Gingee Fort

Gingee Fort also known as Chenji or Jinji in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the few surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India, which is more popular for its temples than forts. It lies in Villupuram District,160 kilometres (99 mi) from the state capital, Chennai, and is 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.

The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam and the nearest airport is Chennai (Madras)-150 kilometres (93 mi)

The actual name of Gingee is 'Sengiri' meaning perhaps the "Red Hill" in Tamil that has got corrupted into Gingee. Some say that the name Sengiri originated from 'Sanjeevi' the hill mentioned in Ramayana from where Hanuman got the life saving herb, the Sanjeevini Booti for Lakshmana when he was lying unconscious during the war between Rama and Ravana. The Sanjeevi herb is the panacea of Indian mythology. It has been explained as the combination of two roots, Sam (pleasure) and Ji (life). The name has also been traced to Singavaram the neighbouring Vaishnavite shrine, whose lord is considered the guardian deity of the place.

The local tradition has another explanation to offer. The legend runs that seven virgin sisters once lived here and one of them was known as Senjiamman. Their modesty was threatened with the possibility of violation of their chastity. Even though a valiant man named Thadikara Virappan rescued them from danger, they could not survive the insult and so committed suicide. Their spirits are even now believed to be haunting the place and considered the genii loci. Each of the sisters has got her own little shrine still existing and attracts votaries from the neighbourhood. It is very probable that Senjiamman who is worshipped on top of one of the hills gave her name to the particular hill and this afterwards came to be the common designation of the whole circle of hills and villages below.

Another of the sisters, Kamalakanniamman, has a shrine dedicated to her at the base of Rajgiri, which, on certain days in the year attracts a great number of worshippers. This hill was originally known after the goddess as Kamalagiri. Gingee also had an earlier name known as Krishnapura. This name was possibly given to it by its first ruling dynasty that were of shepherd class and whose tutelary deity was Lord Krishna. However, it is possible that it might have received the name from its powerful ruler, Krishnappa Nayak.

History

Gingee the famous Nayaka Capital immortalized by the ballads of Raja Desingh (Tej Singh), is a Taluk Headquarter in District Villupuram , Tamil Nadu, 27 Km. West of Tindivanam on Chennai - Tiruchirapalli rail line. The lofty fortifications connecting the precipitous hills called Krishnagiri, Chandragiri (Chakkilidurg) and Rajagiri show a triangular disposition. The fortified area is about 9 Km circuit, marked by two main entrances, the eastern one known as the Pondicherry gate and the northern one called the Arcot or Delhi gate.

The development of the defense system at Gingee was adapted to the requirements of time like the progress of weapons, simultaneously giving due importance to the existing structures.

Raja Desingh (AD 1714) who was a subordinate ruler under the Nawabs of Arcot becale famous for his heroic refusal to pay tax to his overlords. By the time of the Nawabs of Arcot and Gingee lost a great part of its strategic value. The insalubrity of the place did not attract economic activities. Captured by the English from the French in 1751, it was captured by Hyder Ali in 1780 and was regained by the English. By 1823 it was in total ruins.

On the Rajagiri hill are two granaries with vaulted chambers, a magazine, the flag - staff, the audience hall and the treasury in the Indo - Islamic Style.The Ranganatha Temple here belongs to the Vijayanagara Period. A big canon in front of the mandapa of this temple adds merit to the strategic position of the fort. The shrine of goddess Kamalakanni Amman lies on the way up the hill.

This has resulted in a harmonious combination of different defense techniques followed over a period of nearly four centuries.

According to tradition the name Gingee or Senji is derived from Senji Amman, a virgin goddess. The origional Fort at Rajagiri was founded by Ananda Kon I, the Chief of Konar community in A.D. 1220 and the Krishnagiri was fortified by his successor Krishna Kon around A.D. 1240. Other buildings and structures were raised by the successive rulers of Gingee belonging to the Vijayanagara, Nayaka, Maratha, Mughal, Carnatic, Nawab, the French and British during the period A.D. 1383 to 1780.

