Forts are one of the tourist places where people like to visit in their leisure or vocation days. In Tamil Nadu there are different kinds of forts available which are built by ancient people. These forts have been visited by the people who live in Tamil Nadu as well from others who live in different parts of the country.
The forts show the historical events, the art, and sculpture from the ancient days. In ancient days, the sculpture and the art are different when compared to the modern days. The people lived in ancient days have good skills in art, science, medicine, sculpture and literature etc.
There are a huge number of visitors who are attracted to these forts. And many of the forts comes under the special preferences by the visitors and main tourist attraction of Tamil Nadu. Few of them are as follows:
Aranthangi Fort
- Region: Tamil Nadu, Aranthangi
- Built In: During fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
- Built Through: Tondaimans
- Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
Tamil Nadu state has survived from an amazing and interesting History; it has experienced numbers of empire’s rule, dominance, power, Culture, tradition etc. Those empires went out from Tamil Nadu state but they left their memories in this land in various forms, which are still present in the current modern Tamil Nadu state, to tell or execute the old image or face of Tamil Nadu. One of the ancient monuments of Tamil Nadu state is Aranthangi fort; it is a prime attracting structure of Tamil Nadu state’s Aranthangi village. This village is the 2nd biggest village of Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai district. This ancient fort has been ruined now, but still it adds up old glory to the entire personality of this district.
This fort is a little famous because it is located in Tamil Nadu state. Aranthangi town was a well known village and previously this fort was one of the essential element of Thanjavur district. Aranthangi fort contains attractive and strange features. This fort was not constructed by stones or bricks similar to rest of the forts. This ancient building had been made by mud. There is much uncovered information about this fort that is available. This historical building must have been constructed by Tondaimans. The Tondaiman Empire is not very much known. This empire was feudalistic chieftains that experienced power on Aranthangi region. Tondaimans had dominated this region during fifteenth till Eighteenth century. You will find one single line from which you can know that this courageous and strong fort has been built through Tondaimans.
Accommodation
Here you will easily get accommodation facility providers like lodges and hotels in Pudukkottai.
Manora Fort
- Region: Tamil Nadu, from Thanjavur, sixty-five kilometers
- Constructed by: Rajah Serfoji
- Constructed in the year: 1814
- Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
Manora fort, another ancient fort of Tamil Nadu is located almost sixty-five kilometers away from Thanjavur. This fort was constructed on account of the victory between the British and the Napoleon Bonaparte in the year 1814 at Waterloo. This fort contains eight floors that are about three hundred m huge. From this spot you will get a panoramic sight of the entire Bay of Bengal. The name of this fort has been derived from Minaret word, the meaning of this word is tiny Minar.
Fort St George
- Region: Tamil Nadu, Chennai
- Constructed In: 1640
- Constructed By: British Empire
- Special Feature: Tallest tower
- Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
- Entry Fee: Rs.5 for Indians and Rs.100 for foreigners
Tamil Nadu state’s St. George is situated in Chennai’s road called Rajaji Salai, it is a capital city of this state. St. George fort was one bastion among some bastions, which have been constructed through British company during 1640. This fort had been built to secure its position within this country from opposite companies. St. George fort too contains marks that indicated Madras city’s making as a contemporary city. This castle is like a towering flagstaff; at present too it is the tallest castle of India. This fortress’s black Charnockite columns offer an imminent into the seventeenth and eighteenth century’s British Military Architecture. Earlier it was a mess of British Regiment and after some time it became a lighthouse.
Old Picture
The inside area of this fort is an ancient British church that is surviving from so many years in India, this church is known as St. Mary church. It was constructed during Sixteen seventy-eight till eighty years, it was the 1st Anglican church; this was an ancient British Church surviving in India. This religion church is always defined as Eastern Westminster Abbey. Previously this church was a favorite location of Lord Clive’s marriage. On the northern side of the fort, there is a compound of the High Court; this has been constructed in particular architectural style that is Indo Saracenic. Inside the compound, there is one lighthouse which was constructed during 1844 that was outdated through 1971.
Here you can also see another amazing thing which is the museum. St. George church showcases nice modern painting’s, the other prime attractive features of this fort are Governor’s paintings and the British regime’s high officials. At present, this fort comprises this state’s Legislative Council and Assembly and also Secretariat offices of this state. In the similar compound, the High court building is also located.
Accommodation
Tamil Nadu state is very well developed and planned state that comprises of many accommodation options like resorts, hotels rental houses etc. There are numbers of hotels that are located at Chennai.
Vellore Fort
- Entry Fee: Rs.5 for Indians and Rs.100 for foreigners
- Time Required: 1 hour
- How to Reach: 7 km from the Vellore railway station and 11 kms from the Vellore Airport
Vellore is situated at a distance of about 145 kilometers to the west from Chennai, the state capital. Chinna Bommi Nayak is constructed during the period of Vijayanagara Kingdom that was in supremacy to the south of India. In that particular period, the possession of the fort was detained and distributed from one ruler to another as time passed.
