Madikeri Fort

Madikeri Fort, also called Mercara fort, is an earthen fort located in Madikeri, Coorg. It was first built in the last quarter of the 17th century by Mudduraja. There is also a palace inside this fort.

It was rebuilt into a fort of stone and bricks by Tipu Sultan. In 1790, Doddavira took control of this fort. After 1834, the British had captured this fort. After 1812-1814, again this fort was built by Lingarajendra Wadiyar II.

The palace also has a sculpture of a tortoise with the initials of king Vijayarajendra etched on it. Many stories of courage are told about this fort.

Inside this fort, there is also a temple known as Veerabhadra Temple. This temple destroyed in 1855 to convert into a church. Later it was built in a glasses window by St. Mark's Church in the Gothic style.

The structure was rebuilt for the third time in 1933, adding a grand clock tower and building an atrium.

This place has a two-storied building that is 110 feet high. The fort is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Coorg.

Madikeri Fort houses the office of Madikeri's deputy commissioner. Perhaps the most exciting feature of the fort is the Church-turned-museum. Apart from the Madikeri Fort Museum, the Madikeri Fort houses other places of interest, such as the district prison, life-sized elephants at the entrance, the Kota Maha Ganapathi temple, and the Mahatma Gandhi public library.