Gingee Fort

Why in News?

Recently, Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu was recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gingee fort

• Located in - Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.
• Located atop three hillocks – Rajagiri, Krishnagiri and Chandragiri
• Built by - Ananta Kon of the Konar Dynasty.
• Built in - 1200 CE.
• Known as –The ‘Troy of the East.’
• Part of -The Maratha Military Landscapes.

• Historic legacy - It was under the possession of several empires, such as the Vijayanagar Nayaks, Marathas, Mughals, Nawabs, the French and British.
• Features- Stepped well, a Kalyana Mahal, a durbar hall, a cannon, a clock tower, an armoury, an elephant tank, a stable, a granary, a gymnasium, the Venkataramana temple, and the Sadathtulla mosque.
• Water supply system -It consists of two elaborate systems for water supply, which ensured that even the top of the structure had continuous supply of water.

Maratha Military Landscapes of India

• The network of 12 forts demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.

• Located in - Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Constructed during – 17^th to 19^th centuries CE.
• Selected sites - Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
• Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
• Classifications -Based on the location
  • Hill forts - Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad, and Gingee.
  • Hill forest forts – Pratapgad.
  • Hill-plateau fort – Panhala.
  • Coastal fort – Vijaydurg.
  • Island forts -Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, and Sindhudurg.

Reference

PIB| UNESCO World Heritage Site- Maratha Military Landscapes