Gingee Fort

GINGEE FORT - TROY OF THE EAST

Gingee Fort counts amongst the few forts that are still in existence in Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Villupuram district, which is situated at a distance of approximately 160 km from the Chennai city of India. The district also lies close to the union territory of Pondicherry. One of the most unassailable citadels of India, the fort was given the name of 'Troy of the East' by the British. The place where the Gingi fort today stands, was once the site of a small fort built by the Chola dynasty in 9th century. Gingee was ruled by the Pallavas during 600 A.D. to 900 A.D. During their reign a cave temple was excavated in the natural hill in Singapuram. They built a temple in Panamalai which is to the south of Gingee. In Mandagapattu, which is 17 kms, away from Gingee, a cave temple was excavated in a rock.

A rock inscription portrays Pallava Mahendravarman (580 A.D. to 630 A.D.) as Vichitrachitha. These evidences conclude that Gingee was once under the rule of Pallava kings and also the cave temples and rock inscriptions at Singavaram and Melacheri situated near Gingee tell about the Pallava regime in Gingee. From the rock-cut inscriptions in Aanangur, East of Gingee, it is known that after the decline of the Pallava kings, Gingee was under the contrl of Adita Chola (871 A.D. - 907 A.D.) Then during the reign of Adita Cola II and his broter Rajaraja Cola I (985 A.D- 1014 A.D.) it was called "Singapuranadu". From the Book ""Karnataka Rajakkal Savistara Charitham" British Historian Mecans says that after the rule of the Cholas, Gingee came under the supermacy of Pandya, Pallava and Hoysalas.

Gingee was under the sway of chieftains, Anandha Koan, Krishna Koan and Pullia Koan even though there was no epigraphical evidences from Koan rule but it is specified in some books.

Gingee was under the authority of Kopnnarayer during the 14th Century A.D. Historians hold the opinion that Kopannarayr, one of the Generals of Vijayanagar Empire helped Kampannarayan, with a large army. In return, Kampannarayan handed Gingee over to Kopannarayer. During the peak of Krishna Deva Raya's power (1509 A.D. - 1529 A.D.) he ordered, Krisnappa Nayyaka to rule a region with Gingee as its capital. He and his successors ruled for about 150 years having capital at Gingee. The Nayyaka rulers, build tall and strong fort walls with granite, tall towers with sculptural workmanship granite temples on the plains and brick shrines on the peak. This architecture is similar to that architecture in "Hampi".

There was no unity among the Nayakas of Gingee, Tanjore and Madurai. There where frequent skirmishes among them. Taking advantage of this situation, the Bijapur Sultans, who belong to the Muhammadans dynasty, invaded Gingee at the beginning of the 16th Century A.D. and captured it. After this the army general of "Golgonda" , "Mirjeeva" defeated Krishnappa Nayyaka and handed Gingee over the king of Bijapur. After the fall of the Muhammadans rule at the end of the 17th century, Chattrapathi Shivaji, a scion in the annuls of History wrested Gingee from the Muhammadans. Then he asked his brother " Sambaji" to rule Gingee in 1690 A.D. afterwards it was handed over to Rajaram in 1697 A.D. The Mughal General Zulfigar Khan (1697 A.D. - 1698 A.D.) captured Gingee fort after a tough fight against the Marathas. Zulfigar Khan, then handed over the rule to Swaroop singh who was the army head at Bundalakand in 1700 A.D. on conditions that he had to collect tax under the supervision of Sadad-ullah khan of Carnatic.

After the death of Swaroop, his son Desingh Raja came to the throne. He hated to be a slave to the Mugal rulers and refused to pay the tax to the Nawab. So a war took place between Sad-ad-ullah khan and Desingh Raja. At the end of the war, Desingh Raja by killing himself made a supreme sacrifice to avoid being a prisioner in the hands of Mogul rulers. Historians say that though Desingh Raja ruled for short period, he deeply engraved his marks in the history of Gingee. His wife also throwing herself into fire committed suicide to safeguard her chastity which is considered as highly holy. After the death of Desingh Raja, Sad-ad-Ullah khan conquered Gingee in 1714 A.D. and ruled till 1750 A.D. for about 36 years. French people who came to India, for the purpose of trade and commerce, attacked Gingee under the command of "Puli" and his troops, captured Gingee and kept Gingee under their control for about ten years. During this period French People annexed Vandavasi in 1760 A.D. and Pondicherry in 1761 A.D. Then the Britishers under the command of General "Coot" attacked the French Army on April, 1761 A.D. by winning the war, they brought Gingee under the control of the British Captain 'Stephen Smith'.

