Danish Fort / Fort Dansborg, Tharangambadi / Tranquebar, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

 14^th March 2017.

I was on an official duty to Thirukadaiyur on 14th March 2017 and utilizing this opportunity visited this Danish Fort, which is about 7 KM from Thirukadaiyur. Tranquebar is the earliest Danish settlement and was once a sea port. This was also the headquarters of Collector for about 150 years.  When Danes came Tharangambadi they felt that this place would be a potential trading centre. So Danish Admiral Ove Gjedde entered an agreement with the Thanjavur Nayak King Raghunatha Nayak and build this fort. The land was given for rent and allowed them to collect taxes from the villages near by Villages. The treaty was signed on a golden leaf and still available at Danish Royal Archives museum at Copenhagen.  It was believed that this fort was built over a Portuguese Catholic Church where now Fort exists.

The Danish fort otherwise called as Dansborg was constructed in the year 1620. Many parts are reconstructed several times latter. Once the sea was about 500 meters away from the fort wall. But now the east side on the wall is in the sea. The rampart wall is large in size surrounded on all four sides, with bastions at each cardinal points. The three sides of the rampart consists of Barracks, Ware House, Kitchen, Bar room, Kitchen, Jail and a hanging place. In the hanging place after the prisoner was hanged, arrangements are made to dispose the body in to sea through a tunnel.

On the eastern side facing the sea, there is a  two story building  with lower story had ware house and the upper story  had the Church, Governor’s residence and rooms for the senior merchants. The eastern side was  fitted with canons at vantage points. The Fort was protected by the sea on the eastern side and moat was constructed around the fort. There is no moat now and the same was completely destroyed.

During British Period, the  fort was not used since it was not a advantage place for them. After independence the fort was used as an inspection bungalow by the State Government till 1978. After this Tamil Nadu Government Archaeological Department had took over the fort and renovated three times ( 2001, 2011 and 2015-16 ). Now A Museum is functioning at the eastern side of the  upper story  building.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 The eastern 2 story building where Governors & Senior Merchants  lodging and Church was functioned

  

 The remains of fort wall now in the sea

  

  

 Tunnel where the dead bodies are discharged in to sea

  

Entrance

The agreement between Thanjavur King  Raghunatha Nayak and Danish

For More Photographs : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Robert Kelly Memorial obliques, Arani, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

...a continuation post to Arani Heritage visit.

18^th March 2017.

Col. Robert Kelly was killed by his subordinate Col. Vigor in a duel on the 29^th September 1790 and was buried in Arani Fort. After two years, this monument was constructed by Col. Vigor's son Col. Urba Vigors   The monument is in the form of obelisk stands to a height of 45 feet. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

SACRED

to the memory of

COL. ROBERT KELLY

Who departed this life in the vicinity

Of arnee Sep 29 AD1790 A AES52

THIS MONUMENT

Was erected by

L COL URBA VIGORS

as a mark of respect for

a gallant soldier

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Poosimalai Kuppam Palace / Shooting Box/ Arani Jahir's Glass Palace / ஆரணி ஜாகீரின் கண்ணாடி மாளிகை, S.V. Nagaram, Arani, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

..a continuation post to S.V. Nagaram Palace

 18^th March 2017.

After Lunch at Arani, we had been to this Poosimalai Kuppam Palace, through a forest for about 6 to 7 KM from S V Nagaram. The Palace is in the midst of the forest surrounded by the hills. The locals used to call this as Glass Palace – கண்ணாடி மாளிகை.   It was learnt that the forest was created by planting trees by the Jagirdar.

Looks like a castle 

The Bungalow or the Palace was constructed in the year 1860 CE ( the drawing was prepared in the year 1850 ) and the Architect was W.N Pogson. The Palace looks like 1800’s European Palaces.  The palace has a Kitchen, living place for the servants and a well. The palace is of G + 2 floors and the top floor was with a tiled slopping roof. Sit out on the north side was supported by cast Iron pipes made like pillars and also serves as a rain water drain pipes from the top slopping roof. The top slopping roof has gutters to divert the water through these cast iron pipes. These pillars/ rain water pipes are imported from UK and made at Glasgow during 1860 CE.

The roof of the Ground and first floors are supported by steel beams and concrete was a mixture of lime mortar and broken bricks. The walls are built with bricks and plastered with lime mortar. In side the wall are finished like a glass and out side the same was done like brick and painted with red oxide colour. The corner bricks are specially made for this palace.

    

 Ceiling painting 

Even-though the purpose of the Palace was not known there are many stories behind this mystery. One such story is, The Jagirdar  built this palace for his British wife. This Palace also called as SHOOTING BOX. It was told that Jagirdar used to hunt deer, rabbits, wild boar from this Palace.  The Palace now looks like ghost  bungalow used for illegal purposes. The walls are scribbled with paint, ink, nails etc by the miscreants. The doors and windows were taken away.  The Palace stands majestically even now telling it’s old glory.

HOW TO REACH :

This Poomalai Kuppam Palace is  about 6 to 7 Km on the north west direction of S.V. Nagaram Palace.

