India

Saint George Fort Chennai

The famous fort of St. George stands on the city of Chennai, on the shores of Bay of Bengal, in Southern India. During your trip to India, do not miss visiting this monument listed amongst the first British settlements in India. This building, whose structure includes features of marvel architecture, contains a formidable history of India. This building whose structure includes the impressive features of architecture presents a formidable history of India.

History

Formerly known as Madras, Fort St. George was built in 1644. The fort derives its name from St. George, whose birthday coincides with the day of completion of the construction of fort. With a height of six(metres), the building resisted a number of attacks during 18th century. The fort then came under control of French from 1746 to 1749, before being handed over to the British during the Treaty of Aix-la Chappelle at the end of the war of Austrian Succession. Towards the end of the 17th century, the East India Company was established on the territory of India. Years had passed and the company felt the need to have a permanent site to negotiate. The fort then served as a residence for the officials of the East India Company. Around 1945, the building was occupied by Indians during the Indian Independence Movement. Today, the building houses legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu.

Visit of St. George Fort

Although reconverted in center of administrative activities, St. George fort still houses the oldest Anglican Church in India as well as many rare paintings demonstrating Indian culture. St. George Fort is one of the most important places to visit in India, especially for those who are passionate about history and ancient architecture. The Fort St. George complex comprise of a number of monuments which includes the church of Sainte Marie, one of the oldest churches built by English in India. You will also explore the museum of Fort St. George which consists of various objects witnessing the presence of British in the region of Madras, as well as the vestiges dating from the time of Raj. Nowadays, the fort houses a garrison of troops in transit to different places of South India, as well as Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Classified as national heritage, the fort today is now maintained and managed by the Archeological Survey of India. The fort comprises three main areas: Museum, Church and Wellesley Home. Another fascinating structure here is the 150ft tall flagstaff. Formerly, the fort also had a pavilion, but only its relics remain.

The museum

The museum is one of the most important buildings in the Fort St. George complex. Infact, it houses numerous relics belonging to the British personnel who once used to live in the fort. The museum also contains several artifacts such as coins, medals, paintings, letters, etc., dating from the colonial period. The establishment was first completed in 1795 and served as bank of Madras. The hall on the first floor was a place for entertainment and meeting, open to the general public. In front of the museum stands a large statue of the Lord Cornwallis, a true masterpiece. It was brought to India from Great Britain via Boat. The sculpture depicts a scene representing Tipu Sultan, his two sons, and officials from East India Company.

St. Mary Church

Also known as the Westminster Abbey of the East, St Mary's Church is the oldest Anglican church in India. It is said that the oldest British tombs of the country are under this church. The first recorded marriage in the church is that of the famous namesake of Yale University, Elihu Yale.

Wellesley House

Wellesley House, named after the ancient governor general of colonial India, is an ancient banquet hall which has walls endowed with paintings of high officials of the regime. Many visitors mention these magnificent portraits as terminating point of their visit at Fort St. George. The cannons of the Tipu Sâhib decorate the ramparts of the building.

The other monuments of Fort Saint George

The whole of Fort St George housed the administrative buildings of the government of Tamil Nadu until March 2010. There are still guns and the ditch that once protected the site. In 2010, the Assembly's administrative headquarters were displaced. The former complex has been transformed into a library now known as the "Central Institute of Classical Tamil". Then after the 2011 elections, with the return of head of government Jayalalitha Jayaram, the Tamil Nadu Assembly and the Secretariat were re-established at Fort St George. Under construction near the fort, on Rajaji Salai, an ark commemorates the Diamond Jubilee of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. The structure is a replica of the facade of Fort St. George, blending styles of ancient and modern architecture. The head of government laid the foundation stone for the new construction on 30 October 2012.

Time and Rates

The entrance fee to Fort St George is Rs 5 per person for locals and INR 100 per person for foreigners. Admission is free for children under 15 years of age.