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Mannar Fort

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Mannar Fort

Mannar Fort, Portuguese fort in Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

Description

Mannar Fort is a fortification on Mannar Island with a square footprint and four corner bastions. The surrounding walls measure roughly 15 meters in length and 4 meters in height, enclosing the central space.

History

The Portuguese built the fort in 1560 to control the region. The Dutch took over in 1658, and the British occupied it in 1795.

Culture

The fort shows European construction methods using granite stones and bricks that were typical of colonial times. You can see today how these materials were fitted together into the walls.

Practical

The fort sits on Mannar Island and is reached via a bridge from the mainland. It is managed by the Department of Archaeology and open for visitors to explore.

Did you know?

Two former prison cells sit at opposite ends of the building, each with small steel steps mounted on the walls. These details reveal how the fort was actually used during the occupation periods.

Location
Inception
1560
GPS coordinates
8.97586,79.91701
Latest update
December 14, 2025 11:05

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Mannar).

« Mannar Fort - Portuguese fort in Mannar Island, Sri Lanka » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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