LOCATION OF THE PALACE :CLICK HERE

 Ceiling painting 

Made in UK, Glasgow

 Pillar serves as a Rainwater pipe 

 Corner brick stones specially made for this palace 

 This structure enhances beauty of this Palace

 2^nd Floor Roof 

…. To be continued  Robert Kelly Memorial )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Sathya Vijaya Nagaram Aranmanai / S. V. Nagaram Palace, Arani, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

A continuation post to Arani visit… 

18^th March 2017.

Sathya Vijaya  Nagaram otherwise known as S V Nagaram  was established by the  Jagir Venkatanatha Rao Sahib in 1825CE, an ardent follower of Madhwa sampradaya. Veda ji Bhaskar Pant a Maharashtra Brahmin, was associated with Shahaji, the father of Shivaji. The Pant also accompanied with Shahji during his expedition to south India. Shahji gifted this Aranai to this Vedaji Bhaskar Pant in 1640 AD, who was then, called as Zamindar / Jagir. The Jagirdars were in Power till 1948 AD.  Jagir Venkatanatha Rao, Sahib, the decedent of the Pant Constructed a Mutt & Moola Brindavana for Sri Satya Vijaya Theertharu in this place and named after him. Located on the banks of Kamandala-naga River. The palace or the Aranmanai was constructed adjacent to the Moola Brindavana. The Jagirdar, as per the instruction of the pontiff established this S V Nagara for the upliftment of poor  Brahmins  from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The palace / Aranmanai was constructed 1825CE ( assumed since correct date was not available ) and expanded in 1876 CE ( a stone tablet was installed on an entrance wall ), with Ground + 2 floor are now in ruins. The style of construction is called as “Stuart Architecture”.  The Queen’s palace and the fountain are renovated and being used by the Tamil Nadu Government. The Tamil Nadu Govt.  Veterinary Hospital   and  Regional Institute for Rural Development  was functioned in this Palace.

The complex consists of  Main Palace and a Palace for the queen or  Jagirdar's wife. The main palace was constructed with bricks and over which lime mortar  ( Mixture of lime and sand  ) plastering was done. Polishing was done after plastering. Still we can see and feel the smoothness of the wall in the un-pealed portions.  Woods are used for  supports for the ceilings. The pillars are constructed with specially made semi circular bricks and round granite stones are used  to increase strength to hold the load. The  stucco work on the Pillars, above doors ways, windows both inside and out side  are excellent with figures like lion, human face etc., and paintings are done on the ceilings and walls.

In Queen’s Palace entrance door glass has an etching of  Jagirdars emblem (an image of a fort and a hand with sword). A Latin word ‘PER DEUM-ET FERRUM OBTINUI” is written and the meaning is “We got all these through GOD and our sword”. Similar images can be seen on the Sadras Fort and Pulicat Dutch cemeteries.

The above Palace was constructed in a 300 acres of land. The Jagirdars lived lavishly. They used to go to horse races conducted at, Chennai, Ooty and Bangalore. They bought imported cars from various countries and had all brands of cars starts with  A to Z. They had 182 cars at one period and at least 8 to 10 cars might have parked in the palace.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 This portion was damaged due to fire 

 The construction of a pillar with specially made semi circular brick and a granite round stone to increase the strength of the pillar

The stucco images of pillar top – pothyal

 Paintings

 Water fountain 

 The Queen’s Palace ( Now the Govt Office is functioning after renovation )

A Latin word ‘PER DEUM-ET FERRUM OBTINUI” is written and the meaning is “We got all these through GOD and our sword”. 

Durbar Hall

A fragment of pillar with relief  on the back side of Palace

For More Photographs:CLICK HERE 

…….To be continued SHOOTING BOX.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Adinath Jain Temple or Arugar Koil, a Jain temple, Poondi, near Arani, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

… A Continuation Post - Arani, A Heritage Visit

18th March 2017.

Our next destination was to a Jain Temple also called as ARUGAR Koil at Poondi, near Arani. The main deity  is Adinath also called as Ponezhil Nathar. This temple is facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Renovation and re-construction were in progress during our visit. There are 3 panels of Tirthankaras kept in side the sanctum.

  

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

During this renovation the out side granite walls are sand blasted and the old inscriptions has become unreadable. As per the inscriptions the temple was constructed in Chozha architecture style during 1305 AD by the Sambuvarayar King called Veerasamban with granite stone base and a brick super structure. Hence the temple was called as “Veera Veera Jinalaya”.

There are sannidhis for Dharma Devi, Brahma Devar, Saraswathy, Lakshmi, Chakreshwari, Chandraprabha Nathar, Jwalamalini, Padmavathy and Navadevdha.

ARCHITECTURE

The main temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum,  artha mandapam and Mukha mandapam. In sanctum the five feet Parshvanath relief in standing posture installed on a pedestal. Over the head carvings of five headed snake with its tail runs up to the feet.  The sanctum has a 2 tier vimanam with stucco images of  jaina monks in standing posture.

The temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ) as a protected monument in Tamil Nadu. 

HOW TO REACH:

This Jain Temple is 3 KM from Arani on the Arcot Road in Thiruvannamalai district..

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

For further reading please refer the Tamil Nadu Tourism  website 

… To be continued ( S.V. Nagaram Aranmanai or the Palace )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---