The impregnable fortress : Gingee fort
Villapuram District, Tamil Nadu,
India
India
"Troy of the East", this is how the British
called the most impregnable fortress in India, the Gingee Fort.
It was about 9 in the morning when we reached the
gate of Gingee fort at the Villapuram District. A 2.5 hours drive, 160kms away
from Chennai, the main city of the state of Tamil Nadu. The fort complex is
fortified within three rocky hills “Rajagiri”, Krishnagiri”, and Chandrayundurg”
creating a triangle battlement. Me and four other officemates decided to climb
the tallest citadel, "Rajagiri".
After paying 100 rupees to the entrance, we made our way through the old complex. It was said that Gingee Fort started as a small fort during the 9th century, modified through the 13th century. It was between 15th to 16th centuries when the great fort came into its prominence.
After paying 100 rupees to the entrance, we made our way through the old complex. It was said that Gingee Fort started as a small fort during the 9th century, modified through the 13th century. It was between 15th to 16th centuries when the great fort came into its prominence.
|
Walking inside the complex gives you a glimpse of
what life was during the prime of the fort. Dark thick walled gymnasium, a
granary for their stocks, a holy pond, sculptures of deities, animals, and
ruins of temples within its complex.
|
|
As we reached the foot of Rajagiri and saw its gate, our excitement propelled us to climb the 240 meters high hill. It felt like the Fellowship of the ring on the way to Murdor. And we were the 5 hobbits.
As we started our ascend we were greeted with slabs of granite steps, sharp and uneven in height we gallantly climbed the passages and dirt alleys. Every once in awhile we rest to catch our breaths… we climbed, and again catch our breaths… and again... but the best part of taking a few minutes break is the spectacular view below.
|
|
Along the way we’ve passed by shrines, etched
figures of faces on boulders and mischievous monkeys that will steal whatever
food you are holding. As told by one of our companions who was having his
biscuits along the way was suddenly jumped on by a male monkey. Surprised by
the attack he accidentally threw all the biscuits in the air and made a run for
it. Too bad we didn’t witness it, it would have been a scary hilarious laugh.
Looking up as we continue our climb we know we were near the top when we reached a blue wooden draw bridge that connects the citadel from a wide ravine. I asked my companions to continue along as I try to enjoy this part of the battlement before crossing the bridge... I took some more pictures of the view below before moving on.
And finally, after over an hour of climbing rugged granite stairs, walking through dirt path walks and eluding mischievous monkeys, there I was at the peak of Rajagiri. I stood on one edge of the temple to take a moment and catch my breath. I felt the cold wind and warm kiss of the sun on my face as I look and gaze at the view, magnificent, beautiful, refreshing, breathtaking...
...it was majestic.
...it was majestic.
