Fort Hammenheil, Portuguese-Dutch fort on a small rocky island at Jaffna Lagoon entrance, Sri Lanka.
The octagonal fort features seventeen gun embrasures across its eight sides, with seven flat walls and one curved section at the southern entrance point.
Portuguese Governor Antonio do Amaralde Menezes ordered the construction of Fort Hammenheil in 1618, using quarried coral as the primary building material.
The structure exemplifies Portuguese and Dutch military engineering methods, incorporating coral stone construction techniques and strategic defensive positioning.
The fort contains nine large dungeons that stored gunpowder during military operations and now function as guest accommodation rooms for visitors.
A massive Dutch-built reservoir on the northern side, constructed with specific bricks, continues to maintain fresh water centuries after its installation.
Location: Jaffna
Inception: 1618
Website: http://amazinglanka.com/wp/hammenhiel-fort
GPS coordinates: 9.71171,79.84792
Latest update: March 9, 2025 17:54
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