Photographs of the Hill Fort at Tirumayam from the 'Photographic Views of Poodoocottah' (1858) collection, taken by Linnaeus Tripe in 1858. (Courtesy : British Library)
Thirumayam is a heritage town on the way to pudukottai (Karaikudi/Rameshwaram-Trichy highway)...Clicked a few snaps as I went passed it. The fort looks fascinating from the distance and its saddening to hear its been vandalized by locals and tourists.
"The fort was built in 1687 by Vijaya Regunatha Thevar, the Sethupathy of Ramanathapuram. History has it that the fort played an important role during the Tondaiman rule in Pudukkottai. During World War II, the fort was used as an arsenal by the British Army. Originally, it seems there was an additional fortification that ringed the existing structure with seven concentric walls and a broad moat all around. Today, the remnants appear to be balanced solidly on huge rocks.In the crevices that surround the hill-top fort are two rock cut cave temples which lie side by side and are dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, both built by Pallava kings. " For more read Soma Basu's report here...
Been past the Thirumeyyam temple & fort hundreds of times never been inside either of those though:( Great pictures, last time we went past it was just after Tsunami and the surrounding areas were very green.
ReplyDeleteI always feel that we have a lot more assets than other countries in terms of forts or castles or palaces or any other thing tht other countries showcase..only if we had the right channel of making them good tourist spots..sigh!
ReplyDeleteYes seriously india is like a masterpiece - every where theres something -yet not much tourism - some places r even deserted
ReplyDeleteoh yes beautiful pics
cool!
ReplyDeleteIts a beautiful fort, i read about it 2 years back in Kumudham magazine.
ReplyDeleteThats yet another less/un known gem. I missed seeing the fort inspite of going to the temples on a packed day trip. You make me miss India more.
ReplyDeleteCheers
SLN
*WA...almost everybody says the same thing "been past it hundreds of times and never been inside"...
ReplyDelete*Usha...our Archeological dept is incompetent and fundless most of the time...
*visit...better deserted that over crowded and vandalized. Unless govt does something strong to protect vandalism and pollution no point in popularizing tourist spots.
*I...i know :)
*jeevan...did u see it in "pottu thakku" song from the film 'kuthu' wer simbu dances with ramya krishnan?
*ammu..tanx
*SLN...i dont like package trips..there is so much rush that u end up seeing just glimpses of everything and nothing in detail.
Ashok,
ReplyDeleteIt was a packed trip, not package trip :). We had our own transport. I also hate package trips but have taken a few for want of a better alternate.
I wanted to see the Tirumayam fort and my wife wanted to see Chittanavasal. You can guess where we went :)
Cheers
SLN
i have seen that songs, is that shooted near that fort?
ReplyDeletewhenever IGO TO THIRUMAYAM ,I used to to visit the Fort. This fort was my study place in the evenings during my school days in early seventies.Dr.R. Vijayaraghavan
ReplyDeleteIcannot forget Thirumayam and Thirumayam Fort.Thirumayam is my birth place. I did my school in Thirumayam.The fort was the place to play in the evenings for the school boys in early seventies. I was really moved to see the old photos of Thirumayam. R.Vijayaraghavan
ReplyDeleteThe Archeological Survey of India is now keen on preserving the historical places and monuments. Thirumayam Fort is getting facelift.The first phase of the work is over. Second phase of the work has already been started. madhil paintings are not good.IT LOOKS LIKE A MAKEUP. WHAT IS REQUIRED IS ITS OLD MAJESTIC LOOK TO TAKE THOSE SEEING THE FORT TO HISTORY.
ReplyDeletedats not a just place its my world
ReplyDeleteafter some research i found out that this place has a lot of history behind it.... check out this website:
ReplyDeletehttp://thirumayam.weebly.com/index.html
Nice Memories!
ReplyDeletethe CPIM (MARXIST) held a meeting at thirumayam on 28th january.veeramani presided over the function jeevanandam&venkatasubbu spoke on the occatin.
ReplyDelete