Vellore Fort


The Vellore Fort, located in the southern bank of the Palar, covering over 130 acres of land, was constructed under the rule of the Sambuvariyar dynasty and was later completed by Chinna Bommi Reddy and Thimma Reddy Nayak of the Vijayanagara empire in the 15th century. This fort is one of the finest examples of a Military Fort in the country.

The Vellore Fort, with a wooden drawbridge, a wide moat and a strong masonry, was constructed using the granites of Chittoor and Arcot.
Continuing the ancient traditions, the deep moat of the fort had several reptile traps for defence. During the battles, the crocodiles in the moat played a crucial role and prevented the entry of the enemy kingdoms.

After the end of the Vijayanagar rule, the occupancy of the Vellore fort shifted between the Marathas, the British, Mughals and the Mysore monarchs. The Vellore fort then was one of the most supreme and strongest forts in the Carnatic. The Vellore Fort' known for its fine military architecture, attracted several kings in the 16th century.

Under the British East India Company [ 1760-1947], the Vellore fort continued to remain as an important military station until the time of independence. In 1792, Lord Cornwallis led his massive army to the historic victory against the Tipu sultan from the Vellore fort. When Tipu Sultan died in 1799, the family members of the sultan, were also imprisoned in the Vellore fort.



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