What is the history of the eerie Dutch tombs near Pulicat Lake- complete with skulls and skeletons?

Raja Bharat News, Hyderabad, India :  This cemetery, which is seen with skeletons and skulls that are frightening to look at, has great importance in modern Indian history. The cemetery stands as a living testimony to the European colonial rule in India.

The Dutch Cemetery is located in Palaveerkadu, at the bottom of Pulicat Lake on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border.

It is not just a cemetery, there was once a Dutch fort adjacent to it. It was called Fort Geldria.

The fort was built before this cemetery. There are differences of opinion among historians about when this Dutch cemetery was established.

According to the details written by Dr. Jayapal Azaria, the Dutch established a base in Pulicat in 1610 and built Fort Geldria in 1613. Later, this cemetery was established in 1656.

On the foundations of the Portuguese fort...
The Dutch kept all their bases in India as trading centers. However, they built only the Pulicat base as a fort.

Most historians believe that it was built on the foundations of the Portuguese fort that was already there, with the permission of the Vijayanagara rulers who were ruling the region at that time.

Later, as trade decreased here due to the expansion of the Mughal Empire and competition with the British, the Dutch gradually moved towards Sri Lanka.

Historians say that Dutch rule here lasted from 1606 to 1825, that is, for about 214 years.

Later, the area came under the control of the British. Since independence, the Archaeological Survey of India has been managing this Dutch cemetery.

Dutch-style decorations along with skulls
The entrance to this cemetery has a skull along with many Dutch-style decorations. Some verses from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament are embedded on the arch.

The tombs inside also have details of those buried in them in Dutch. These include Dutch officials, merchants, soldiers, their family members, and other prominent people… There are a total of 76 tombs.

A skeleton appears to have its hand under its head. These tombs have been repaired and restored by the Archaeological Survey of India.

There are also structures like another cemetery and an old Portuguese church with 22 more tombs in this village.

A special place in South India..
Pulikat holds a special place in the economic and political history of South India.

From the ancient Tamil kings to the Vijayanagara Empire, many kings ruled this region. This port served as a center for trade.

The Portuguese came here about five hundred years ago. The Dutch came here a hundred years after their arrival.

Various NGOs and governments are working to preserve this history.