Tipu Sultan's dream to make Farookabad, now Feroke, his new Capital was never realised
The remnants of Tipu Sultan's Fort are a telltale of the Mughal Emperor's dream to make Farookabad, now Feroke, his new Capital, but that dream was never realised.
Feroke: Feroke is one of the prominent heritage spots in the Malabar region famous for its rich history. Known as Farookabad during the reign of Tipu Sultan, it was a prominent administrative and commercial town located adjacent to the city of Kozhikode. Tipu Sultan wanted to make Farookabad (meaning ‘town of victory’) his capital when he conquered Malabar in 1788. But it came under the jurisdiction of the British when he was defeated. Apart from the remnants of the Tipu Sultan Fort, which came under the possession of Basel Mission that fell into the hands of Commonwealth Trust, Feroke has other attractions to woo visitors such as the Feroke River, the Railway Bridge and numerous tile factories located on the river banks.
Tipu Sultan Fort
The remains of the Tipu Sultan Fort is a heritage icon of Feroke. The remnants of the fort built in laterite at Paramukku, Kottasthala, was declared an archaeological monument in 1991 under the Protected Monuments Sites and Remains Act of 1968. A well with a 12-metre diameter can be found in the compound with two mini wells inside this huge well. There is a long tunnel that leads from the premises of the fort to the river. Notable historian and the former chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) M.G.S. Narayanan said that the site was meant for constructing a fort by Tipu but he could not turn it into a reality. Tipu’s dream of founding a new capital had to be abandoned after he was compelled to retire to Coimbatore due to the approaching monsoon.
A site for Archaeological Tourism
The laterite remains of the fort and the wells constructed inside the fort lie in a dilapidated condition due to negligence. Even though construction and mining activities are prohibited within 300 metres of any protected heritage monument, some private individuals are engaged in it. The Tipu Sultan Fort Protection Coordination Committee has decided to approach historians in the State in order to seek their support for the protection of the fort. Apart from the coordination committee, the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) and the Civic Society of Feroke have been protesting to save the remains of the fort. In 2007, the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council initiated steps to prepare a project report to safeguard the remains of the Tipu Sultan Fort at Feroke but the proposal still remains on paper.
Feroke in the south of Kozhikode city is well connected by both road and rail. Feroke has a railway station located on the Shoranur-Mangalore line.
Cradle of Tile Industry
The swift rivers from the Western Ghats, after passing through forests, bring the clay to Feroke that is ideal to make tiles, pottery and ceramic wares. The tall towers of the tile factories located on the riverbanks are a spectacular sight. There are more than a dozen tile factories in Feroke alone and besides this it is also renowned for timber and allied industries.
Feroke River is an ideal attraction to sight fisherman engaged in traditional fish catching in row boats during mornings and evenings. Small cluster of mangroves are located on the banks of the river, which are ideal resting spots for indigenous birds and migratory birds.
The heritage bridge, built by the British in 1883, had its pillars filled with molten lead in order to add strength and flexibility. A visit to Feroke will definitely be an unparalleled experience.
( Source : dc )
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