SADRAS - THE DUTCH FORT AT KALPAKKAM

Kalpakkam. By far the most 'dangerous' place near Chennai, at least for the scientifically conservative-minded. With the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and the Madras Atomic Power Station in the town, this sounds like a place to skip, if you are planning a pleasant evening.

But there are other attractions to this town. I was taken completely by surprise when I came across a huge fort inside the town. The magnificient Sadras, built for commercial purposes by the Dutch, is a vast compound enclosing a huge granary, stable and structures used to mount elephants (Unfortunately only one of these structures survives).

This fort was used by Dutch traders to export goods from India. Also in the fort is a Dutch cemetery (not much of a difference from any Indian cemetery, except the language of inscription). Our guide through the place was the watchman, who showed us the ruins and the corridors, which used to have underground tunnels to the nearby pond. Now the fort is protected by Archaeological Survey of India, which is trying to stop further degradation of this wonderful monument.

Route: On East Coast Road. 16 kms from Mahabalipuram towards Pondicherry.
Nearest Airport: Chennai
Nearest Rail hub: Chennai
Notes: The fort is inside the town of Kalpakkam. Monday is a holiday.

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