Kayts Island Fort

Kayts Island Fort, situated off the coast of Jaffna in Sri Lanka, is a captivating historical gem that unfolds layers of colonial history. Constructed by the Portuguese in the 17th century and later fortified by the Dutch, the fort stands as a testament to the strategic importance of the region in maritime trade. Its robust walls, complemented by a commanding view of the surrounding sea, reflect the military prowess of its time. The well-preserved architecture, with remnants of bastions and cannons, transports visitors to a bygone era. Exploring the fort offers a unique blend of historical immersion and scenic beauty, with the tranquil surroundings enhancing the experience. Kayts Island Fort stands as a silent witness to centuries of maritime history, providing a picturesque destination for history enthusiasts and those seeking a peaceful encounter with the past.

Cool ruins! Makes for a good picnic spot or an area with a bit of privacy if you are changing for swimming or whathaveyou. Nice beach for a dip just beside. Too bad there is no discernable effort at conservation.

Formerly known as Urathota (Uruthota), Kites was a major port in Sri Lanka in ancient times. According to the Nagadeepa Tamil inscription, during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186), Urathota was a special port for Indian merchant ships and the king gave special treatment to ships bringing horses and elephants.

Urathota got its name Kites from the Portuguese. It is a name derived from "Caes dos Elefantes". The meaning of this term is "port of elephants". The Portuguese used to call this port as this because Sri Lankan elephants were exported to India through this port. The name “Caes dos Elefantes” was simply called “Cais”. After the Dutch came to Jaffna after expelling the Portuguese, this name was further renamed as "Cays" and then as Kayts ("Kayts").

The fort at Kites was built by the Portuguese. Antonio Bocaro, a Portuguese national, made a note about this fort in 1635. This fort is said to be as big as Mannar fort but stronger than Mannar fort.

The message sent by the Dutch to surrender to the Portuguese commander who was in charge of Kites Fort in the battle to conquer the Jaffna areas in 1658 was mentioned in a book published by Baldaeus, a Dutch priest, in 1672. Apart from this, he does not mention any detail about this fort. The Dutch army has not attempted to rebuild Kites Fort. The reason for this may be because of the nearby Hammonhill fort.

This fort was then reported to the Colombo Journal in 1832 by a person using the author pen name "PENN". He reports that the fort was in ruins even when he visited it. At that time this was known as "Erie Fort". A study of these ruins indicates that this was a massive walled fort, 130 feet long and 130 feet wide, with 4 cylindrical terraces. It says that there were two gates on the east and west and a part of the outer slope of the fort facing the sea from the north.

J. According to an article published by a British named Pearson in 1926, it is mentioned that this fort, which was mentioned by "Pen" (PENN) by that time, had been largely destroyed. But Pearson, studying this fort in order, says that it was not square but shaped like a horseshoe. 2 attics faced the sea and it was identified that this was curved in the southern direction.

The maximum length from the wall connecting the 2 attics was 274 feet and the maximum width was 206 feet. The outer walls were 19 feet wide (see floor plan below). The area to the right of this was the residential area of ​​the garrison and there was an open courtyard in the middle. All the 10 rooms here were open to this courtyard.

Kites Fort had 2 outer and inner walls in the northern part. It was 150 feet long from the east through the north Attala to the west. There was a gap of 13 feet between the 2 walls. The ruins of this fort, which had fallen into disrepair, have been removed and preserved.

The fort at Urgavatthurai was built by the Portuguese. Antonio Bocaro, who served as the Historian General of the Portuguese State of India, recorded a note about the fort in 1635. He called this fort "the fort in the elephant's cave". The fort is said to be in better shape than the Mannar fort.
During the Dutch invasion of Jaffna in 1658, Dutch preacher Baldeus writes in his memoirs of 1672 that the Dutch sent word of surrender to the Portuguese commander in charge of the garrison fort. However he did not mention any details about this fort. After capturing Jaffna the Dutch did not attempt to rebuild the Urgavatthurai fort. This may be due to the nearby Hammenheel Castle.

An examination of the ruins revealed that it was a fort with four cylindrical walls 130 feet long and thick walls. It is mentioned that there were two gates on the east and west and part of the outer slope of the fort towards the sea on the north.

The northern side of the fort has outer and inner ramparts on the east and west sides, separated from each other by an open space 13 feet wide and 160 feet long. The inner wall is very impressive, with an archway running around it on the outside, supported at intervals by internal buttresses, which lead to the passage, thus dividing it into several compartments. The ruins of this dilapidated fort have been removed and the present remains are now partially preserved.

Not much left of this fort in Kayts. Nothing is preserved and it's left in ruins with no maintenance whatsoever. Place is filled with trash. Wish a little more effort was done to keep the place clean but again, it's just ruins. However it is a very nice place in absolute quiet. I recommend it to spend some quality time alone with beautiful views of the waters and take in the non-stopping ocean breeze.

I recently visited Kayts Island Fort and was blown away by its beauty and historical significance. The views of the ocean from the top of the fort are breathtaking and the guided tour was very informative. I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful and fascinating location.