Attur Fort

Attur Fort
Part of Tamil Nadu
Attur, Tamil Nadu, India
200px Attur Fort
Attur Fort
Coordinates
Type	Forts
Site information
Controlled by	Department of Archaeology
Site history
Built	17th century
Built by	Lakshmana Nayakan

Attur Fort is a historic fort present in Attur in Salem district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The fort was built by a Palaiyakkarar chieftain under Madurai Nayaks, called Lakshmana Nayakan during the 17th Century. It was also occupied by Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and British during various times. The fort was used by the British as a garrison till 1854, after which the fort was not operational. In modern times, the fort is under the control of the Archaeological Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Some portions of the fort is dilapidated, while most other portions are enchorached by slum dwellers.

Location

Attur town is situated on the southern bank of the Vasista river. The town was called Attur Ananthagiri during the Mysore rule in 1689 and was called Attur by end of the 18th century. It was originally believed that the fort was built by the founder of the Catti Mudali dynasty, who built the Shiva and Vishnu temples in the fort.

File:"Amazing Structure inside the Fort of Attur".JPG

Arched gateway inside the fort

History

Under Madurai Nayaks

The Fort was constructed by a local Palaiyakkarar chieftain Lakshmana Nayakan under Madurai Nayaks. Attur fort became part of Mysore Kingdom in the late 17th century when frequent wars between Mysore Kingdom and Thirumalai Nayak of Madurai when large parts of north west Tamil region from Dindigul became part of Mysore rulers.

Under Mysore Kingdom

The region became part of Mysore Wodeyar rulers and later under Hyder Ali of Mysore till 1768, when surrendered to Wood of East India Company. Hyder Ali regained the town from the British East India Company, but the Company won a decisive victory in the 3rd Mysore war was against Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali.

Under British

After the Third Mysore War the region became part of Madras Presidency under British.The fort was used by the British as a garrison from 1792 by and the 23rd Madras battalion under the command of captain compbell occupied it. During subsequent years, the fort was used as an ordinance station from 1799 as the Company troops moved to Sankagiri. After 1854, the fort ceased to act as an operational fortress and the region was clubbed into the newly formed Salem District under the Madras Presidency.

Recent status

In modern times, the fort is under the control of the Archaeological Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Some portions of the fort is dilapidated, while most other portions are enchorached by slum dwellers. In modern times, the fort is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Architecture

The fort occupies an area of 62 acres (250,000 m²) The walls of the fort are about 30 ft (9.1 m) tall and 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. It is decortated by wedge shaped cut-stones fitted without mortar. The construction material for the walls are believed to be quarried from the Kalladithankundru. The fort was guarded by the river in the east and by moats on other sides. Gatt dynasty used the large chamber inside the fort as audience hall during their regime. The pool house, used for the pleasure of the royal family, was fed from the river through a water gate.