After this time. the General of Mysore, Hyder Ali became the king in 1761 A.D. A.D. As Hyder Ali did not like the British rule in India, he waged war against the British many times. So the Britishers made peace treaty with Hyder Ali. After few years, when Warren Hastings became the Governor General of India, Hyder Ali blamed Britishers for going against the treaty and waged war in 1780, by moving his troops via Polur and Vandavasi to caputure Gingee. But he was defeated by the Britsh army. After 1780 A.D., the southern parts gradually fell into the hands of the British without any opposition. Due to the political changes in Carnatic area, the Britishers made Chennai fort for the transport facilities and the French made Pondicherry as their capital and started to rule Indian territory.

In the beginning, Gingee was the place of the Jains but later due to rule of Pallava, Chola kings, Pandya, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara kings. Muhammadans, Mughals and the indifferent attitude of foreigners, the Gingee fort, which was surrounded by the granite walls, the mandapas, the temples inside the fort, was gradually destroyed. The Britishers did not take any steps to renovate the fort. Today Gingee fort is placed as a memorial in the pages of history and also for the sake of its admirers.

INDIAN PARROTS - INDIAN RINGNECK PARAKEET Common Names of this paticular bird type are Indian Ringneck Parakeet, Indian Ringneck Parrot and Rose-Ringed Parrot.

It's Scientific Name is Psittacula krameri manillensis. These medium sized birds at about 16 inches in length including the tailfeathers have their origin in India The Rose-Ringed Parakeet or Indian Ringneck is classified as a smaller parrot known as a parakeet. These birds have a hooked beak, a long tail, and are smaller in size compared to most parrots. These parrots are about 16 inches in length and they have a stealthy appearance that sets them apart from most exotic birds.

Wild Indain Ringnecks are green with undertones of blue that can be seen during overcast days. These parrots have yellow feathers underling their wings and tail. Both males and females look very similar; however, the male has a black ring around his neck. His ring is highlighted with turquoise, pink, and blue. Although the female may not exhibit the impressive ring of the male, many Indian Ringneck enthusiasts will argue a slight green ring is visible. Both sexes have large tails that are comprised of 12 feathers. The two largest tail feathers, which are blue, make up a large part of the parrot’s size. These elaborate tails can extend as much as 7 inches outward for the male and 6 inches outward for the female. Because these parrots are mostly green, they are very difficult to see during roosting or perching in trees. Most of the time, the presence of these parrots can be given away through their contact calls.

Indian Ringnecks are native to Asia and Africa and can be seen in the forests or arid environments. It’s not uncommon to see them thrive in urban areas as well. They have established colonies in environments which are not native to them, some major points of interest include California, Florida, and the UK. These birds are believed to cause major damage to crops; however, little evidence has been published to prove this accusation. Rose-Ringed Parakeets can be seen in rural areas feeding from birdfeeders or relaxing in parks. Like most parrots, Indain Ringnecks are intelligent and DO make great pets. They learn concepts quickly and love to show off. Along with being intelligent they are great at talking. Quaker Parakeets are known for their talking ability but a ringneck can speak with clarity that is phenomenal. These birds are truly masters at talking for their size and can easily compete with quakers, greys, and amazons.

Wild Indian Ringnecks usually feast on a diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, and seeds. While most vets agree that it is best for captive birds to eat a nutritionally balanced pelleted diet, a Ringneck will appreciate a variety of fruits and veggies in their diet. As with all birds, food and water containers should be emptied, cleaned, and refilled daily to reduce the risk of bacteria growth and infection. Parakeets are very active birds, and the Ringneck is no exception. As with most other bird species, it is a good idea to have a safe area for the pet to play and stretch its wings. Ringnecks also have powerful jaw muscles to maintain, so it is wise to provide an array of chewable toys, perches, and cage accessories so that the bird is less likely to gnaw on something valuable or dangerous.

Indian Ringneck Parakeets have been kept in captivity from as early as 200 B.C. In their home country of India, they were regarded as sacred beings when religious leaders began to recognize their ability to clearly mimic human language. Highly regarded by wealthy Indian royals, Ringnecks were kept in decorative cages and were admired for their colors and charming dispositions. In the 1920's, however, aviculturists began breeding captive Ringnecks, and with the advent of different color mutations the popularity of the bird began to explode. Now widely available in the pet trade, Indian Ringneck Parakeets continue to gain increasing popularity as pets. Their relatively small size and beautiful markings help to make the Ringneck a good choice for many bird owners. With adequate attention, handling, and love, an Indian Ringneck Parakeet can quickly become a beloved companion and family member.