Digital recreation of Portuguese Fort at Chaliyam in final stages

Efforts by the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) to digitally recreate the Portuguese fort at Chaliyam, which was destroyed by the Zamorin’s army in the 16th century, are in their final stages.

The Chaliyam Fort holds a special place in the history of erstwhile Calicut under the Zamorins. The Portuguese built the fort at the mouth of the Beypore river around 1530, reportedly with the support of local chieftains opposed to the Calicut kingdom. It was constructed at a strategic location to corner the Zamorin, as the structure was just about 10 km from then Calicut city. The Zamorin’s attack on the fort in 1571 followed his alliances with Bijapur Sultan Adil Shah and the Nizam Shah of Ahmadnagar for a “joint enterprise against the Portuguese on the west coast,” writes K.V. Krishna Ayyar in his book Zamorins of Calicut.

Official sources said on Sunday (July 27, 2025) that augmented reality (AR) 3D models and software to digitally recreate the Chaliyam Fort for viewers at the beach were ready. “An interactive signboard will be installed at the site, allowing visitors to access the experience by scanning it with their mobile phones,” they added.

3D model of the fort

The AR interface will offer three options— a 3D model of the fort, video descriptions in English and Malayalam detailing its history, and an immersive walkthrough that lets users open the fort’s doors using augmented reality. The 3D model was developed by a research team from the State Archaeology Department and Government Arts and Science College, Kozhikode, after examining historical records.

Mr. Ayyar, quoting from Zainuddin Makhdoom’s Thuhfathul Mujahideen, wrote that it was agreed “Adil Shah should attack Goa, Nizam Shah should march on Chaul, and the Zamorin should proceed against Chaliyam.” The Zamorin’s army, consisting of Nairs and Muslims, bombarded the fort and blocked Portuguese reinforcements. Supplies sent by the Portuguese allies in Cochin and Cannanore were intercepted. Ayyar wrote that the Portuguese were “compelled to devour dogs.” Soon after, the Portuguese captain surrendered. The Zamorin then demolished the fort, “leaving not one stone upon another.”

The Portuguese efforts to control Malabar ended soon after. The Calicut king later rebuilt the Mishkal Mosque at Kuttichira—earlier torched by the Portuguese—using wooden planks taken from the destroyed Chaliyam Fort.