->N.K.BALA at 05:01, 11 July 2021

2021-07-11T05:01:24Z

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{{Short description|Historical landmark built by king Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Thirumayam Fort
|partof = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|location = [[Pudukkottai District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
|image = Fort of thirumayam.jpg
|caption =
|map_type = India Tamil Nadu
|map_size =
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]s
|coordinates = {{coord|10.2471|78.7508|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 =
}}

The '''Thirumayam Fort''' is a 40-acre wide<ref name="ASI Renovation">{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/thirumayam-fort-sports-new-look/article3655644.ece | title=Thirumayam fort sports new look | date=19 July 2012 | newspaper=The Hindu | first=M. | last=Balaganessin | accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref> [[fortress]] in the town of [[Thirumayam]] in Pudukkottai-Karaikudi Highway in [[Pudukkottai District]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. It was constructed by [[Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi]], the [[Ramnad estate|Raja of Ramnad]] in 1687. Later the fort was handed over to his brother in law Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman. The fort has been extensively renovated by Archaeological Survey of India in 2012.<ref name="ASI Renovation"/>

== Architecture ==
The fort originally said to have been a 'ring fort' with seven concentric walls has only four surviving now. The construction of the fort is of inferior quality as small blocks of stone were used along with bricks for the building of the fortification.

The fort has three entrances; one on the north, another on the south and third on the east. The shrines dedicated to Hanuman, Sakthi, Ganapathi, Karuppar (guardian deities of the fort) are noticed on the southern side and shrine to Bhairava on the northern side. Halfway to the top on the right side a chamber which was used as magazine was noticed. Opposite to this chamber on the western slope of a boulder is a rock cut cell containing a linga on yonipitha, the spout of which is supported by the figure of a dwarf.

[[File:Thirumayam fort cannon.JPG|thumb|250px|left|bastion with cannon of British origin]]
On the top of the rock is a bastion with cannon of British origin. To the south of this Platform is a natural pond. On the southern slope there are two rock cut temples, one of them dedicated to Sri Sathyamurthy-Sri Uyyavanda Nachiar (Vaishnavite) and another to Sri Sathyagireeswarar-Sri Venuvaneeswari (Saivite), Which are historically and religiously more important. To the northwest is another pond and to the southeast another tank. There are six more cannons mounted in the north, south and east gates.

==Historical Importance==
The fortress is of great historical significance and was an important stronghold of rebel chieftains in the [[Polygar Wars]]. Oomathurai, the brother of [[Panchalankurichi]] chieftain [[Kattabomman]] was captured in this fort. The fort is locally known as Oomayan Kottai(fort of the dumb).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://vintage.pudukkottai.info/places/thirumayam/04thirumayam.html | title=THE FORT | publisher=Sudharsanam, A centre for Arts and culture, Pudukkottai | accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref> The fort is maintained and administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] as a ticketed monument.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=List of ticketed monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_tn.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|accessdate=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Inside Thirumayam Fort.JPG|As seen from inside the fort
File:Thirumayam seen from fort.JPG|Thirumayam seen from fort
</gallery>
[[File:Marudhupandiyan fort in thirumayam.jpg|thumb|the tank look alike in the top of the Thirumayam fort. This is supposed to have been used during times of war.]]
== References ==
* {{cite book|title=Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu|publisher=Sura Books|isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|pages=95–96}}
{{reflist}}

{{Pudukkottai district}}

[[Category:Forts in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Pudukkottai district]]

Thirumayam Fort - Revision history

->N.K.BALA at 05:01, 11 July 2021