This is the 17th century
Alamparai fort also called Alampara or Adamparai. Built during the Mughal era it was ruled
by the Nawab of Carnatic and was later on gifted to the French for their
support. The British eventually destroyed the fort and the dockyard which was more than 100 metres
long.
A rusted ASI board gives us more
information. Alamparai, it says was the ancient land of Idaikazhunadu,
mentioned in the literary work, Siruppanatruppadai. The sea port was used for
trade by the Arcot Nawabs and zari ,
salt and ghee were exported from here. Coins were minted from here as well and
later on the mint was shifted to neighbouring Pondicherry. The mint built on a highway near
Alamparai here even housed a Shiva temple, a “choultry “ and a pond and was
built for the benefit of the travelers coming down this route towards
Rameshwaram.
