Fort Geldria, Dutch colonial fort in Pulicat, India
Fort Geldria is a Dutch colonial fort in Pulicat with seven bastions strategically positioned along the Bay of Bengal coast. The site spans multiple levels and features an original moat that surrounded the entire structure for defense.
The Dutch East India Company established the fort in 1613 as the first European settlement and capital of Dutch Coromandel in India. This founding marked the beginning of a major Dutch presence along the Indian coast.
The fort carries the name of a Dutch province and still shows traces of the era when European and Indian merchants worked together at this trading post. The ruins speak to these connections between distant cultures that crossed paths here.
The Archaeological Survey of India manages the site today, and you can explore the different levels visible throughout the grounds. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain.
Local tradition tells of a Dutch ship stranded in 1606 that received help from Muslim residents, eventually leading to the fort's establishment. This story shows how cooperation and mutual aid shaped the early days of this European outpost.
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