Tiruchirappalli Rock-Fort A 19th Century View, 1870 Photo
A 19th century view of the Tiruchirappalli Rock Fort shown in this 1870 photo. Tiruchirappalli or Trichinopoly as the British called it, was and still is known as Trichy for short. This is an amazing and historically famous Fort with two temples built on a giant natural rock outcrop.
It is something that one has to see it to believe it. The Pallavas were the first to build the Temple complex on top of the Rock. In course of time, it was strengthened by successive dynasties and in the later years by colonial rulers. In Tamil history, several dynasties such as the Cholas, Pallavas, Nayaks, and so on ruled Trichy.
The Rock-Fort comprises of a giant granite rock outcrop which is one of the oldest geographical rock formations in the world. Because of the rock’s imposing height of 273 feet, it was a natural barrier against enemies, so building a fort on the top was the next obvious step for the rulers. The Nayak dynasty built the beautiful but complex fortification along the rock’s difficult contours. Today it is a major tourist attraction.
Read more Rock Fort Temple.
Did you know- there is a secret tunnel near the Tiruchirappalli Fort and legend has it that it goes all the way to the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur.
Past posts- Raja Ravi Varma’s “Birth of Shakuntala” Oleograph of c1894., Exhibitions & Amusements In British Era Bombay – 8 PCs 1905., The Cave of Elephanta Bombay, 1832 Old Print., “Views of Madras” Vintage 1900 Pictorial Book
