Dindigul Fort, Monument of National Importance in Dindigul, India.
Dindigul Fort stands on a rocky hill approximately 900 feet above sea level, featuring granite construction with double walls, 48 rooms including stables and prisons, and ramparts stretching 2.75 kilometers around the fortress complex.
Built in 1605 by Madurai Nayak King Muthu Krishnappa Nayak, the fort changed hands multiple times through centuries, serving the Mysore Kingdom under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan before British forces captured it in 1790 during colonial conflicts.
The fort contains an abandoned temple at its peak and reflects South Indian military architecture, while the city name derives from Tamil words meaning pillow and rock, referencing the bare hill characteristic of this region.
The Archaeological Survey of India maintains the site with visiting hours from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, charging nominal entrance fees for Indian nationals and modest fees for international visitors, while children under 15 enter free.
The fortress incorporates rainwater harvesting systems that capitalize on steep terrain and houses heavy cannons with sealed ammunition balls, demonstrating the military ingenuity employed in its 17th-century construction and defensive capabilities.
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