full length. At some places the wall reached in height. Hollows were made inside where about 100 soldiers could hide and make an ambush. A company of soldiers was stationed about every kilometre with ammunition store house at strategic points. There were also caves in the nearby wells to hide in the possibility of an unannounced attack. Muringoor Kottamury (3 km south of Chalakudy) is the place where the NH47 crosses the Nedumkotta. The places where fortification once stood is in the present Chalakudy Taluk in Thrissur District, Kerala. Attack of Tipu Sultan and its destruction 24 years after his father, Hyder Ali had attacked Kochi, Tipu Sultan started on a conquest to conquer Kochi and Travancore. On the night between 28 and 29 December camped six miles northward of the lines. On 31 December, Tippu marched with 14,000 infantry and 500 frontiers in the night, guided by a native of the country. Before daybreak, he possessed a large extent of the rampart on the right side flank. By morning Sultan had come three miles in the inner side with his whole force without much opposition and he commanded his frontiers to level down the rampart into the 16 feet wide and 20 deep ditch which was a difficult task to be done. He then advanced without levelling the ditches and in one column, through a narrow passage. This move backfired on Mysore army as army could not move freely. They were also ambushed by a small 20-member team of Travancore army who poured in a heavy fire which killed the commander of the army and created a panic There was chaos and Sultan himself fell into the ditch over dead corps by which it was almost filled. The Sultan was only saved by some strong soldiers, who raised him on their shoulders which enabled him to ascend the counterscarp. He fell twice in the attempt to clamber up and he was crippled for life due to the fall. He was then escaped to his tent in a dhuli. Humiliated by the defeat he swore to remain in the tent until he took what was by then called by him as "the contemptible wall". The Mysore army suffered heavy casualties and army commanders like Semal Beg were killed. Tippu Sultan's palanquin, his seals, rings and personal ornaments and sword fell into the Dewaan's hands as trophies. These were forwarded to