Fort Gingee (also known as Senji fort) is one of the most enduring and spectacular fort to explore in Tamil Nadu. It is a well-exhilarated place and was described as the “most impregnable fortress in India” by Shivaji, the Maratha king. Also named as the “Troy of the East” by the British, this fort was built by the Cholas prominence in the 16th century. The myth of Ganjee fort is most popularly associated with the story of Raja De Singh, possibly the lone Rajput ruler to rule Tamil Nadu. 

In 1921, Fort Gingee was declared as a National Monument and was over to the Archeological Department. Lately, the Tourism Department of India has been trying to gain some popularity for this isolated and often overlooked fort in Tamil Nadu.

Gingee fort lies in Villupuram district, about 160 km (100 mi) from the state capital, Chennai, which is close to the union territory of Pondicherry.

History

The fort of Gingee has been subsisted for numerous hundred years. Few governing empires are linked with the history of this fort. The foremost foundation for the first two hundred years of the history of the place is the Complete History of the Carnatic Kings among the Mackenzie manuscripts.

In around 1660 to 1677 AD, the Bijapur Nawabs detained the fort who called it Badshabad, although the Marathas who succeeded them called it Chandry or Chindy. While in 1698 A.D., the Mughals capture the fort and named it as Nusratgadh in honor of Nawab Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat-Jang, the commander-in-chief of the surrounding army. The English and the French in the later period called it Gingee or Jinji. 

The fort was constructed during the 15-16th century by the Gingee Nayaks, the replacements of the Vijayanagara Empire and who later turned to be independent kings.

At start, Gingee fort was the place of the Jains but later due to regime of Pallava, Chola kings, Pandya, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings. Muhammadans, Mughals and the unconcerned attitude of foreigners, it was surrounded by granite walls, mandapas and the temples which were inside the fort were demolished gradually. Neither the British people take any steps to renew the fort.

Today Gingee fort is a memorial in the sheets of history and for its admirers.

Architecture

The fort is spread across 3 hills i.e. Rajagiri, Krishnagiri and Chandrayandurg. The unique thing about this fort is that the 3 hilltop sites are coupled by a wall that turns up and down between each hill such that it makes a big triangle; yet each hill contains a distinct and self-contained castle. The town has quite a few peaks made of barren volcanic rocks with slight or no flora except thorny bushes. These 3 hills stand infertile on the landscape. 

Rajagiri is the first hill where the main fort is located; formerly it was known as Kamalagiri along with Anandagiri. It is around 800 feet (240 m) in height. Its peak is cut off from interaction and is fenced by a deep natural chasm that is about 10 yards (9.1 m) wide and 20 yards (18 m) deep. To get into the hill, one needs to take help of a small wooden draw bridge. This innately robust rock where the fortress is located is additionally supported by the formation of embrasure walls and gateways along all possible shelves and precipitous edges.

The second most important hillrock with an impressive fort is Krishnagiri. It is also known as the English Mountain, possibly since the British residents occupied the fort here, for some time. It lies to the North of Tiruvannamalai road and is smaller in size and height compared to the Rajagiri fort. A flight of steps of granite stones tips to its top.

An additional fort which is connected with Rajagiri with a low rocky ridge is called Chandrayan Durg, Chandragiri or St. George’s Mountain. The military and strategic value has been comparatively less, but they have some fascinating structures of later period.

Chakkiliya Durg is the third most fort, also known as Chamar Tikri meaning the fort of the cobblers. It is not identified why it had acquired the name, perhaps may be because of the royal saddlers and military shoemakers who had set up their workshops here, as Gingee obviously was a military encampment.

There is a slighter and less important a fourth hill, the summit of which is also well fortified.

Activities to be Done

Trekking

Gingee fort is a beautiful and wonderful part of architectural miracle. It is a great spot for trekking and you would need extra energy to trek both the hills.

Other Places to See

Nearby you can also visit a temple named Anjaneya and Venkataramana temple.

Activities you can do around Gingee Fort

• White river rafting at Dubare
• Chunnambar Boat house

How to Reach

By road, one can take the National Highway no. 45 (NH45) from Villupuram district and go on till Tindivanam and then take the road going towards the right which joins to NH66. Since it gets hot in the afternoons, the best time to visit is in the mornings as the fort is under Archaeological Survey of India and closes by 4:30 pm.