Visiting The Fort
The Archaeological Survey of India's familiar blue board declares the fort a "protected monument" and collects 5 for an entry ticket (100 for foreigners, i.e. $2.00).
The fort receives few visitors — mainly the odd group of college and school students and the occasional foreign tourist. The steep climb is possibly a deterrent, but makes a good exercise. Once the visitor reaches the summit, a fresh breeze blowing across welcomes him even in the hot sun.
Visitors can walk around the tunnels and trenches en route that reveal how meticulously the ancient fort was constructed to safeguard its inhabitants. The empty temple has some elaborate sculptures and carvings, with the rock cuts still looking untarnished.
From the ruins within the fort walls, one can see structures (perhaps used as arsenal depots or animal stables) and damaged mandapams (decorated with carved stone columns, complete with dwarapalakas). One can go up to the cannon point and look through the spy holes imagining the sound, light and speed of the fireballs that were released. The view from the fort also offers a breathtaking view of Dindigul on the eastern side and villages and farmland on the other sides. Lack of funds and facilities has kept the fort misused by nearby dwellers. But in 2005, Keeranur-based ASI in Pudukkottai district fenced the entire surroundings and refurbished some of the dilapidated structures.
Read more about this topic: Dindigul Fort
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“For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you.”
—Bible: Hebrew Deuteronomy, 6:15.
The words are also found in Exodus 20:5, referring to the second commandment: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image ... for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”
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—Administration in the State of Miss, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“How often we read that the enemy occupied a position which commanded the old, and so the fort was evacuated! Have not the school-house and the printing-press occupied a position which commands such a fort as this?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)