Madikeri Fort also known as Mercara Fort

Madikeri Fort, located at Madikeri town centre, this fort holds the remnants of a bygone era. The fort was constructed in the later part of the 17th century by Muddu Raja, the then ruler of Coorg. It was built to mark Madikeri as his capital place. Though the initial construction was made with mud, it was reconstructed in granite when Tipu Sultan captured Coorg. The fort saw some significant renovations during the rule of Lingarajendra Wodeyar II in the early 18th century. The fort comprises a unique combination of structures of a temple, an Anglican Church, a prison and a museum. The Gothic style church was built by the British in the latter half of the 19th century. Two life-size stone replicas of elephants draw the attention of the visitors at the entrance. The fort stands on a high level ground and provides a splendid view of the surrounding areas. The museum has several unique items of historical connections mostly during the British rule. The fort also houses the District Prison, Kote Maha Ganapathi Temple & Public Library. Now, the fort is the Madikeri Deputy Commissioner’s Office.