The place allied to Raja Desingh known as Genji Fort is roughly 25 kms away from Tindivanam on Tindivanam- Thiruvannamalai road and approximately 132 kms away from Chidambaram. The fort rests on the hills of vast and precipitous rocks. This fort is assumed to be 700 years old. It is believed that the fort was originally made by Kone Chiefs. The fort was reigned by various rulers like Vijayanagar Nayaks, Marathas, Moghuls, Carnatic Nawabs, the French and the two rampart that have been around the fort are the British Rajagiri and Krishnagiri. These are believed to be the very prevalent picninc spot.

History

The history of the fort goes back to the period from 1383 to 1780 AD. The fort was ruled over by various rulers like Marathas, Mughals, Cholas, British and French. The Bijapur Sultanate’s ruled in the 1638, and then the fort was ruled by emperor Shiva in 1677, and thencame the Mughals in 1690, French in 1750 and British in 1762. During the French era the citadel was below the livelihood for eleven years and during this era various sculpture adventure of the fort were moved to Tamil Nadu’s Pondicherry state.

Architecture

It is assumed that the Geenji fort has been titled so from the virgin goddess Senji Amman. The fort is embrassed with sturdy walls that traverse to the three inaccessible hills known as Chandrayandurg, Krishnagiri & Rajagiri that makes its structure very unique. The three hillsform a triangle while the three main joining walls are nearly twenty meters thick. The three hills make an impregnable bastion and in its interior the fort has numerous entrances and ramparts.

How to Reach

The place is easily approachable by road, air and rail.

By Air

The airport that is nearest to the Geenji fort is Chennai. The airport has both the international and domestic termini’s.

By Rail

The most approachable railway station to this fort is the Tindivanam railway station.

By Road

One can get buses from Tiruvannamalai to reach the fort. The buses here are available almost anytime.

Nearby Places to Visit

Since the fort is up on the steep hill it is approachable through series of jagged steps that make their path beside the shaky hill track, which makes it a little challenging to visit the fort. The fort has been laced with many amenities like Gymnasium, audience hall, stable, palace, clock tower, and granary. The treasury in the fort has been put up in the Indo-Islamic style like it has a store-house for grains and the Elephants tank.

Kalyana Mahal

One of the major attractions of the fort is the Kalyana Mahal. It has a square court with the rooms for ladies of the Governor’s household around it. The middle of the court has a 27 meter high square tower that is made up of stone and has a tomb like crown in the form of pyramid. This type of built is of the Indo-Islamic style.

Barracks and Stables

The western end of the Kalyana Mahal is comprised of chain of low curved and rounded chambers which are called as the Barracks and Stables. These have been now transformed into the Archaeological Conservation Training camp.

Gymnasium and Granary

It is believed that it is the biggest granary built from the stone with a large ingress. The thickness of the wall is about 2 meters. The Gymnasium that is on the Northern-Eastern side of the granary has been a giant stone structure with the cylindrical shape and a safe roof.

Sad-At-Ullam Khan Mosque

There is a Mosque named Sad-at-Ullah Khan at the entry of the inner fort of Rajagiri that was constructed by Sad-at-Ullah Khan to honour his own victory on De Singh on capturing the fort in 1713 AD. The Persian engravings on the mosque though say that the fort has been erected in the period from 1717 to 1718 AD.

Vekataramana Temple

The biggest and the prevalent temple that was constructed by Muthiah Nayaka in 1550 AD in the fort of Geenji is the Vekataramana Temple.

Prisoner's Well

It is believed that the fort has a “Well” built of bricks in the shape of circle and is also believed that the prisoners were thrown and were made to starve and let them die in the well. This well is located on the Rajagiri hill just behind the Chakkaraikulam. The most astonishing feature of the fort is that is has huge and numerous bathtubs that have a constant supply of water and also has giant cannons on the top of fort adjoining Chakrakulam-Kunda or known as reservoir which attracts the large number of visitors.

From the period of 1383 to 1780 AD there are various buildings and structures that have been erected by the consecutive leaders of Geenji Fort who belonged to Nayaka, Vijayanagar, Mughal, and Carnatic Nawab, Maratha, the French and British families.

Accomodation

The area has many economical budget hotels and lodges for the stay of visitors in Tiruvannamalai.

Timings and Tickets

Timings:All days from 9 am to 5 pm.

Tickets:

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