Elephant Pass fort

9°31′24″N 80°24′29″E / 9.523343°N 80.408080°E / 9.523343; 80.408080TypeDefence fortSite informationConditionDestroyedSite historyBuilt1776Built byDutchMaterialsGranite StonesBattles/warsMany

Elephant Pass Fort (Tamil: ஆனையிறவுக் கோட்டை, romanized: Āṉaiyiṟavuk Kōṭṭai; Sinhala: අලිමංකඩ බලකොටුව Alimankada Balakotuwa) was a small fort in the strategically important spot as it linked Jaffna peninsula to the mainland. It was built by the Dutch in 1776 on the banks of the Jaffna lagoon.[1]

The fort was served as a defensive structure to protect the Jaffna peninsula. It was like a well-fortified stockade or a watch post. It had two bastions, and each bastion was equipped with four cannons.[2] Elephant Pass Fort was linearly located with Fort Beschutter and Fort Pass Pyl in the narrow part of the peninsula. During the British rule, the fort was used as a rest house. It was destroyed during the Sri Lankan civil war.

References

  1. ^ "A feel of Sri Lanka: The road from Elephant Pass". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Dutch Fort at Elephant Pass". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  • Nelson, W. A.; de Silva, R. K. (2004). The Dutch Forts of Sri Lanka – The Military Monuments of Ceylon. Sri Lanka Netherlands Association.

External links

  • "Pass of a thousand battles" (PDF). (640 KB)
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Ancient Forts
  • Balana fort
  • Mapagala fortress
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Less or no contribution/renovation works of Dutch are marked by † symbol under "Portuguese Forts", and others are considered as Dutch forts too.