| Sankagiri Fort |
| About: |
| Sankagiri Fort, built in the 15th century by the Vijayanagar empire, It has 10 fort walls around this hill (up to top), the last fort wall was built by British, this is the treasury fort for Kongu Mandalam or Kongu Nadu(Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Namakkal, Karur and Dindukal), all the tax money and gold was secured in this fort by British army . It was an important military base for Tippu Sultan and later by the British army, because one side of the hill is climable and the other sides are too steep to climb. This hill having a death well, granary, 2 oil godown, 1 explosive godown, two masjith, one long cave with masjith entrance, 2 varadharaja perumal temple, many wells and 2 British Army official buildings, and cemeteries for British & Muslim army Officers and Soldiers |
| Location info: |
| Address:Sankari Drug Fort ,Sankari Drug,Tamil Nadu,India |
| District: Salem |
| Nearest City: Salem |
| Best time to visit: October to February |
| Climate/Weather: |
| January, 40.3° F; August, 67.0° F; annual average, 52.6° F |
| History: |
| Dheeran Chinnamalai was the son of Rathina Sakarai, an adopted son of Kotravel Kaminda Mandradiyar (1708 – 1731), a Chieftain in the Kongu region. A valiant warrior, Dheeran won many battles against the East India Company’s Army.Colonel Maxwell, who even humbled Tippu Sultan, could not beat Dheeran and this was recorded in his chronicles. In 1801, Dheeran beheaded Maxwell and exhibited it in many towns in the Kongu region. |
| A victory pillar erected to commemorate this victory stands till date at Odanilai, near Sivagiri. In 1802 the Company sent another army under Colonel Harris who had also beaten Tippu. But Tippu, single handedly, went armed with hand grenades and threw them at against Harris’s horse. The horse turned its way back. Others too, following Harris turned back. The Army then made sudden intrusion into Dheeran’s native village and destroyed all the houses there. Beating a temporary retreat, Dheeran camped at Karumalai near Palani. But he was betrayed to the British by the cook Nallappan. The Company’s soldiers captured Dheeran and court-martialled him at Sankagiri Fort, where he was subsequently executed. |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Salem, Tamil Nadu |
| Nearest Airport:Salem Airport Terminal Salem, Tamil Nadu |
| Road Transport:Salem is well connected by road to all major cities in Tamil Nadu. For local transportation taxis, auto rickshaws and city buses are available. |
| Nearest Visiting places: |
| Yercaud: 30-km north of Salem is Yercaud, a lesser-known hill station when compared to Ooty and Kodaikanal. Yercaud is situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,920 feet), on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats. The lofty hills are of extraordinary scenic beauty endowed with a salubrious climate. Yercaud is also called “Ooty of the Poor ” and is known for Coffee Plantations and Orange Groves. The highest point in Yercaud is the Shevaroy temple, which is situated at a height of 5326. Mettur Dam: The Mettur Dam across the River Cauvery (also spelt as Kaveri) as it enters Salem district is one of the biggest reservoirs with a water spread of 15,540 hectares. This reservoir is not only a source of irrigation essentially in Trichy and Thanjavur districts but also a hydroelectric project besides being a big fish producing water source. Government Museum: The government museum at Salem contains valuable collections of terracotta’s and sculptures. Attur: Located at a distance of 13-km from Salem is Attur with a well-preserved old fort. Aragalur: Aragalur, 74-km from Salem has tow imposing temples; one is dedicated to Sri Kameswara and the other to Karivaradaperumal. There is a big Buddha statue at Thiyaganur village at the outskirts of Aragalur Village. Sankagiri: At a distance of 35-km from Salem is Sankagiri famous for its fort, the origin of which is traced back to the 13th century AD. Taramangalam: Taramangalam, 33-km from Salem is famous for Sri Kailasanathar Temple. Figures of tortoise, fish, monkey, crocodile are carved out on the walls and granite roofs. The Gopuram is bedecked with stucco figures. Statues of Rathi-Manmatha, Vali-Sugriva of the epic Ramayana and Yali with rotating stone ball in its mouth – the rotating lotus flowers in the ceiling are some of the beautiful sculptures. |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Salem ,Tamil Nadu |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
| Grange Resort Grange Resort, Pakoda Point Road, Five Roads, Yercaud,Tamilnadu, Yercaud, Tamilnadu 636601 – 022 66181940Sterling Yercaud Resorts P.Box No,11,Lady’s Seat,Salem Dist,Tamilnadu, Yercaud, Tamilnadu 636601- 022 66181940Cenneys Gateway Hotel 97/4, Saradha College Main Road, Five Roads, Salem, Tamil Nadu- 0427 2330566Salem Castle Hotel A/4, Bharathi Street, Swarnapuri, Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu- 0427 2448702 |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:Ammapet Police Station Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu Salem Town Police Station Bazaar Street, Fort, Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636001 – 0427 2267630Kitchipalayam Police Station Erumapalayam, Salem, Salem, Tamil NaduShevapet Police Station Appu Chetty Street, Shevapet, Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636002- 0427 2211601Annadhanapatti Police Station Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu |
| Nearest Hospital:Saravana Hospital 105, Veeranam Main Rd, Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636001- 09443240016Shanmuga Hospitals No. 24, Hasthampatti, Salem, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636007- 0427 2315293Vinayaka Missions Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals Sankari Main Road, Chinnaseeragapadi, NH 47, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636308- 0427 2477883Dhanvantri Hospitals 8/235, Pallakkapalayam, Sankari West (Via), Namakkal, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu 637303- 09842748202Salem Gopi Hospital 23, b,ramakrishna road, salem, Tamil Nadu 636007 – 0427 2316505 |
Image gallery of Sankagiri Fort
