Potagada — Local services in Odisha

The Potagada fort is an archaeological wonder. Situated in present-day Ganjam district, it was built 247 years ago and definitely deserves systematic preservation. The fort can be a major attraction for tourists if the government shows will to promote it. The state government had identified Potagada under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP), a World Bank assisted initiative. Though steps were taken to renovate, protect and promote it as a major tourist hotspot since 2012, it still fails to attract tourists.A sum of Rs 66, 40,195 was also spent to spruce up the surroundings of the fort for a period of two years from 2012 to 2014."The construction of Potagada fort began under Edward Costford, the first resident of Ganjam in 1768. The fort is spread over a vast area and is close to a river. It was built in a star-shape. Inside the compound, there are three residential buildings that have different architectural designs, most probably assigned to the Mohammedans, the French and the British. The fort also has two mezzanine houses and two passages on the eastern side of the compound wall that opens to the river. One was probably used as a secret passage to escape into the sea and the other, for the queen to go to the river to take a bath. The compound wall is impressively thick with a moat encircling it," said 68-year-old researcher Padma Charan Sahu, a resident of Brajanagar. Sahu has written about 20 books on the history and culture of...

It was a rainy afternoon and when we decided to go it was almost lunch time so we finished our lunch and started our trip.

This place is almost near ganjam and quiet a distance from berhampur. In mid way it started raining like cats and dogs.

When we reached it was almost late afternoon. There was no one at this place and my friend was scared and he enquired hoping there are no wild animals.

I was dejected by seeing the plight of this place and to know that there's no one to look after this hisitoric place. This fort is made where the rushikulya river meets into the bay of Bengal and during the Britishers time it had so much of importance. There are so many stories behind it.

All we could see were a few diaphilated structures and the horse stable was almost intact to some extent and the 3 entry ways were intact too. And there were a few structures that led to tunnels and one interesting fact about this place is that there's a particular tunnel where no kind of light works at all.

In short this place is all beautiful with its own history and still...

Potagada Fort, a 350-year-old heritage site, on the mouth of river Rushikullya in Ganjam town . This is known as Ganjam Fort is Located on the Northern bank of the Risikulya river ,Close to the Jayasri Chemical Factory now it is Grasim industry ,in Ganjam Town .It has 5 bastions and the plan is Pentagon.A moat Surrounds the Fort .A bridge is Found on the Northern Side of the Fort Over the moat,Which is the main entrance to the Fort .The bastions are Connected with the massive brick defense Wall .There is a tunnel on the South Side through the defense wall leading to Waterfront .The north and South Walls had rooms and there are other Structures Found Inside the Fortified area Such as living Quarters,Store ,armoury,mazazine room ,Stables etc.

This fort is now restored and few festivals are conducted by local authorities to drag attention of tourists. But in afternoon and evening this place becomes hot...