Alamparai Fort

Alamparai Fort is a coastal fortification in Kanchipuram district, with stone walls reaching the waters of the Bay of Bengal. Several towers and wall sections still rise from the sand, while the sea has washed over large portions of the complex.

Nawab Doste Ali Khan had the site built in 1735 as an outpost for maritime trade. British troops captured the stronghold 25 years later and destroyed the main buildings, leaving only wall fragments today.

The ruins recall a time when Muslim rulers built a trading network across the Bay of Bengal and conducted business with European merchants. In the rooms behind the walls, bales of cotton fabric were stored, while salt and clarified butter passed through the gates onto ships.

The site lies about 50 kilometers south of Mamallapuram on the beach and can be reached year-round. The months from November to February bring cooler weather and less rain, making a visit more comfortable then.

Within the rooms of the stronghold was a mint where coins were produced for regional circulation. This workshop allowed the Nawab to strike his own currency for trading transactions and demonstrate economic independence.