The Vellore Fort has a huge importance in the ancient period. There is a chain of association that is attached with the rulers that belongs to India as the emperors were not constant and kept changing one after the other. It was built by the chief of the emperor known as Nayak. But in the later period, the sultan of Bijapur around the 17th century had seized the fort. In the centre of this century, the Marathas came into the picture and captured the fort of Vellore. In the later part of the 18th century, Daud Khan took over the Marathas and able to grab the fort of Vellore.
The fort of Vellore was maintained and developed by the Nawab who belongs to Arcot. He had eternal love for his daughter and so he gifted that fort to his son – in – law. He possessed the fort for around 20 years and after that British captured this fort. This fort was totally under India till it got Independence. The Tipu Sultan’s family was incarcerated in Vellore Fort after he got killed by the British.
The Vellore fort is constructed with the granite blocks. It is well known in the big moat which surrounds the entire region of the fort. The fort of Vellore is very well maintained and preserved by the government. It is believed at a point that this moat is covered by the crocodiles in this fort of Vellore. It also has the mosque, temple and the church. The temple found here is the Jalakanteshwara Temple and is being worshipped by the people here.
The Vellore Fort which is located in Tamil Nadu has a beautiful Museums that is decorated with the wonderful paintings, handicrafts and the sculptures.
This fort is available for the visitor’s everyday except Fridays.
- Time to visit Vellore Fort: 8 am to 6 pm.
Kattabomman Fort
- Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
- Time Required: 1 hour
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
The Kattabomman fort is one of the most famous historical attractions among the forts in Tamil Nadu. People are allowed to visit this fort from 8.00 am-1.00 pm and 2.00pm-6.00pm. This fort is situated near Thiruchendur at Salikulam. Kattabomman fort or it is widely called as Panchalankurichi fort in Tamil Nadu was built by Kattabomman and it is one of the best tourist spot for the people who travel from Madurai to Tirunelveli.
Kattabomman fort was built on 6 acre lands where the Kattabomman memorial is situated. The cemetery of some of the British soldiers is also located near this fort. This fort always gives remembrance to the brave man, Kattabomman who fought against the British rule in Tamil Nadu. This fort was partly destroyed by the British during the war between Kattabomman.
Krishnagiri Fort
- Timings: 7 am to 5 pm
- Time Required: 1 hour
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
Krishnagiri fort has been built by the king Krishnadevaraya in the Vijayanagar Empire. This fort is one of the strongest forts in Tamil Nadu and it is located in the Bangalore and Hosur highway. The location of this fort and the surrounding places are called as the Baramahal.
People visit this fort along with nearby places such as Syed Basha Mountain, and the KRP dam. If you are an old couple who finds it difficult to visit this fort because it is located on the top of the Syed Basha hills you can opt for other places like KRP Dam, gardens, etc.
Sivaganga Fort
- Timings: 8 am to 6 pm
- Time Required: 1 hour
Sivaganga fort is a quadrangular fort which has been built by the Nayak ruler Shivappa Nayaka. This fort is situated in the Sivaganga district. Over the years, the building of this fort has been collapsed but the main entrance is still there as the Maruthupandiar remembrances. This fort includes Brihadishvara temple, Schwartz church and the public amusement park.
The Sivagangai tank is in this fort which is used for providing drinking water to people in the nearby areas. The people who visit the Sivagangai fort prefers to visit Thirumayam and Aranthangi forts as they are tourist spots as well. The Madurai Airport is near to this fort, so people from other country can visit this Airport without transport hassle.
Fort St. David
- Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
- Time Required: 1 hour
This is amongst the historical fort that was established by the East India Company. It was brought from the Maratha ruler in the period of 1785. In the later part of this period, the fort was well known as the British Headquarters that covers the entire region of South India. The fort is located at the Cuddalore which is near about 100 miles away from Chennai.
Udayagiri Fort
- Timings: 8 am to 6 pm
- Time Required: 1 hour
The fort is located in the part of the Kanya Kumari. Udayagiri was constructed by the Travancore rulers during the 17th century. The main attraction of this fort that attracts this are tombs that belongs to Dutch admiral De Lannoy and also a beautiful chapel that is constructed in his memory.
Gingee Fort
- Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
- Time Required: 1-2 hours
- Entry Fee: Rs.15 for Indians and Rs.100 for foreigners
The Gingee fort or Chengi fort which is also called as the troy of the east was built by the Chola dynasty. The fort is located in the Villupuram district. The Chenji fort is still described as the “Impregnable fortress in India”. The trekking to this fort is easy for kids and women. People who are visiting this fort can also visit Krishnagiri and Chandragiri fort i.e., Rani and Raja fort which are located nearby to this fort. The Chenji fort is one of the architectural marvels.
- Must Read: Offbeat Travel in Tamil Nadu
