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{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Ranjankudi Fort
|partof = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|location = [[Perambalur District]], Tamil Nadu, India
|image = Ranjankudi Fort-Perambalur district-Tamil Nadu.jpg
|image_size = 200px
|caption = Image of the fort
|map_type = India Tamil Nadu
|map_size =
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]s
|coordinates = {{coord|11.346|78.939|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built =
|builder =
|materials =
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = Ruins
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}

'''Ranjankudi Fort''' is a 15th-century fortress located about {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of the town of [[Perambalur]] in Tamil Nadu, India. The fort is located {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Perambalur]] in [[National Highway 45 (India)|NH 45]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is located {{convert|253|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the state capital [[Chennai]] and {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Trichy]].The fort was constructed by Vijayanagar Nayaka Kings. Then occupied by Nawab of the Carnatic.

Ranjakudi fort was the focus point during the Battle of Valikondah during 1751, when the British troops supported by Mohammed Ali won over the French supported by Chanda Sahib. The fort is oblong in shape with semicircular bastions, a moat encircling it and three fortifications at different levels, built with cut stone blocks. The fort has a palace, residence buildings, underground chamber and an underground passage that links Pettai (the top level) with Kottai Medu (lower level). The fort, in modern times, is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. The fort is one of the prominent tourist destinations in Perambalur.

==History==
[[File:Ranjankudi fort-Perambalur district-Tamil Nadu-part45.JPG|200px|left|A view of the fort from the top|alt=A view of the fort from the top showing fort walls and a moat|thumb]]
The fort is called Ranjankudikottai and also referred as Nanjankudikottai. The old premises is believed to have been housing Hindu temples dedicated to [[Shiva]] and [[Hanuman]].<ref name="hindu2"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras, Volume 1|last=Sewell|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QswOAAAAQAAJ&dq=ranjankudi&pg=PA263|page=263|publisher=E. Keys, at the Government Press|year=1882|location=Madras, India : Presidency}}</ref> The fort is believed to have been constructed by Vijayanagar Nayaka Kings. Then it was occupied by the Nawab of Carnatic during the 17th century. The fort was the scene of the Battle of Valikondah during 1751. The British troops were supported by Mohammed Ali while the French were supported by Chanda Sahib. Though the battle is called by the nearby village Valikondah, it was fought in the fort. While the French won the initial battle, the British ended up winning the final battle with the help of local Muslims.<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news|title=Once the French and British fought for this fort|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/once-the-french-and-british-fought-for-this-fort/article3298653.ece|date=10 April 2012|access-date=9 September 2013|last=M.|first=Balaganessin|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

In May 1752, the fort was also the scene of surrender of French troops under D'Auteuil, which was sent to relieve the garrison at [[Srirangam]]. D'Auteuil was posted in Uttatur and was fended off by the British troops led by Dalton on 9 May. He retreated to Ranjankudi, where the Jagirthar took the side of the British and denied entry to the French troops to the upper level of the fort. D'Auteuil surrendered in the fort.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Madras district gazetteers| volume= 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QztuAAAAMAAJ&dq=perambalur+fort&pg=PA305|pages=303–305|location=Madras (India : State)|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|year=1907}}</ref>

The fort was located in a strategic position during the colonial times, away from the Tiruchirappalli [[Tiruchirapalli Rock Fort|Rockfort]]. The fort, in modern times, is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref name="hindu2">{{cite news|title=Once the French and British fought for this fort|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/12/31/stories/2005123102040200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017134916/http://hindu.com/mp/2005/12/31/stories/2005123102040200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 October 2007|date=31 December 2005|access-date=9 September 2013|last1=Basu|first1=Soma|last2=M.|first2=Balaganessin|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments – Tamil Nadu|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Archaeological Survey of India |author2=G. R. Thursby |title=Annual report of the Archaeological Department, Southern Circle, Madras|year=1902–1903|publisher=Government Press |location=Madras |page=26}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The fort is located {{convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of [[Perambalur]] in [[National Highway 45 (India)|NH 45]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is located {{convert|253|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the state capital [[Chennai]] and {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Trichy]]. The fort is oblong in shape with semicircular bastions and a moat encircling it. There are three fortifications at different levels, built by Vijaya nagar Nayak kings with cut stone blocks. The lower bastion is the main rampart surrounded by mud wall. The open ground known as Pettai is approached through a flight of steps, which was once a battlefield. The top-tier is called Kottai Medu, used as guarding towers by soldiers and housing cannons. The small water body in the fort is believed to have been used by the Nawab as swimming pool. The fort has a palace, residence buildings, underground chamber and an underground passage that links Pettai with Kottai Medu. The pit in the centre of the fort was used as a prison for male prisoners while female prisoners were jailed in small blocks inside the fort. As per J. Raja Mohamed, an epigraphist and former curator of Government Museum, the fort culminated Mughal Architecture in the region . It is also believed that he introduced cotton cultivation in the region, which is continued in modern times.<ref name="hindu1"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Ranjankudi Fort|publisher=Perambalur District Administration|url=http://perambalur.nic.in/tour_fort.htm|access-date=9 September 2013}}</ref> The fort is one of the prominent tourist destinations in Perambalur.<ref>{{cite web|title=Places of interest in Perambalur|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/perambalur/places.html|publisher=Perambalur municipality|year=2011|access-date=9 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="TOI">{{cite news|title=4 Must-visit forts in Tamil Nadu|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/4-Must-visit-forts-in-Tamil-Nadu/articleshow/13451080.cms?|work=[[The Times of India]]|last=Panikker|first=Rohit|date=25 October 2013|access-date=9 September 2013}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External==
{{Commons category|Ranjankudi_Fort}}
{{Perambalur district|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Forts in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Perambalur district]]
[[Category:Archaeological monuments in Tamil Nadu]]

Ranjankudi Fort - Revision history

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