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| .No evidence of Nayak fort, Madurai, TN.www.hindu.com/ |
Above image. Nayak Fort in Madurai city, Tamil Nadu, now houses the South Zonal Office of the Madurai Corporation and a library; it traces its origins to the Nayak dynasty of the 16th century. The Nayak rulers, particularly Viswanatha Nayak, were instrumental in reshaping the city. Historians say there are two forts in Madurai city and it is impossible to trace the vestiges because of urban concrete jungle....
Madurai, known as the "Temple City," is a blend of ancient heritage and modern development. Among its historical gems is the Nayak Fort, a symbol of the city’s architectural and cultural legacy, though often overshadowed and defaced by urban neglect.
The fort, built during the 16th century by Viswanatha Nayak, the first Nayak ruler of Madurai, reflects the ingenuity of his administration. Assisted by Ariyanatha Mudali, a trusted advisor, Viswanatha Nayak replaced the older Pandya fortifications with a robust double-walled fortress. This new structure featured 72 bastions, each guarded by a palayakar or polygar, who managed their territories while maintaining military readiness.
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| Madurai Fort, TN www.thehindu.com |
The Nayak Fort was a significant upgrade from the Pandya-era defenses, which comprised mud walls encircling the Meenakshi Amman Temple, the city's spiritual nucleus. The Pandya Fort, made of mud dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, relied on a moat and the Vaigai River for natural defense. By contrast, the Nayak Fort used stone in its construction, making it more durable and imposing.
The Keezhavasal (eastern gate) and Melavasal (western gate) served as major entrances to the Nayak Fort, while the bastions were multi-storied structures with rooms for guards and weapon storage. However, during the British colonial era, most of the fort was demolished under Collector Black Burn in 1841 to facilitate urban expansion. Materials from the fort were repurposed to create Veli streets, leaving only one bastion intact.
The surviving bastion, which now houses the South Zonal Office of the Madurai Corporation and a public library, is a reminder of the fort’s grandeur. The library, named Thyagi Mani Ninaivu Bharath Ilavasa Vasaga Salai, honors Mani, a 13-year-old boy martyred during the freedom struggle in 1942. That time, a political meeting was organised near Nethaji statue. This poignant addition connects the fort’s historic significance with the city’s fight for independence.
The Nayak Fort remains a vital part of Madurai’s historical narrative, despite its partial destruction. Its remnants highlight the architectural advancements of the Nayak dynasty and their role in shaping Madurai's urban landscape. Preserving such structures ensures that the city’s rich history continues to inspire future generations, standing as a testament to its resilience and cultural heritage.
There are no physical evidences like remnants of walls, etc in the heritage area of Madurai city according to historians. They further state that forts were built and fortified over three periods - the Early and Later Pandya and the Nayak periods. The fort of the Early Pandyas, it is believed, stood at the place where the Meenakshi Temple stands now. “The ruins of ancient Madurai can be discovered only through an archaeological excavation but that’s simply not possible as the present city is so thickly developed,” C Santhalingam, retired archaeological officer noted, “But, there are small clues that lead to not just one fort but two that were in existence — one belonging to the Pandya period and the other to the Nayak era.”
