| Rajagiri Fort |
| About:Gingee has three famous forts situate in a triangular set up known as Rajagiri, Krishnagiri and Chandragiri within a striking distance of one another. While Rajagiri is the primary fort, the other two forts are feminine parts of it with a low profile and fewer visitors than Rajagiri.The Rajagiri Fort was built in 1200 AD. Its is located in Rajagiri meaning Kings Hill. It is 1 km away from Gingee Market. It is made up of saffron and Black rock Gingee fort is situate on the state highway between Tindivanam and Thiruvannamalai and it is roughly about 38 km away in the northwest of Villupuram and some 150 km away in the South West of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.Gingee has three famous forts situate in a triangular set up known as Rajagiri, Krishnagiri and Chandragiri within a striking distance of one another. While Rajagiri is the primary fort, the other two forts are feminine parts of it with a low profile and fewer visitors than Rajagiri. A fort wall stretching and encompassing all these forts had also been built and it still remains as a standing monumentRajagiri Fort counts amongst the few forts that are still in existence in Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Villupuram district, which is situated at a distance of approximately 160 km from the Chennai city of India. The district also lies close to the union territory of Pondicherry. |
| Location info: |
| Address:Gingee,Villupuram district tamil Nadu |
| District: Villupuram |
| Nearest City: Villupuram |
| Best time to visit: December To February |
| Climate/Weather:The district witnesses pleasant sea breeze all around the year. The temperature in these parts are quite warm although the real problem is posted by the humidity in the air. The best time to visit Cuddalore is between the months of October to March. |
| History: |
| These three forts are said to have been built by some Konars, that refers to the names of some chieftains, during the period between 1200 A.D and 1240 A.D.Thereafter, Gingee had been ruled over by Nayaks of Vijayanagara Empire and the Marathas and then came under the influence of the Moguls. In the year 1791, the Gingee Forts were captured by the French East India company; some of the rock pillars of the forts were dismembered and taken away by the French soldiers as a mark of their victory over Gingee and they still guard the Dupleix statue in Pondicherry |
| Interesting things to Visit: |
| Fortification Walls : The massive fortification walls of Gingee interconnect the three inaccessible hills-krishnaglri, chakkilidrug and Rajagiri. The three hills are disported in the form of triangle, while the main wall connecting them is 20 meters thick. The tops of the three hills form impregnable citadels, while the inner fort contains many fortifications and gates. The Rajagiri citadel is the highest, about 800 ft. in height, and the most inaccessible. The 20 meters deep chasm is now connected by a bridge.Venugopala swamy Temple : Located to the west of the inner gate of the lower citadel, the temple contains a remarkable sculpture depicting Lord krishna playing on the flute with is two consorts. Another interesting feature in this temple is a finely polished, broadsmooth slab found in front of the templeKalyana Mahal: Built in the indo-Islamic style, the kalyana Mahal is one of the most attractive ruins in the fort. It consists of a square court, surrounded by rooms for the ladies of the Governors household. In the middle of this court, is a 27 meter high square tower, built of stone. The tower has a pyramidal roof. The rooms in this tower are very similar to other Vijayanagar Nayaka buildings elsewhere.The Ponds: The way to the Hanuman Temple, outside the lower fort, abounds in temple ponds and many impressive structures. Chakkarakulam and chettikulam are the two famous ponds in this fort.Chettikulam was built by Raja shetty during the Maratha occupation of the place, towards the end of the 18th century. To the north of this pond is a platform believed to be Raja Desingh funeral pyre, where his young wife committed sati.The famous Ranganatha temple. Built in typical Indo-Islamic style, the Audience hall is a damaged roof supported by a series of graceful little pointed arches. The Magazine building is also a noteworthy structure. Built in typical Vijayanagar style, is the famous Rangantha Temple. To the south of the watch-tower, is a big iron cannon, roughly 4 meters long, and 2 meters in circumference. In style and form, this cannon is very similar to the Malik-1-Maidan of Bijapur.Kamalakkanni Amman Temple : This small shrine dedicated to Kamalakkani Amman (Goddess Durga), a local delty, is found on the way to the citadel on Rajagiri Hill. It contains a sacrificial altar and well-preserved mural paintings belonging to the Nayak period.Thumpoor : The Temple of lord Nagamman. This temple is 1450 years oldEsalam : Built by Rajendra Cholan I (1012) lord sri Ramanatha Eswarar. The legend found in Sanskrit language and in grantha character. Written on the periphery of the seal is as follows, Rajad-Rajanya Makuta sreni-ratnesu sasanam Etad Rajendra Cholasya parakesari varmanah. |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Tindivanam |
