online booking. Carry small cash for a likely nominal counter fee.
How is this different from the other Udayagiris in India?
This Udayagiri Fort is in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, and is tied to De Lannoy and Travancore. It is not the Jain caves at Udayagiri-Khandagiri in Odisha, the Gupta-era Udayagiri Caves in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, or the separate Udayagiri Fort in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. Their fees and timings do not apply here.
How much time do I need, and what can I combine it with?
Allow about 1.5–2 hours for the fort, chapel, foundry and biodiversity park. It pairs well with Padmanabhapuram Palace, roughly 2 km away, for a half-day outing. Many travellers also continue to Kanyakumari, about 34 km from Thuckalay, for the evening.
Last updated and sources
Udayagiri Fort suits history-minded travellers and families touring Kanyakumari district; go on a cool-season morning (October–March) and combine it with Padmanabhapuram Palace next door.
Last updated: 24 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Incredible India — Udayagiri Fort; Kanniyakumari District (NIC) — Udayagiri Fort; Wikipedia — Udayagiri Fort; Wikipedia — Eustachius De Lannoy; Wikipedia — Thuckalay; Wikipedia — Battle of Colachel; Padmanabhapuram Municipality — Places of Interest. Accessed September 2026.
