Vetti Muricha Kotta / East Fort

A place where you can see traffic jam all the year round. Wonder why the authorities are doing nothing to regulate traffic here.

East Fort is a busy commercial street located at the heart of the central business district of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala¹. It is also the eastern entrance to the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the richest temples in the world². The fort was built by the Travancore rulers in the 16th century, and was later expanded by the British². The fort has a circular shape, with four gates facing the four cardinal directions. The east gate is the most prominent one, and is decorated with sculptures and carvings².

East Fort is a place where you can experience the rich heritage and culture of Kerala. You can visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and admire its magnificent architecture and treasures². You can also visit the Puthenmalika Palace, which was the residence of the Travancore kings, and see their collection of paintings, weapons, musical instruments, and other artifacts³. You can also explore the nearby markets, shops, restaurants, and temples, and enjoy the local cuisine and handicrafts⁴.

East Fort is a must-see destination for anyone who wants to learn more about the history and culture of Kerala. It is a place where you can witness the fusion of tradition and modernity, and feel the vibrant energy of the city. East Fort is a place that will leave you with lasting memories and impressions.

East fort It's one of the historical parts in trivandrum. Gate way to temple Padmanabha Swami kshethram and commercial activities.

A lovely place to take a stroll along with roadside shops and beautiful architecture, truly a unique experience!

Too much traffic problem in East fort bus stand. Buses are not properly parked. They stop any where for pick the passengers. There is no rule for KSRTC and Pvt bus drivers. They make all traffic problems.

The point from where this pic.is taken is where I went to purchase kerala style dresses _ quite close to the temple

Right in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram. Proudly showing off the heritage of the Royal City.

A historical fort which is on the east side of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, world's richest temple. Fort walls built all around the temple and has entrance on all 4 sides. Some portion on the north has been demolished in the last century, but the boundary is udentifiable there to some extent. East side is famous as it is the main entrance to the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. It is certainly a place one should visit.

Goood place for.shopping, near to padmanabha temple, pazhavangadi temple, can experience bolii and payasam.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations. This historical place captivated me with its rich cultural heritage, architectural marvels, and vibrant atmosphere. East Fort is truly a must-visit destination for anyone looking to explore the cultural heart of Thiruvananthapuram.

Upon entering East Fort, I was immediately struck by its imposing entrance gate, giving a grand welcome to all who step foot inside. The gate, adorned with intricate carvings and traditional motifs, sets the tone for the architectural splendor that awaits within.

As I wandered through the narrow lanes and bustling marketplaces, I was immersed in the vibrant sights, sounds, and aromas of daily life in Thiruvananthapuram. The energy and liveliness of the place are infectious, as locals and visitors alike go about their daily routines amidst the backdrop of historical structures.

One of the highlights of my visit was exploring the famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located at the heart of East Fort. This magnificent temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is a true architectural masterpiece. The intricate detailing on the temple's gopuram (tower) is awe-inspiring, and the serene atmosphere within the temple complex offered a sense of tranquility and spirituality.

Adjacent to the temple, I discovered the Kuthiramalika Palace, also known as the Horse Palace. This exquisite wooden palace showcases the splendid craftsmanship of the region. The intricate carvings, elegant courtyards, and fascinating displays of artifacts provided a glimpse into the opulent lives of the royals who once resided here.

Another must-visit spot in East Fort is the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple's unique architecture and spiritual ambiance make it a popular pilgrimage site. Witnessing the colorful rituals and observing the devotees' fervor was a humbling and uplifting experience.

East Fort is also a paradise for shopaholics. The bustling markets surrounding the temple offer a wide array of traditional handicrafts, exquisite textiles, spices, and authentic local cuisine. Exploring the narrow alleys lined with shops and street vendors was a delight, and I couldn't resist picking up some beautiful souvenirs to remember my visit.

Moreover, the strategic location of East Fort makes it an ideal starting point for exploring other attractions in Thiruvananthapuram. The proximity to the Napier Museum, Kanakakkunnu Palace, and the city's renowned beaches allows visitors to easily explore the city's diverse offerings.

In conclusion, my visit to East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram was an enriching and unforgettable experience. The architectural wonders, cultural vibrancy, and historical significance of this place make it a treasure trove for travelers seeking a taste of Kerala's rich heritage. I highly recommend adding East Fort to your itinerary if you plan to visit Thiruvananthapuram, as it promises a captivating journey through history and culture.

