| Anchuthengu | |
|---|---|
| Anjengo | |
  Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Anchuthengu (India) Show map of India | |
| Location | Thiruvananthapuram,India |
| Coordinates | 8°29′00″N76°55′00″E / 8.4833°N 76.9167°E /8.4833; 76.9167 |
| Architect | Portuguese, English |
| Architectural styles | Portugal, England |
Anchuthengu ("FiveCoconutPalms"), formerly known asAnjengo,Angengo orAnjenga,[1] is a coastal panchayath and town in theThiruvananthapuram District ofKerala. It is situated 9 km south-west ofVarkala Town along Trivandrum - Varkala - Kollam coastal highway.
The town contains oldDutch-style churches, a lighthouse, a 100-year-old convent and school, tombs of Dutch and British sailors and soldiers, and the remains of theAnchuthengu Fort. Kaikara village, the birthplace of the famousMalayalam poetKumaran Asan, is located nearby. Temples in the area are Parambil Sree Bhadrakali Yogeeshwara Kshethram and Sree Bala Subrahmanya Swami Kshethram.
Anchuthengu is about 29 kilometers (18 mi) north ofThiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport isThiruvananthapuram International Airport.Kadakkavur Railway Station is 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) away.
Anjengo is located in anoxbow at the mouth of Parvathy Puthanaar canal.[2] Originally, it was an old Dutch settlement betweenKollam andThiruvananthapuram, and nearVarkala.[3]
In 1694, theQueen of Attingal granted the BritishEast India Company (EIC) the right to establish a factory and a fort at Anjengo, which became the company's first trade settlement in Kerala. TheAnjengo Fort was erected in 1694–8.[1] Because of its location, it was an occasionalport of call forEast Indiamen.
In 1728 Anjengo was the birthplace ofRobert Orme (1728–1801),historiographer of theEast India Company, and in 1744 ofEliza Draper who would become a muse and correspondent ofLaurence Sterne.[4] The fort played an important role in theAnglo-Mysore Wars of the 18th century[5] but, by the 19th century, the fort was considered an unnecessary expense. The EIC abandoned it, and the factory, in 1813.[1]
In the 19th century, the town remained known for its excellentropes (manufactured from the local palms) and also exportedpepper, homespun cotton cloth, and drugs.[1] Anchuthengu was a part ofMalabar District duringBritish Raj.[6]
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