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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name = Attur Fort
|partof = [[Tamil Nadu]]
|location = [[Attur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
|image = [[File:"Arch type of Consructions inside the Fort of Attur".JPG|200px]]
|caption = Attur Fort
|map_type = India Tamil Nadu
|map_size = 200
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]s
|coordinates = {{coord|11.603529|78.600868|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = 17th century
|builder = Gatti Mudaliars
|materials =
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition =
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = Department of Archaeology
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles =
|events =
|image2 =
|caption2 =
}}

'''Attur Fort''' is a historic fort present in [[Attur]] in [[Salem district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The fort is located on the banks of river Vashista, {{convert|56|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]].The fort was built by a [[Palaiyakkarar]] chieftain [[Gatti Mudalis|Gatti Mudaliar dynasty]] under [[Madurai Nayaks]], called Lakshmana Nayakan during the 17th century.

It was also occupied by [[Hyder Ali]], [[Tipu Sultan]] and [[British Raj|British]] during various times. While it was Tipu Sultan, it switched hands to the British East India Company who got five forts including this one as a part of the Treaty of Srirangapatnam. The fort was used by the British as a garrison till 1854, after which the fort was not operational. In modern times, the fort is under the control of the Archaeological Department of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]. The fort houses two magazine points, two palaces, a court, three treasuries and three temples. Some portions of the fort are dilapidated, while most other portions are encroached on by slum dwellers.

==History==
{{Multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
|align=left
| total_width = 350
| width1 = 3216 | height1 = 2136
| width2 = 1200 | height2 = 800
|direction=horizontal
|image1="Amazing Structure inside the Fort of Attur".JPG
|image2=Atttur fort- entrance.jpg
|footer=The walls of the fort
}}

The Fort was constructed by a local [[Palaiyakkarar]] chieftain [[Gatti Mudalis|Gatti Mudaliar dynasty]] under [[Madurai Nayaks]].<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RRxuAAAAMAAJ&q=Attur+Fort+nayaks| title= Madras District Gazetteers: Salem| publisher= Superintendent, Government Press| author= B. S. Baligayear.| year=1967| pages=74 | isbn=9785519483643}}</ref> Attur fort became part of [[Mysore Kingdom]] in late 17th century when frequent wars between [[Mysore Kingdom]] and [[Thirumalai Nayak]] of [[Madurai]] when large parts of north west Tamil region from [[Dindigul]] became part of Mysore rulers.<ref name=Vink>{{cite book|title=Encounters on the Opposite Coast: The Dutch East India Company and the Nayaka State of Madurai in the Seventeenth Century|first=Markus |last=Vink|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SaW8CgAAQBAJ&dq=attur+east+india+company&pg=PA483|page=483|isbn=9789004272620|publisher=BRIL|year=2015}}</ref> The region became part of [[Mysore]] [[Wodeyar]] rulers and later under [[Hyder Ali]] of Mysore till 1768, when surrendered to Wood of [[East India Company]]. Hyder Ali regained the town from the [[British East India Company]], but the Company won a decisive victory in the 3rd Mysore war was against [[Tipu Sultan]], the son of Hyder Ali.<ref>{{cite book|title=Political History of Carnatic Under the Nawabs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAEyAmYRNNQC&dq=attur+fort&pg=PA207|page=207|last=N.S.|first=Ramaswami|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1984|isbn=9780836412628}}</ref> [[Tipu Sultan]] went on utilize the fort as a arms depot and watch tower. It switched hands to the British East India Company who got five forts including this one as a part of the Treaty of Srirangapatnam.<ref name=Hindu>{{cite web|title=Slice of history in shambles|last=S.P.|first=Saravanan|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/slice-of-history-in-shambles/article6813693.ece|date=23 January 2015|accessdate=4 November 2021}}</ref>

After the Third Mysore War the region became part of [[Madras Presidency]] under [[United Kingdom|British]]. The fort was used by the British as a garrison from 1792 by the 23rd Madras battalion under the command of Captain Campbell. During subsequent years, the fort was used as an ordnance station from 1799 as the Company troops moved to Sankagiri. After 1854, the fort ceased to act as an operational fortress and the region was clubbed into the newly formed [[Salem District]] under the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name=Vink/>

In modern times, the fort is under the control of the Archaeological Department of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|title=List of forts in Chennai circle|url=https://asichennai.gov.in/forts.html|publisher=Archaeological Survery of India, Chennai circle|accessdate=10 July 2021}}</ref> Some portions of the fort are dilapidated, while most other portions are encroached on by slum dwellers.<ref name="muni"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Synopsis of the Results of the Operations, Volume 25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s-RDAAAAYAAJ&dq=attur+fort&pg=PA75|page=75|last=Great Trigonometrical Survey|publisher=Columbia University|year=1891}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A manual of the Salem district in the presidency of Madras|last=Fanu|first=Henry Le|url=https://archive.org/details/amanualsalemdis00fanugoog|quote=attur fort.|page=[https://archive.org/details/amanualsalemdis00fanugoog/page/n66 53]|publisher=Oxford University|year=1883}}</ref> In modern times, the fort is maintained by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alphabetical List of Monuments - Tamil Nadu|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_tamilnadu.asp|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|access-date=2013-09-09|year=2011}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Attur fort- ruins.jpg|thumb|Attur fort ruins|200px]]
[[Attur]] town is situated on the southern bank of the Vasista river. The town was called Attur Ananthagiri during the Mysore rule in 1689 and was called Attur by end of the 18th century. Attur is located {{convert|56|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]. The four has four entrances on all four directions.<ref name=walk>{{cite web|title=A walk to soak in the heritage|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/A-walk-to-soak-in-the-heritage/article16073350.ece|work=The Hindu|date=17 October 2016|accessdate=10 July 2021}}</ref>

The fort occupies an area of {{convert|62|acre|sqm|abbr=on}} The walls of the fort are about {{convert|30| ft|m|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|15| ft|abbr=on}} wide. It is decorated by wedge shaped cut-stones fitted without mortar. The construction material for the walls are believed to be quarried from the Kalladithankundru. The fort was guarded by the river in the east and by moats on other sides. The Gatt dynasty used the large chamber inside the fort as audience hall during their regime. The pool house, used for the pleasure of the royal family, was fed from the river through a water gate.<ref name="muni">{{cite web|title=Attur Historical moments |work=Attur Municipality |url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/attur/abt-historic.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818194946/http://municipality.tn.gov.in/attur/abt-historic.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-08-18 |access-date=2013-07-07 |year=2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Historic fort|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/historic-fort/article2800740.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 January 2012|access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref> The trenches in the fort are constructed in such a way that the water from the river fills it from the South side and joins the course downstream. The fort houses two magazine points, two palaces, a court, three treasuries and three temples. The fort also houses the image of a soldier riding a horse, the tombs of Lieutenant Colonel John Murray and Henry Coyle, Attur Fort Captain, are located on the back side of the fort.<ref name=walk/>

==References==
{{reflist|20em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Attur Fort}}

[[Category:Forts in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Salem district]]

Attur Fort - Revision history

Bot at 12:09, 3 June 2022