GINGEE FORT: A Fascinating Fort In Tamil Nadu To Put On Your Bucket list in 2024

India has a lot of hidden gems and in my opinion the Gingee fort is one of them. We landed up visiting the fort quite by accident. Usually, I like to drop little anchors on my maps to remind me that there are places that we can visit on a road trip.

On our way back to Bangalore from Pondicherry, we took a different route back so that we could make a quick stop at Gingee fort. The pics on Google looked great, it seemed like a great place to stretch our legs and it was off the beaten path. This made it perfect in our opinion.

Suffice to say that we were not disappointed. In fact, when anyone mentions heading to Pondicherry over a weekend, I always suggest the fort as a pit stop.

This was one of those locations where I had time to really chill and work on my travel scrapbook album at the top. Though it was pretty windy so a l had to hang on to my stuff. Lol. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Gingee fort can be a quick stop or a nice leisurely one. It all depends on how much time you have.

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Why is Gingee Fort Known As The Troy Of The East?

Located in Tamil Nadu, the Gingee fort is also known as Senji fort. It got its nickname ‘The Troy of the East’ from the British because of how well the fort is fortified.

In fact, a famous Indian (Maratha) king named Shivaji even went as far as to say that the Gingee fort was the most impregnable fortress of India. When you climb up the fort and have a visual of the terrain around, you will understand just how well fortified the structure is.

In addition to this, there is a clear view for miles. It was really hard for any invaders to sneak up on the people in the fort. That took away the element of surprise.

Location Of Gingee Fort

A view through one of the arches.

Like I said before, the Gingee fort is located in Tamil Nadu. It is most easily accessed from Pondicherry (71 km). Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu is a little further off at 156 km. We found that the Gingee fort was a great pit stop on drive back to Bangalore from Pondicherry.

Entrance Fees To Gingee Fort

The entrance fees to Gingee fort are pretty cheap especially for Indian nationals. Yes! The fees are different for international tourists.

• Adult (Indian) – 5 INR
• Adult (Foreigner) – 100 INR
• Children Below 15 years – Free

Structure Of The Gingee Fort

A closer look at the structure at the top.

At first glance the Gingee fort does not look like much. Don’t let it fool you. As we drove towards the fort, our eyes fell upon a structure on our left that was situated at the top of a hill.

It was large enough to capture our attention and impress us and yet it did not seem as big as Google described it to be. It was only as we began to climb up the steps that we realized the true size of the Gingee fort.

The Gingee fort is located across three different hills. Krishnagiri is situated in the north, you will find Rajagiri to the west and Chandrayandurg lies to the southeast.

We climbed up the Krishnagiri part of the fort. Unfortunately because of my recent illness that was as much as we could do, so I guess exploring the rest of the fort has been deferred to a different date.

The Entrance Of Gingee Fort At Krishnagiri

The monkeys that guarded the entrance.

At the entrance of the Gingee fort at Krishnagiri, you have to pay an entrance fee. The guard is an ex-army soldier and he regaled us with a number of cheerful stories of his life.

We would have loved to listen to him and chat a lot more but it seemed like all the monkeys in the neighborhood were attracted to us at once. Lesson learned! Keep your food in the car. Poor Shawn had to scurry back before the monkeys picked the clothes of him.

A glimpse of the stairs that took us to the top.

The climb up Krishnagiri isn’t difficult. You can do it at a slow pace (like we were forced to do) or you can do it fast. I did love all the breaks and stops that we took on the way because the view was beautiful and the wind was cool.

It was an overcast day and we did not have to worry about the scorching sun overhead. We did however have to run for cover when the skies opened and showered us with rain but that was at the end of our adventure and it did not worry us too much.

One of the structures at the top.

As you climb higher, you will be able to see the wall of the fort snaking around all three hillocks. Rajagiri stands tall and high on your right. We couldn’t help wondering how people got up there. I’m sure that there is a path but we didn’t go about searching for it.

Chandrayandurg lies straight ahead of you and the path to this part of the fort is clearly visible. Across the road, somewhat in the center of the plains you will see a structure. That structure is called the Kalyana Mahal.

This was how far we could see on a cloudy day.

As we climbed higher we had the opportunity to appreciate the distance at which the people within the fort could see. Ours was an overcast day and yet we could see for miles ahead. On a bright sunny day the vision must have been much much better.

At the very top, there were granaries that stored their supplies. Two large tanks (which we initially thought were for water) were used to store oil and ghee. A few structures dot the area and give you an idea of how impressive the fort must have looked back in the day.

It is fun to head up to the lookout points. Once you climb into them you begin to appreciate how cramped the space must have been. I say that and I am just 5’2”!!!

The old structures have stood the test of time.

Despite the centuries that have gone by, the Gingee fort is still relatively well preserved. Unfortunately it hasn’t been declared a UNESCO heritage site yet but hopefully someday in the future it will be. If you are passing through the area, do stop and visit the fort.

I would recommend spending the whole day in the area but I know from experience that it isn’t always possible.

Gingee Fort FAQ

How Many Steps Are There At Gingee Fort?

The steps up the fort may seem endless. If you want you can count them and they will measure up to an even 400. Luckily there are a couple of shaded spots where you can stop and rest. Make sure to carry water because on a hot day, the climb can be dehydrating.

Despite the number of steps, the climb itself is an easy one.

How Tall Is The Gingee Fort?

When you stand at the base, the fort really seems to tower over you. Gingee fort was built at 800 feet high and it gave the inhabitants a panoramic view of the whole countryside. The view isn’t obstructed even till date.

Honestly, while the fort itself is gorgeous, the view is something that will take your breath away.

What Is The Nickname Of Gingee Fort?

Gingee Fort has a number of different nicknames. One of the most common names that it was given is Senji fort. People also call it the Troy of the Eats because it is considered an impregnable fort. The fort spans over three hills and is pretty impressive.

Have you been to Gingee fort? What was your experience there? Let us know in the comments below.

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