VILUPPURAM, Tamil Nadu

Main Attraction: GINGEE FORT

Gingee Fort is nestled on three hills and enclosed by a rampart of 60 feet thickness in Gingee Taluk of Villuppuram district. The indomitable courage and valor of its erstwhile rulers caused Father Pimento, a Jesuit priest to call the Gingee Fort the Troy of the East. Besieged by the Mughals and battered by the British, the Fort still stands 800 ft. height, guarded by a moat, eighty feet wide. Much of the early history of this 800 year old Fort is shrouded in mystery, as the Fort seems to have changed many hands before it was annexed to the Vijayanagar Empire.

According to local legend Gingee Amman, was one of the seven virgins who were the guardian deities of the village. Legend has it that at around 1200 A.D., Ananda Kone, chief of the local shepherd community, fortified Gingee. In 1240 A.D. Krishna Kone, his successor is said to have fortified the northern hill, which later came to be known as Krishnagiri. The Kone dynasty gave way to the Kurumbars, who established their headquarters at Sendamanagalam, which later came under the powerful Chola Empire. Recorded history dates back to the 16th century, when Gingee became the seat of the Nayaka rulers, who were under the lordship of the expanding Vijayanagar Empire. Krishnadevaraya appointed Krishnappa Nayaka, and he was considered the founder of the Nayaka line of Gingee.

Gingee today, with its ruined Forts, temples and granaries, presents different pictures from the glorious splendor of its bygone days. But the remains of the valorous past, speak volumes about the numerous invasions, warfare and bravery that it witnessed.

Brief History

The Cholas were the early rulersof the region. Among these rulers, Karikala Chola was the most famous and powerful. For a short period, the Cholas were overthrown by Simha Vishnu Pallava and the region came under the Pallava rule for some time. Vijayalaya Chola again revived Chola rule. This was the beginning of great Chola Empire. The later Chola rulers were weak and the power passed on to the hands of Eastern Chalukyas.

Cholas regained their lost position but with the rise of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya-1 (1251 A.D), Chola supremacy came to an end. The sway of Pandyas lasted for over 50 years, followed by Muslim domination from 1334 to 1378 A.D. By 1378, the region came under the rule of Vijayanagar Kingdom and Nayaks were appointed as the rulers of the region. In 1677, Chatrapati Shivaji took Ginjee area with the assistance of Golkonda forces. During the Mughal regime, both the English and French acquired settlements in South Arcot. During the Anglo-French rivalry, the entire district was turned into a war land. After sometime, the entire area came under the control of East India Company. It remained under British authority till 1947 when India became independent.

The small town of Gingee was once a capital city, with its province extending from Nellore in the north to the Coleroon (Kollidam) in the south. According to local legend, Gingee Amman was one of the seven virgins who were the guardian deities of the Village. Legend has it that at around 1200 A. D., Gingee was fortified by Ananda Kone, chief of the local shepherd community. In 1240 A. D. Krishna Kone, his successor, is said to have fortified the northern hill which later came to be known as Krishnagiri. The Kone dynasty gave way to the Kurumbars, who established their headquarters at Sendamangalam, which later came under the powerful Chola empire. Recorded history goes back to the 16th century, when Gingee became the seat of the Nayaka rulers, who were under the lordship of the expanding Vijayanagar empire.

Krishnadevaraya appointed Krishnappa Nayaka, and he was considered the founder of the Nayaka line of Gingee. Most of the structures, fortification walls and temples were built during this period. The fortifications and defenses were further strengthened under Chatrapati Shivaji, the Great Maratha ruler, was captured Gingee in 1677 A. D. Gingee came under the hegemony of the Moghul emperor Aurangazeb in 1691 A. D., and Sarup Singh was appointed as the chief of Gingee by the emperor, under the control of the Nawab of Arcot. Sarup Singh’s son, Raja Desingh, revolted against the Nawab of Arcot, and was defeated and killed in the war that followed. Though Gingee became a part of the Nawabs territory in 1714 A. D., the young and courageous Raja Desingh became a legend and his heroic deeds were sung in the form of popular ballads. Thus Gingee too became quite well known. In 1750 A. D., Gingee came under the French rule and remained so till it was surrendered to the British in 1761.

Sad – at – Ullah Khan Mosque was erected by Sad – at – Ullah Khan to commemorate his victory over Desingh and the capture of the fort in 1713 A. D. It is located at the entrance of the inner fort of Rajagiri. According to a Persian inscription found here, the mosque is said to have been constructed in 1717 –1718 A. D Kalrayan Hills is one part of the Eastern ghats, lies on the western side of the Kallakurichi Taluk. This area spread over an area of 600 sq. kms. approximately with the height ranging from 1000 ft to 3800 ft from the sea level. The History of Kalrayan hills with its Jagirdars run back to the time of Krishna Deverayar, the Emperor of 'Vijaya Nagar Kingdom'. The emperor Krishna Deverayar given the rights to the tribes to enjoy this land but imposed many taxes on them. About the hill tribes it is said that warriors belonging to Karalar community had come from Kanchipuram and settled in Kalrayan hills. After sometimes they over ride the tribal people called 'Vedar' (hunter) and married their wives. The communities of Karalar and Vedar who at present are called 'Malayali' and they call themselves as 'Goundars'. The place is a veritable paradise for trekkers. It is also called as 'Poor man's hill station' of Tamil Nadu.

Auroville is an international township. This town of tomorrow now in the making - supported and encouraged by the Government of India, and endorsed by UNESCO - is sited just across the Puducherry border in Viluppuram district. Representing an experiment in international living, it was launched in 1968 at the behest of the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram at an inaugural function attended by representatives of 124 nations and all the States of India. Each inhabitant of Auroville contributes in his or her own way towards building the township.