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| Gingee Fort,Tamil Nadu,India.moat around the fort. forum.snatabunta.com |
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| Formidable Gingee Fort,Tamil Nadu India, tamilnow.com |
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| Gingee Fort, granery,Tamil Nadu,India,www.shuttercock.com |
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| Gingee fort,Rajagiri sec.a small sec.Tamil Nadu,India. liveindia.com |
Gingee Fort in Gingee, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, south India was ranked as the "most secure fortress in India" by the great Marata warrior Chatrapathy Shivaji. Under the British rule, this fort was declared a national monument in 1921.Originally built as a small fort by the Chola Dynasty (9th century AD), followed by Kurumbar during the 13th century, it was later strengthened by the Nayaks, representatives of the Vijayanagara Kingdom during 15th and 16th centuries.
The fort complex dating back to 13th century, is on three different hills - Krishnagiri, Rajagiri and Chandrandurg connected by walls extending 13 km (roughly 8.1 miles) enclosing an area of 11 sq. miles. Built at 800 feet(240 meters) height and protected by an 80 foot wide moat, it has a seven - storyed Kalyana Mahal, mosques, shrines, palatial royal house with stables, water tanks, living quarters granaries, prison cells and a military gymnasium. There is a famous temple inside the fort complex dedicated to Chengeeamman. All the three hills have their own, self sufficient citadel. The the summit of the fort is surrounded by a wide rift 9.1 meters wide and 18 meters deep. Access to the main fort is tough and once has to pass through as many as seven strong gates after tackling a wooden drawbridge. One thing that is worthy of mention is in case of seige as a result of invasions by enemies in the bygone era, the fort could sustain with copious supply of water.
Gingee (also known as Chenji, Jinji or Senchi) is 37-km east of Thiruvannamalai, an important temple town but is close to the Union Territory of Pondicherry, once a French territory.
This highly fortified, famous fort was a mute spectator of various warring rulers who were keen to seize the fort. Gingee was under the control of Bijapur Sultanate after the Vijayanagar emperors, then to Maratha hero Shivaji in 1677 and later to Mughal in 1690. The French in 1750 and the British in 1762 took control of this area.
This place is worth visiting and is an important tourist place.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingee_Fort
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