Beauty in ruins

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Photo: Prabhakaran Sambandam

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The British called it ‘The Troy Of The East’ and Chhatrapati Shivaji positioned it as the ‘most impregnable fortress in India’. The fort, situated in Villupuram District, is the ideal getaway for those who can find history in broken architecture and poetry in ruins.

Surrounded by three hills and three citadels, the structure offers a glimpse of the everyday life of the common people. The fort, built at a height of 800 feet, consisted of a marriage hall, prison cells, granaries, a temple and a martial arts exercise room at the ground level. The view from the top is awe-inspiring: from here one can see the Balaranganathar temple, Amman temple, the bell tower, and watchtower One can also see the Jumma mosque nearby.
The town of Gingee is surrounded by hills made of volcanic rocks. Although the land is dry with scanty vegetation, the raw appearance of the landscape is quite picturesque. Built by the Cholas, the fort witnessed wars and invasions by the Nawabs of Arcot, Tipu Sultan, and the British. Yet, there is something uniquely captivating about this destroyed structure.