Vellore Fort

IN Vellore city, Tamil Nadu, stands a 16th century fort — an outstanding example of military architecture in South India. Originally a stronghold of the Vijayanagara Empire, the fort changed hands several times before the British East India Company acquired it in 1760.

In 1806, the for t witnessed a momentous event in Indian history. The British officers had introduced changes in the Indian sepoys’ uniforms, which offended both the Hindus and Muslims. The sepoys who protested against the new policies were arrested and flogged. Simmering in discontent, the sepoys rose up in arms.

In the wee hours of the morning of July 10, the mutinous sepoys shot dead their British officers and seized control of the fort. Tipu Sultan’s son, Fateh Hyder, who was imprisoned there by the British after his father’s death, was declared king and the flag of Mysore was raised.

Colonel Gillespie, who was stationed at nearby Arcot, hastened to the Vellore Fort and ruthlessly crushed the daring uprising. All the rebels were mercilessly shot and Tipu Sultan’s family was exiled to distant Calcutta (Kolkata). Thus ended the first mutiny against the British on Indian soil.

The Vellore Fort was built by Chinna Bommi Nayak, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara rulers. Spread over an area of 0.54 sq km, the stone monument is surrounded by a broad moat that was once infested with crocodiles.

The walls of the fort are buttressed by sturdy round towers on all sides. Its granite blocks are seamlessly fitted together without mortar. The for t also has an escape tunnel leading to Virinjipuram, which is 12 kilometres away.

The fort complex houses the magnificent Vijayanagara-style Jalakandeswara Temple, the Tipu Sutan Masjid, St. John’s Church and a government museum. It is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).