Near the western gate of the Inner Fort is the Venugopalaswami Temple. Besides granary. Gymnasium, barracks, royal harem, mosque of Mahabut Khan, the Kalyana Mahal is the most impressive multi storeyed building with the pyramidal roof. The vaulted structures, rectangular on plan with thick walls and large semicircular vaults preserved the stored grain in a dry condition.

Considerable skill was exhibited in water management and storage. Water was accumulated from the weathered granite through an underground drainage protection it from evaporation and finally getting collected in the innumerable natural reservoirs.

The Vijayanagara Emperor, Krishnadeva Raya posted Krishnappa Nayaka as his Viceroy who later become the founder of Nayaka line of Gingee. Gingee was plundered and looted by the Muslims of Bijapur by 1674 and this was a deadly blow to the sprawling capital city.

In AD 1677 Chatrapati Shivaji the great Maratha ruler had captured Gingee. The Marathas under Shivaji strengthened the fortress at the expense of the surrounding villages and once again made it impregnable. It remained under the Maratha rule till about AD. 1691, when the generals under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb captured the Fort.

Another historic building is the mosque of Sadat - Ullah Khan with Persian inscriptions which record that the mosque was built in AD 1717 - 18.

The Venkatramana Temple, which is the largest edifice within the fortified town, was built by Muthyalu Nayaka (AD. 1540 - 1550). It contains a number of Tamil inscriptions. Quite a few monolithic ornamental pillars were taken away from this temple to Pondicherry and set up around the statue of Dupleix, the Governor, during the French occupation of Gingee in AD. 1761.

On the Krishnagiri hill there are also two large granaries, stepped wells, an audience hall, two temples and an unique structure known as Hawa Mahal.

In the recent archaeological excavations, the Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle had unearthed a ruined palace complex with finely polished royal throne and an audience hall. The stepped tank with a unique and innovative fountain system utilizing terracotta pipes would have kept the pleasure house cool even during the hottest of days.

Places inside Rajagiri fort
Kalyana Mahal Mohammed Khan Mosque Elephant tank Servants room and Royal Palace Magazine Gymnasium Granery Venugopala Swami Temple

Places atop the Rajagiri fort
Balaranganathar Temple Pond and Mandapa Kamalakanni Amman temple Ranganathar Temple Bell tower / Watch tower Cannon Draw Bridge

Places around Rajagiri fort
Architecture of Jumma Mosque Temple of Seven Maidens Funeral place of Desing Raja Chakkarai Kulam (Tank) Anjaneyar Temple Prisoners' well Chetty kulam (Tank) Venkataramana Temple Gate way of Pondicherry Sad-Ullah Khan Mosque Gate way of Vellore Temples of Lord shiva and Amman Shrine

The Three Hills - The Three Citadels

The Gingee Fort complex is situated on three hillocks. In fact all the three hills together constitute a fort complex, yet each hill contains a separate and self contained fort. The first hill, where the main fort is located, is called Rajagiri. Originally it was known as Kamalagiri as well as Anandagiri. The fort here is most impregnable. It is about800 feet (240 m). in height. Its summit is cut off from communication and is surrounded by a deep, natural chasm that is about 10 yards (9.1 m) wide and 20 yards (18 m) deep. To gain entry into the citadel one had to cross the chasm with the help of a small wooden draw bridge which was drawn only after getting a signal from the sentries on the parapets that a friend was approaching.

The naturally strong rock on which the fortress is located is further strengthened by the construction of embrasure walls and gateways along all possible shelves and precipitous edges. It forms the principal fortification. Seven gates have to be traversed before reaching the citadel. This citadel contains many important buildings apart from the living quarters of the royalty, like the stables, granaries, and meeting halls for the public, temples, mosques, shrines and pavilions jostling each other.

Entry Fee:
For Citizens of India Rs 5/-
For Foreigners - Rs 100/-

Archaeological Survey of India
Chennai Circle, Fort street. Georg
Chennai - 600 009.

Yelagiri Hills and Resorts, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu

History

The Three Hills - The Three Citadels