Fifty years ago | Wandiwash Fort to be preserved as State monument
Fifty years ago Wandiwash Fort to be preserved as State monument Published - August 20, 2026 05: 10 am IST.
Fifty years ago Wandiwash Fort to be preserved as State monument Published – August 20, 2026 05: 10 am IST.
Article outline
- What happened
- The details
- The bottom line
Key points
- The Battle of Wandiwash (1760 AD) practically concluded the French supremacy and marked the triumph and ascendancy of the British regime in South India.
- It fell into the hands of the British around 1750 AD when Hyder Ali captured it from them.
- It is right in the midst of the town is in a state of neglect.
Madras, August 19: The Fort at Wandiwash in north Arcot district, where a battle was fought between the English and the French in mid-18th century AD, now in ruins is to be preserved as a monument of State importance by the Tamil Nadu Administration.
Notably, the Battle of Wandiwash (1760 AD) practically concluded the French supremacy and marked the triumph and ascendancy of the British regime in South India.
Extending over a square mile, the Fort. It is right in the midst of the town is in a state of neglect. It is a village by itself. The ramparts, except in a small portion are intact. There is a major entrance. In the centre, plenty of residential buildings have sprung up over the years. Necessary funds have now been sanctioned by the Administration to protect this historic Fort.
There are no records regarding the origin of this Fort, but experts feel that it must have been the hub of activity in the Vijayanagar period (13th-14th century). It fell into the hands of the British around 1750 AD when Hyder Ali captured it from them. He entered Wandiwash via Chengam and Tiruvannamalai and after taking the Fort, stayed in Vellore. The British recaptured it from the Muslim ruler a year afterwards. Again, Wandiwash was the scene of a major battle between the French and the British in January 1760, the former led by Count de Lalli and the latter's army by Sir Eyrecoote. The French were defeated and Bussi, one of the prominent leaders, was captured.
For now, fifty years ago Wandiwash Fort to be preserved as State monument remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.