Eastfort is important place in Trivandrum gate way to India's richest temple Padmanabha Swami kshrmtram.all buses to various parts of city starts here. Really a transit hub.many commercial activities happens here

It's cool to see all the things, but don't expect parking space near or around it. The best option would be to go by foot.

A historic fort in Thiruvananthapuram. It's said that Tipu demolished the fort during his crusade. Later the valiant kings of Travancore rebuilt it.

Easily accessible from both railway and bus stations. All main attractions of the city is nearby

East fort is more of a place than a building. Though the Eastern gate of the fort surrounding Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple and other major establishments of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom is there, it's the name of a place now. The remains of the Fort is now maintained by the archeology department.

An important historical space, lavish with tranquil temples, old palaces and traditional societies. Walking through these streets was an amazing experience. Lot of eateries around. Traditional or otherwise.

Tiruvananthapuram gets it's name because of Sri Anandapadmanabha, the deity worshipped at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Kshethram.

Really Amazing Place.

But gone ignored by the people and even by the politicians who get voted for the state and the central.

Tiruvanantpuram is The Place Where God Resides.

Religious feel with temple and fort. Unique experience of wearing traditional dhoti and praying inside temple

Had a walk around through the capital on the way back from kanyakumari. Quiet and silent streets after covid, wandered around like a gypsy!

On the eastern side of the historic fort in Thiruvananthapuram can be seen three important gateways — the Kizhakkae kotta  (East Fort gate) leading to the eastern gopuram of Padmanabha Swamy temple, the Pazhavangadi kotta  (one adjacent to Pazhavangadi Ganapathy temple), and the Vettimuricha kotta, on the south-eastern section. Elderly folks recall many interesting stories associated with these fort gates.
According to popular history,  Vettimuricha kotta  (literally ‘the fort that has been cut open’) was made during the reign of Visakam Tirunal Rama Varma (ruled from 1880 to 1885), who, it is said, had ordered its construction to test an astrologer! Once, the king challenged the court astrologer, asking him whether he could predict through which fort gate the royal carriage would leave for the evening ride. The astrologer accepted the challenge, but did not make any predictions. Instead, he requested the king to check beneath his carriage seat after he rode out of the fort.

Very good area.this place required cleanliness.but this area auto driver's very danger people.service charge very high?

Heart of Trivandrum city.and.main entrance of sree padmanabha swami temple.
. Easy for travel,
. Good travellouge area.
. Heart of city. Good restaurants and veg hotels, main attractions are Pothys and jayalakshmi.
Nice place... Nice to travel. And superrrrbbbb place.
I proud to be an Trivandrum.
I love trivandrum.

Really dusty now. Too much crowd has resulted in the place being dirty. Hope the road maintenance works get completed very soon.

East Fort or Kizhakke Kotta, as it is known in Malayalam, is today the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city. It is the central bus depot for the city bus services run by the state-run KSRTC and KURTC. It is linked by MG Road to rest of downtown Thiruvananthapuram, and is the point of diversion to other parts of the city, as well as the famed Kovalam beach. The city's Central railway station, as well as the Central Bus Stand (for long distance buses) are both a few minute walk from East Fort, so are most of Thiruvananthapuram's cinemas, as well as top cultural venues and shopping malls. Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple, from which the city takes its name (Thiru Anantha Puram means 'the city or puram of Holy (Thiru) Anantha, another name for Vishnu, who is the deity of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple), is situated inside the East fort entrance.

Another important landmark is the 125-year-old Attakulangara Government Central High School which was established in the year 1889 by the then social activist Marthandan Thampi during the reign of Ayilyam Tirunal situated near Gandhi park. This school is the Alma Mater of many famous persons who are scattered around the globe. On its list of former teachers are poet Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, former Chief Minister Pattom A. Thanu Pillai (chemistry), social reformer Sahodaran Ayyappan, former Chief Justice of erstwhile Travancore, U. Padmanabha Kukkiliya, Swami Vedachalam (Tamil), Marai Malai Adigal, and so on. Its alumni includes Subramanian who secured first rank in the SSLC in 1971 and also former Minister M. M. Hassan.

