Chaliyam’s Portuguese Fort Digitally Recreated: Final Stages Underway

Fast Summary

• Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion council (DTPC) is finalizing efforts to digitally recreate the Portuguese Fort at Chaliyam,destroyed by the Zamorin’s army in 1571.
• The fort, originally built around 1530 by the Portuguese with support from local chieftains, held strategic significance at the mouth of the Beypore River near Calicut city.
• Past accounts describe how alliances between Zamorin and other rulers led to a concerted attack on Portuguese holdings along India’s west coast.the Zamorin demolished the fort after capturing it.
• Technologies such as augmented reality (AR) will allow visitors to experience 3D models, historical videos in English and Malayalam, and an immersive walkthrough of the Chaliyam Fort via interactive signboards installed at Chaliyam beach.
• Researchers from State Archaeology Department and Kozhikode’s Government Arts and Science College developed these digital reconstructions based on historical records.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The initiative to digitally reconstruct Chaliyam Fort is meaningful for both tourism enrichment and historical preservation in Kerala.By employing augmented reality technologies, it provides an innovative method for engaging viewers while safeguarding narratives tied to India’s colonial-era interactions with European powers like Portugal. This modern experiential approach can deepen public awareness of both local maritime history and broader geopolitical power struggles along India’s western coast during the 16th century.The data highlights a convergence of technology with cultural conservation-a promising trend that could inspire additional projects nationwide aimed at protecting regional histories through accessible digital tools.Such endeavors also underscore how combining historic scholarship with emerging tech contributes tangibly toward sustaining cultural heritage for future generations.

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