Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, which is more popular for its temples than forts. It lies in Villupuram District close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry. So well fortified was this place that Shivaji ranked it as the “most impregnable fortress in India” and it was called the “Troy of the East” by the British.
Originally the site of a small fort built by the Chola dynasty in 9th century AD, it was later modified by Kurumbar while fighting the Chola and again by the Vijayanagar empire in the 13th century to elevate it to the status of an unbreachable citadel to protect the small town of Gingee. It was also the headquarters of the Gingee Nayaks, during the Nayaka domination in Tamil Nadu. The fort was built as a strategic place of fending off any invading armies. The fort was further strengthened by the Marathas under the leadership of Shivaji in 1677 AD.
The fort consists of three hills, connected by walls enclosing an area of 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi). It was built at a height of 800 feet (240 m), and protected by a 80 feet (24 m) wide moat. It had an eight-storeyed Kalyana Mahal (marriage hall), granaries, prison cells, a military gymnasium and a temple dedicated to its presiding Hindu goddess called Chenjiamman.
After the fort passed into British hands, it did not see any further action. The fort at Gingee was declared a National Monument in 1921 and was under the Archeological Department. Gingee today, with its ruined forts, temples and granaries, presents a different picture from the glorious splendor of its bygone days.
A view of the Rajagiri Citadel (atop the hill), Kalyana Mandapam (white tower) and the Mohabatkhan mosque (right) at the en:Gingee Fort complex.
This fort was originally built by a king called Ananda Konar. The Konar clan paid tributes to the mighty cholas and in return had control over their fiefdom. Later on, with the fall of the Cholas, the fort was taken over by the Marathis - and in particular by a king called Tejsing. Called the Troy of India, this is one impregnable fort. Finally, Hyder ali captured this fort and the Muslims stayed on..
