Gingee Fort

The Bijapur Nawabs who held the fort from about 1660 to 1677 AD called it Badshabad, while the Marathas who succeeded them called it Chandry or Chindy. The Mughals, on their capture of the fort in 1698 A.D., named it Nusratgadh in honour of Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung, the commander-in-chief of the besieging army. Later, the English and the French called it Gingee or Jinji. The early Madras records of the English give the spelling Chingee or Chengey. As per Tamil legend, the tragic tale of Raja Tej Singh, popularly known in Tamil as Thesingu Raasan, is associated with the fort. The true life story of Tej Singh and his general, Mehboob Khan (aka Maavuthukaran), who were friends, has inspired many poems, street plays, and countless other stories. He was the son of Swarup Singh and revolted against the Nawab of Arcot, and was defeated and killed in the war that followed. Though Gingee became a part of the Nawab's territory in 1714, the young and courageous Tej Singh became a legend and his life, love and brave but tragic end were eulogised in various ballads. ==History==

Early history The main source for the first two hundred years of the history of the place is the "Complete History of the Carnatic Kings" among the Mackenzie manuscripts(an archive built by Colin Mackenzie, a high ranking official of the British East India Company in Madras). According to historian Narayan, a small village called Melacerri, located away from Gingee is called "Old Gingee" has traces of fortifications from about 1200 AD. The earliest mention of the hill fort of Gingee is found in an Inscription of Vikrama Chola (1120–63) dated in his 10th Year and a feudatory of the Kadava, calls himself the Lord of Senjiyar of the strong embattled fort. Gingee came into the hands of various ruling dynasties of South India, starting from the Cholas. Originally the site of a small fort built by the Chola dynasty during the 9th century AD, Gingee Fort was modified and developed by Kadava kings (12th century) and again by the Vijayanagar empire during the 14th century. Gingee Nayaks In the early 16th century, the Vijayanagara Emperors appointed Gingee Nayaks (Governors) to rule Gingee.As per one account, the fort was built by them in the 15–16th century. After the defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire in the Battle of Talikota, they became independent kings. The Moghuls captured the fort after laying seige for seven years in 1698, but not before Rajaram escaped. Mughals In 1700, Aurangzeb assigned the fort as an "Imperial Reward" to Raja Swarup Singh Bundela, a trusted Rajput commander, as a Mansabdar (feudatory chief), because Swarup Singh had provided significant military service, allowing him to rule with a high degree of autonomy. When Swarup Singh died in 1714, a conflict arose between his son, Tej Singh (Raja Desingh), and the Nawab of Arcot, Saadatullah Khan I. In the ensuing battle, Tej Singh was killed and the fort was captured by Saadatullah, effectively bringing in under the rule of Carnatic Nawabs. ==Architecture==

The Gingee Fort complex is on three hillocks: Krishnagiri to the north, Rajagiri to the west and Chandrayandurg to the southeast. The three hills together constitute a fort complex, yet each hill contains a separate and self-contained citadel. Connecting them – forming an enormous triangle, a mile from north to south, punctuated by bastions and gateways giving access to the protected zones at the heart of the complex. The fort walls are and the three hills are connected by walls enclosing an area of . On the top of the hillock, there are minor fortifications. Ranganathar Temple, bell tower, watch tower, cannon and draw bridge are located atop the hill. The lower fort consists of Arcot Gate, Pondicherry Gate, which the French probably improved during their occupation (1751–1761), the Prison on top of Pondicherry Gate, Royal Battery, Venkataramanaswami Temple, Pattabhi Ramaswami Temple, Sadatulla Khan's mosque, Chettikulam and Chakrakulam tanks, platform where Raja Desingh was killed in a war, large stone image of Hanuman, prisoner's well, where the prisoners condemned to death were thrown and left to die of starvation. The inner fort consists of the Kalyana Mahal, the royal stables, the ruined royal palace, the Anaikulam tank, granaries, a magazine and the shrine of Venugopalaswami. There is a site museum at the entrance of the fort set up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) containing sculptures about periods and many dynasties that ruled Gingee. There are also guns and cannonballs made of stone, strewn about the fort. It is 1 km from Gingee Market. It is made up of saffron and black rock. Currently, the fort includes a magazine, gymnasium, palace site, audience hall, stable, clock tower, granary, treasury in Indo-Islamic style, store-house for grains and an elephant tank. In the West Entrance, Venu Gopalaswami Temple, Ranganath Temple of Vijayanagar Kings, Kalyan Mandap, Sadatulla Khan's Masjid (1717–18), Mahabbat Khan's masjid. Bath tubs with continuous supply of water, a huge cannon, belong to the temple on the top of the fort near Chakrakulam-Kunda (reservoir). Krishnagiri The second important hill with an impressive citadel is called Krishnagiri fort, also known as the English Mountain, perhaps because of the British residents who occupied the fort here for some time. While the greater complex is potentially significantly older, File:Kistnagherry_Krishnagiri.jpg| File:Kistnaghurry.jpg| File:East View Of Kistnaghurry.jpg| File:Fort of Krishnaghirry.jpg|Fort of Krishnaghirry Chakkiliya Durg The third fort for some reason is called Chakkiliya Durg or Chamar Tikri – meaning the fort of the Chamars. It is not known why it had acquired the name. Probably the royal Chamar warriors used to stay here, as Gingee obviously was a military encampment. There is a smaller and less important fourth hill, the summit of which is also well fortified. There is nothing much left of Chandrayan Durg and Chakkilli Durg. Their flanks are now completely covered with thorny shrubs and stone pieces. ==Culture==

After the fort passed into British hands, it did not see any further action. The fort at Gingee was declared a National Monument in 1921 and was under the Archaeological Department. The Tourism Department of India has tried to popularize this remote and oft-forgotten fort. Gingee today, with its ruined forts, temples and granaries, presents a different picture from the glorious splendor of its bygone days. But the remains of that glorious past speak volumes about the numerous invasions, warfare and bravery that it witnessed. The fort is maintained by the ASI. An entry charge of 20 is charged for Indian citizens and 250 for foreigners for all monuments inside Krishnagiri and Rajagiri forts. Tickets are sold outside of the fort ==Gallery==

File:Gingee tomb pillar.jpg|Tomb pillar at lower fort File:Kalyana Mahal from Rajagiri.jpg|Kalyana Mahal as seen from Rajagiri File:Gingee fort from ground.jpg|View of Gingee Fort(Queens) from the ground File:View From Queen's Fort Top - Gingee Town.jpg|View from Queen's Fort Top – Gingee Town File:Hanuman carving image.jpg|Large stone image of Hanuman File:Cannon gingee fort.jpg|Cannon present in Gingee Fort File:Wooden bridge at chasm Rajagiri fort.jpg|alt=|View of Wooden bridge at chasm Rajagiri fort File:Ranganatha Temple at Summit.jpg|alt=|Ranganatha temple at Rajagiri Fort summit File:Rajagiri Fort Summit.jpg|Rajagiri Fort ==See also==