Namakkal Fort — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

The fort was built by the Madurai Nayaks during the 17th century. It is reported to have been built by Ramachandra Nayakar, the Poligar of Sendamangalam, during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak. The fort was captured by the British in 1768, to be lost to Hyder Ali. His son Tipu Sultan went on to utilise the fort as a arms depot and watch tower. It switched hands to the British East India Company who got five forts including this one as a part of the Treaty of Srirangapatnam. The British used the fort for storing food grains and arms in the hillock. The British used this as a watch tower. Lieutenant Fehrszen used this as a garrison during the Peninsular war. The fort is located in the centre of Namakkal town over a hillock made of single rock named Namagiri. The fort is located on the top of the rock, 246 ft tall. There is a Narasimha Murthy temple and a mosque that are located within the fort, both of which are popular tourist attractions .The area of the fort is around 1.5 acres on the top. An 8 ft image of Hanuman is reinstalled on the fort, facing the Narasimha image on the top of the fort. According to Hindu legend, the hillock on which the fort is located was carried by Hanuman. The hillock is known as Namagiri and also as Saligramam, the image of Vishnu in a divine stone. Hanuman was flying with the Sanjeevi Paravatha, the sacred mountain from Himalayan mountain to Sri Lanka. On his way, he saw the Kamalalayam tank located at foothills and descended there to perform his morning worship. He placed the saligramam he brought from the Himalayas and when he opened his eyes after the worship, he saw the stone grown to its current size. A divine voice asked him to leave the stone in the place itself. As per another legend, Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu, after destroying Asura Hiranyakasipu, was still in ferocious mood. Hanuman, brought him to the place where Mahalakshmi, the wife of Vishnu was...

Namakkal Fort or Rock Fort, located atop a hillock that’s made of a single rock, is another famous attraction in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. Built during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak, in the 17th century, the fort stands a historical symbol today. The fort is spread over an area of one-and-a-half acres. There are two religious sites located within the fort: one is a mosque and another is Narasimha Swamy Temple.

The fort is reportedly built by Ramachandra Nayakar, the poligar(governor) of  Thirumalai Nayak, who was the most-remarkable and charismatic king of the 13 Nayaks that ruled Madurai.

The hillock is also referred to as Namagiri, because of its connections with Hinduism, and in particular with the epic Ramayana. Belief has it that the hillock was carried by Lord Hanuman. When He was flying towards the south with a stone that He had found on Nepal, He happened to see the Kamalalayam tank and decided to have a bath and His morning prayers here. According to the legend, it was here that Goddess Lakshmi had come for penance, after Lord Narasimha Swamy slayed King Hiranyakashyap.

Hanuman had asked the goddess to hold the stone until He returned. But as She placed it on the ground, the stone grew into a hillock(on which the fort is built) and Lord Narasimha Swamy appeared before them and expressed to make the place His abode.

There is also the famous Anjaneyar Temple, which is approximately 200 metres...

Visiting the fort is like stepping into a time machine, taking a captivating journey through the pages of history. However, this enchanting experience is marred by the scars of vandalism and the shadows of neglect that loom over its ancient walls.

The fort, once a beacon of glory and grandeur, now bears the weight of time's relentless march and human indifference. Each crumbling stone and weather-worn artifact tells a tale of resilience against the ravages of nature and the callousness of humanity.

Despite these challenges, the fort stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the past, whispering secrets of bygone eras to those who pause to listen. It beckons visitors to explore its hidden nooks and crannies, where echoes of ancient battles and whispered conversations still linger in the air.

As we wander through its silent corridors and gaze upon its weathered battlements, we are reminded of the importance of preserving our heritage for future generations. The fort's plight serves as a poignant reminder that history, once lost, cannot be reclaimed, urging us to cherish and protect these cultural treasures with...