Arippu Fort ( ta, அரிப்புக் கோட்டை, translit=Arippuk Kōṭṭai; si, අරිප්පු බලකොටුව, translit=Arippu Balakotuwa; also known as Allirani fort; ta, அல்லிராணிக் கோட்டை, translit=Allirāṇik Kōṭṭai) was built by the Portuguese Ceylon, Portuguese and was handed over to the Dutch in 1658. The small bastion fort is located in Arippu, which is away from Mannar Island. The fort is nearly square in shape, with two bastions.
Robert Knox (sailor), Robert Knox, English sea captain and famous British prisoner of the Kandyan King Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy, Rajasinghe II, and his companion escaped after nineteen years of captivity and reached the Arippu Fort in 1679.
The first Governors of British Ceylon, British Governor of Ceylon, Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford, Frederick North, constructed his official summer residence at the beach front, now known as ''Doric Bungalow, The Doric'' and converted the fort into accommodation for the officers, who operated the pearl fisheries in the area. The fort building was subsequently converted to a guest house but was abandoned when the civil war spread to the area.
History
A legend says the Tamil people, Tamil Queen Alli Raani ruled in Mannar region. It believes that her fortress was located where the ruins of fort can be seen today. Further, the legend says that Kudiramalai area was her palace, and Queen Alli ruled where Kuveni subsequently ruled.
References
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{{Forts and fortresses of the Portuguese empire, state=collapsed
British forts in Sri Lanka
Dutch forts in Sri Lanka
Forts in Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Portuguese forts in Sri Lanka
1658 establishments in the Dutch Empire