East Fort during the past few decades has transformed itself into one of the biggest commercial hubs of trivandrum with majority of Branded Jewellery showrooms like Alukkas, Alappat, Josco, Prince, Kalyan having their shops inside the fort premise. The 450 meters long street facing East FOrt and Padmanabha Swamy temple is the most expensive stretch of land in Trivandrum with most of the land being owned by Rajadhani Group and Ramachandran Textiles group. There are temples devoted to Hanuman, Ganesh inside the east fort premise along with an Ashram started by Shri Abhedananda. The major landmarks include Govt offices like Taluk office, RTO office, Pattom Tanu Pillai Park, Sanskrit school, Attukal Shopping Complex, Saj Lucia, Karimpanal Arcade. There are many palaces within the fort premise like Kuthira malika, Ranga vilasom Palace which is now a photo gallery. There is also institutions like District Co operative bank, Vasu Deva Vialsom Vaidyasala along with all the above-mentioned places.

Kuthiramalika Palace museum, built by His Highness Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore is also situated inside the Fort complex and its remains.

Gandhi Park is situated in front of the fort, which is famous for hosting socio-politico gatherings.  Gandhi Park has been completely remodelled with modern urban landscaping, and is a popular spot for a relaxing stroll or time-out. The Gandhi Park provides a maginificient view of the entrance to the East Fort which is lit up. The archeological department, cognizant of the great and long heritage of the East Fort, undertakes the maintenance and upkeep of the East Fort. It is a national monument and is flood lit in the evenings. The East Fort has its own Police Station and Post Office. This place of the city is said to be the very heart of Trivandrum and used to be the centre of Administration, arts, literature as Sri Bala Rama Varma was the patron of this city who himself was a virtuoso and a connoisseur at these fields.

The Ganesha temple, Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple, is also situated at the East Fort.

It is from the East Fort that one enters the Chalai Bazaar  (Market), which was the main business center of Travancore. Gold, Flowers, Iron and Steel, Fruits and Vegetables to Cars and Computers, this is one spot where you get everything. The beauty of this place and its surroundings is so amazing that it is always swarmed by thousands of tourists daily. The place is so ancient that you can see houses of old era, agraharams
Eas

Traditional architecture, near to the famous Padbhanabha Temple.
During peak hours, the place is noisy, hectic and crowded

The Vetti Muricha Kotta is a part of the heritage EastFort located to the south of the iconic gate.

Too congested. Needs a better traffic management. No level roads. The wax museum is about 150 mts inside from the gate. The padamanaba swamy temple is in close proximity. Vehicle parking ground is inside this gate.

Itz one of the historical one in trivandrum. We could see on the way to manacaud after east fort. Itz made with red bricks.still it preserved and maintained well.this fort is one of the main entrance to padmanabha swamy temple.

Kerala's no 1 city railway station opposite bus terminal near secretariat. Around 3 kilometers international airport. Etc

Real heart of trivandrum city. LEGENDARY PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE is here. Great feel.oldest CHALA market is here.
Famous PAZHAVANGADI TRMPLE also here. PUTHARIKANDAM public ground. GANDHI park. PATHMATHEERTHA holy pond etc.

The front view of Padmanabha Temple is from this fort exit. Now you can't enter through this due to traffic rules. View of the temple from this exit is super. Before there's entry permission to climb the fort now that's too restricted.

The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital city of Kerala- a South Indian state

East Fort got its name from the eastern entrance to the fort built by the Kings of Travancore. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple (the richest temple in the world) at the center. - wiki

The Thiruvananthapuram fort is built around Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple. Its construction works started in the year 1747, during the reign of King Marthanda Varma and was completed in 1787 when King Kartika Thirunal Dharma Raja was ruling over the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore. The height of the fort is approximately 15 feet and is built in on the plan of Mr. Thaikkad Vishnunathan Namboothiri, a renowned architect of those days. There are four main gateways and three sub gateways for the fort. The fort is now a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.

A historic place. Very near to the famous sree padmanabha swamy temple. Easy travel facilities, close to Thampanoor railway station and bus station.

The Vetti Muricha Kotta is a part of the heritage East Fort and located on the south of the iconic East Fort gate. According to a popular belief, this fort was named, 'Vetti Muricha Kotta', meaning 'cut open fort', as this section of the fort, which was once a wall, was demolished to build a new gate. This was done to facilitate an alternate entrance for King Vishakam Thirunal of the Travancore dynasty who was advised against the use of the main gate by an astrologer. Today, this gate is preserved by the State's Archaeological Department and has room for guards on either side.