A bastion of the Portuguese in Kochi, the Emmanuel Fort is a ruined fort located at Fort Kochi Beach in the state of Kerala. Also known as Fort Manuel, the fort was named after the king of Portugal, Manuel I. Thus, the Emmanuel Fort is known to be the first Portuguese fort in Asia. The fort stood as a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the King of Portugal.

History of Emmanuel Fort
Built in 1503 by Alfonso de Albuquerque, the Emmanuel Fort was situated near the waterfront of the Arabian Sea. The walls of the fort were made of double rows of coconut tree stems that were securely fastened together and had earth rammed firmly between. The walls were further protected by a wet ditch. In 1538, the fort was reinforced but by 1806, the Dutch and later the British had destroyed most of the fort.

Currently in ruins, remnants of the fort like a partially restored gun battery and other remains of ramparts and fortifications are found in Old Kochi and alongside the Fort is Kochi Beach. The ruins of the Emmanuel Fort are now spots of tourist attraction.

Visiting Information on Emmanuel Fort
The Cochin Harbour Terminus is the nearest railway station at a distance of almost 9 km from the fort and the Cochin International Airport is about 37 km away from the fort.

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