Kalyana
Mahal Gingee
Inside the fort there
is a Kalyana Mahal, which has a pyramid like sturcture at the top, built
in Indo-Islamic style. It is very beautiful and it attracts the hearts
of the visitiors. The mahal is so wonderful in its structures and has rooms
for women's stay, a pond of three square meter, built with curved verandahs,
with windows, stair cases on either side of each floor. Moreover terracotta
pipes are fixed on the inner wall of the mahal for water to come in.
A panorama of the Kalyana
Mahal besides just right centre of the Gingee fort. The Kalyana Mahal,
perhaps the living quarters of the queens. Also the Gingee For had an eight-storeyed
Kalyana Mahal (marriage hall), granaries, prison cells, a military gymnasium
and a temple dedicated to its presiding Hindu goddess called Chenjiamman.
The fortifications contain a sacred pond known as Aanaikulam.
Inside the Rajagiri Fort,
the Kalyana Mahal Mohammed Khan Mosque Elephant tank Servants room and
Royal Palace Magazine Gymnasium Granery Venugopala Swami Temple are located.
In the top of the Rajagiri Fort, we have seen the Balaranganathar Temple
Pond and Mandapa Kamalakanni Amman temple Ranganathar Temple Bell tower
/ Watch tower Cannon Draw Bridge. Around the Rajagiri Fort, we can see
Architecture of Jumma Mosque Temple of Seven Maidens Funeral place of Desing
Raja Chakkarai Kulam (Tank) Anjaneyar Temple Prisoners' well Chetty kulam
(Tank) Venkataramana Temple Gate way of Pondicherry Sad-Ullah Khan Mosque
Gate way of Vellore Temples of Lord shiva and Amman Shrine.
In AD 1677 Chatrapati
Shivaji the great Maratha ruler had captured Gingee. The Marathas under
Shivaji strengthened the fortress at the expense of the surrounding villages
and once again made it impregnable. It remained under the Maratha rule
till about AD. 1691, when the generals under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb
captured the Fort.
Another historic building
is the mosque of Sadat - Ullah Khan with Persian inscriptions which record
that the mosque was built in AD 1717 - 18.
On the Krishnagiri hill
there are also two large granaries, stepped wells, an audience hall, two
temples and an unique structure known as Hawa Mahal.
In the recent archaeological
excavations, the Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle had unearthed
a ruined palace complex with finely polished royal throne and an audience
hall. The stepped tank with a unique and innovative fountain system utilizing
terracotta pipes would have kept the pleasure house cool even during the
hottest of days.
Places inside Rajagiri
fort
Kalyana Mahal Mohammed
Khan Mosque Elephant tank Servants room and Royal Palace Magazine Gymnasium
Granery Venugopala Swami Temple |