Manora Fort
LocationPeravurani, Thanjavur, India
Coordinates10°16′05″N 79°18′14″E / 10.268°N 79.304°E / 10.268; 79.304
BuiltSerfoji II
Architectural style(s)Nayaka Architecture (Vijayanagara Architecture)
Manora Fort, Thanjavur is located in Tamil Nadu
Manora Fort, Thanjavur
Location in Tamil Nadu, India

The Manora Fort is situated 20 km (12 mi) away from Pattukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India and 60 km (37 mi) away from Thanjavur. The fort was built by Maratha ruler Serfoji II in 1814–1815 to commemorate the successful advance of the British over Napoléon Bonaparte. It is an eight-storeyed, hexagonal tower, which is 23 m high overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The fort derives its name Manora, from the word Minaret. [1]

In December 2004, five monuments including the fort were damaged in the Indian Ocean Tsunami.[2] It was planned in 2007 by the State Tourism Department to renovate the structure and improve its infrastructure by building several additional facilities including upgrading the children's park and building a tourist's shed.[3]

History

Manora, The Ancient Fort of Tamil Nadu, India

The fort was built by Tanjavur Maratha ruler Serfoji II (1777-1832 CE) in 1814–1815 to commemorate the successful advance of the British over Napoléon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.[4][5][6] The fort acted as a residence for the royal family and also as a light-house.

Architecture

The fort is located in 20 km (12 mi) away from Pattukkottai and 65 km (40 mi) away from Thanjavur in a place called Sarabendrarajanpattinam in shores of Bay of Bengal. The word Manora is believed to be derived from the word minar meaning tower.[7] The fort is hexagonal structure and has eight storeys, raising to a height of 75 ft (23 m) tapering to its top. The tower is surrounded by a wall and a moat ant it resembles a fort. The monument looks like a pagoda, with arched windows, circular staircase and eaves separating one storey from the other.[1][3][4][5][8]

An information board at the fort

Renovation in modern times

The restoration and conservation of the monument was started in 2000 and completed in 2003. Tourists are allowed access up to the second level of the fort. A considerable part of the fort was damaged during the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.[2][5] The Tamil Nadu state Tourism Development Corporation allocated ₹3,195,000 (US$40,000) for improving the infrastructure around the fort. The project was to develop children's park to have additional facilities, provide additional lighting, install display boards, plant saplings along the road, lay new road from Sethu Road to the fort and modify thatched umbrella roof structures on the beach.[3] The fort is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the district.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Joshi, G.V. (15 February 2003). "Victory Tower". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 July 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2008.((cite news)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b Ramakrishnan, T. (7 January 2005). "Mughal-era fort, Dutch tombs damaged". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 January 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Srinivasan, G. (19 September 2007). "Manora fort to get a facelift". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 January 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Manora - Sarabendraraja Pattinam". Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Gerald, Olympia Shilpa (29 March 2012). "Hidden 100: Fort on the coast". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. ^ Jayewardene-Pillai, Shanti (2007). Imperial Conversations: Indo-Britons and the Architecture of South India. Yoda Press. p. 229. ISBN 9788190363426.
  7. ^ Karkar, S.C. (2009). The Top Ten Temple Towns of India. Kolkota: Mark Age Publication. p. 85. ISBN 978-81-87952-12-1.
  8. ^ a b "What to see - Thanjavur district attractions". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
Categories