Famous Forts in Tamilnadu Tourism Places

There are only a few remaining ports in Tamilnadu today. The Tamilnadu forts that are still standing intact are from the recent history, mainly belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries. The state enjoyed relative peace during the muslim invasions that swept most of North India and the Deccan. The extreme southern situation may be the reason for this. The British built their first major fort here, and most of the ports in Tamilnadu include forts built by them and some remnants of medieval and ancient forts. Tourism in Tamilnadu benefits from these forts as each year numerous tourists visit them. Some of these forts are among the major tourist destinations in Tamilnadu.

St George Fort

In the early part of the 17th century, it was essential for any overseas trading centre to be fortified against the possibility of an attack. In 1639 a grant was obtained from Damarla Venkatappa Nayaka, the local chief of Chandragiri on behalf of the Company, a strip of land, between the Cooum and the Bay of Bengal, as a site for a factory, and permission to build a fortification to protect it. The original settlement was the nucleus of the present Fort St. George. A group of buildings were built within the Fort at different times for different purposes with the increasing needs of the East India Company.

The British regained the fort after the treaty of Aix –la Chapelle. Today, the fort serves as the administrative headquarters of the legislative assembly of Tamilnadu. The fort has many interesting attractions within it, including the museum, St Mary’s Church, and the Wellesley house. The canons of Tipu Sultan placed at the ramparts of the museum are a reminder of the famous struggles between the British and the brave Indian king.

Timing: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm