Forts in TamilNadu

There are only a few remaining forts in Tamilnadu today. The Tamilnadu forts that are still standing intact are from the recent history, mainly belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries. The state enjoyed relative peace during the muslim invasions that swept most of North India and the Deccan. The extreme southern situation may be the reason for this. The British built their first major fort here, and most of the forts in Tamilnadu include forts built by them and some remnants of medieval and ancient forts. Tourism in Tamilnadu benefits from these forts as each year numerous tourists visit them. Some of these forts are among the major tourist destinations in Tamilnadu.

Important Forts in Tamilnadu:

Fort St George: This is the first British fort in India, built in 1639, and a base of British experience[ansion in South India, and subsequently to all over the country. The fort was the scene of some famous battles in the 18th century. The French occupied the fort for some time during the war of Austrian succession in Europe. The British regained the fort after the treaty of Aix –la Chapelle. Today, the fort serves as the administrative headquarters of the legislative assembly of Tamilnadu. The fort has many interesting attractions within it, including the museum, St Mary’s Church, and the Wellesley house. The canons of Tipu Sultan placed at the ramparts of the museum are a reminder of the famous struggles between the British and the brave Indian king.

Fort St David:After a series of skirmishes between the British and the French, the fort finally came under permanent British possession in 1785. This fort was bought by the British East India Company from the Marathas in 1690. Robert Clive became its governor in 1756, shortly after the fort became the British headquarters in South India in 1746. the fort is situated near Cuddalore , about hundred miles from Chennai, ( Madras ) on the Coromandel coast.

Gingee fort:The original fort was built by the Cholas in the 9th century. The fort has undergone numerous shifts in power from then on. It was modified by the Vijayanagar Empire in the 13th century, and gained a formidable reputation. The Gingee Nayaks made it their headquarters during the Nayak domination in Tamilnadu. The fort also served as a Maratha stronghold during the reign of Shivaji, and his son continued fighting against the mughuls from here. After a brief period of French possession, the fort finally came under British control in 1761. Gingee fort never witnessed war again. Presently it serves as a museum preserving the many historic buildings including the granaries, prison cells, the Kalyan Mahal and the Chenjiamman temple. The fort is situated at a height of 800 feet, and is surrounded by an 80 feet wide moat.

Udaygiri Fort:This little known fort in the Kanyakumari district has been recently converted into a bio-diversity park by the forest department. The fort was built in the early 17th century and underwent major modifications in the 18th century under the Travancore rulers. The Tombs of the Dutch admiral De Lennoy and a Chapel built in his memory are notable monuments within the fort.

The other important forts in Tamilnadu are the Vellore fort, Vettakottai fort , Sankagiri, and the Dindigul fort.

Vellore Fort : Vellore Fort, a perfect specimen of military architecture is located in Vellore, 130-km away from Chennai and 10-km from Katpadi. Sinna Bomma Reddi a vessel chieftain under the Vijayanagar kings, Sada Sriranga Maharaja, built this historical fort in the 16th century. This fortress is the mute witness of many historic sieges and battles.

The fort is situated on the Palor riverbank. The outer length of the fort is about 2,500 feet and 1,500 feet in breadth. The height of the outer wall is about 30 feet and the breadth is about 25 feet. The approximate circumstance of the fort is 2,600 meters.

It was constructed with the granite blocks and is surrounded by a moat, which is supplied by a subterranean drain fed from a tank. The walls are constructed with hewn Kangaroo stones of rectangular shape.