| Nearest Airport:Chennai 150kms |
| Road Transport:To reach the Gingee fort from Chennai, one has to take NH45 and proceed till Tindivanam from where there is a road going towards the right which connects to NH66. The Gingee fort is located about 25km from Tindivanam. |
| Nearest Visiting places:Kalrayan Hills- It is one part of the Eastern ghats, lies on the western side of the Kallakurichi Taluk. This area spread over an area of 600 sq. kms. approximately with the height ranging from 1000 ft to 3800 ft from the sea level. The History of Kalrayan hills with its Jagirdars run back to the time of Krishna Deverayar the Emperor of ‘Vijaya Nagar Kingdom’. The emperor Krishna Deverayar given the rights to the tribes to enjoy this land but imposed many taxes on them. About the hill tribes it is said that warriors belonging to ‘KARALAR’ community had come from Kanchipuram and settled in kalrayan hills. after sometimes they over ride the tribal people called ‘Vedar’ (hunter) and married their wives. The communities of karalar and vedar who at present are called ‘Malayali’ and they call themselves as ‘Goundars’. Kalrayan hills Possesses innumerable tourism Potentialities like water falls, jungle streams, rivers and rivulets and lovely jungle walks. The place is a veritable paradise for trekkers. It is also called as ‘Poor man’s hill station’ of Tamil Nadu. Every year the District Administration is conducting the Summer Festival to create the awareness among the tribes. Mayilam – Arulmigu Subramaniya Swami Temple located on small hillock at Mailam is a famous place for of pilgrimage. It is about 32 kms from Viluppuram on the Puducherry – Thindivanam road. The Panguni Uthiram festival held in March – April fascinates a large crowd of devotes from all over Tamil Nadu. Thiruvakkarai – A Geological park is about 40 kms from Viluppuram and 25 kms from Puducherry. A national geological park with large number of petrified tree trunks known as fossil are found here. There is a temple for Lord Siva constructed by the famous Chola queen Sembiyan Madheviyar. Arulmigu Chandramoulisvarar and Tenambikai are the presiding deities here. Arulmigu Vakkaralingam and Arulmigu Vakkrakali for whom every full moon day and night of the year special prayers are conducted and thronged by pious devotees throughout the night. The Temple was sung by the Thirugnana Sambandar. Excellent sculptures and car/chariot like Mandapam is also existing here with huge Nandhi and Ganesha. It was connected by Thindivanam and Puducherry by regular buses. Thiruvennainallur – It is 20 kms from Viluppuram on the Thirukkoilur road which is the birth place of Sadayappar, the patron of Kambar (The greatest Tamil poet and author of the Tamil Epic Kambaramayanam) There is also an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Marakanam Beach – It is 22 kms from Puducherry across East Coast Road in Vanur Taluk. The salt field is very famous in this beach. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Thindivanam Tamil Nadu |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
| Ginger Hotel, Pondicherry Saram, Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Pondicherry 605008- 0413 6663333Hotel Annamalai International 479, Kamaraj Salai, Saram, Puducherry (Pondicherry), Puducherry 605013- 0413 2247001Calve welcomheritage hotel 36, vysial street, Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Pondicherry 605001- 0413 2222613Villa Bayoud St Martin St, Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Pondicherry 605001 – 041 3222 7426St James Court Beach Resort, Pondicherry Kalapet, Pondicherry, Pondicherry, Pondicherry 605014- 0413 2655174world guest house 82, chellan nagar puducherry, pondicherry, Puducherry 605011- 041 3221 3344 |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:Villupuram West Police Station NH 45A, Villupuram, Villupuram, Tamil NaduPudupet Police Station SH 68, Puthupet, Panruti, Cuddalore, Tamil NaduVillianur Police Station Pondicherry, Pondicherry?NELLIKUPPAM POLICE STATION Nellikkuppam, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu |
| Nearest Hospital:CLINIC NALLAM 86, EASWARAN KOIL STREET, PUDUCHERRY, Puducherry 605001 – 0413 2335463 Dr.Ramadoss Hospital Dr.Ramadoss Hospital Tindivanam-604001GPHOSPITAL 104/40, Ramalinganar Main Street,, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606601 – 04175 224851Shankara Global Marketing Services 64/1, Bazaar Street, chidambaram, Tamil Nadu 608001- 041 44224787 |
Image Gallery of Rajagiri Fort
