Indian Columbus

Penukonda Fort – An Overlooked Chapter of Vijayanagara Splendour After the catastrophic fall of Hampi in 1565 CE following the Battle of Talikota, the glorious Vijayanagara Empire reeled under crisis. Amidst the ashes of destruction, the empire attempted to revive itself, choosing Penukonda , a strategically located town in present-day Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, as its temporary capital. Penukonda Fort , sprawling across the Penukonda hill, became the epicentre of this renewed assertion of power. With multiple layers of fortification, secret water tanks, watch towers, temples, and a rich blend of architectural styles, it remains a lesser-visited gem. Among its many hidden structures is a humble, almost unassuming building tied to one of the most tragic episodes in Vijayanagara history, the imprisonment of Timmarusu . Who Was Timmarusu? Mahapratihara Timmarusu was the trusted minister and mentor of Krishnadevaraya , one of the most celebrated emperors of South India...

Palanyankottai, steeped in history, is believed to have been the site of a fortress dating back a millennium, originally held by the Pandyas. Over time, it passed into the hands of the Palyakars and later came under British control. The British repurposed the fort's structures for administrative functions. Notably, the Municipal siren, erected in 1948 and inaugurated by PS Subramania Pillai, still stands as a testament to that era. The elevated structurehas long flights of steps on either side.During the British colonial period, a Police Station, known as the Medai Police Station, was established within the fortress. Though there are lock-ups as part of the police station here, the locals confuse them to be the prisons where Oomai Durai, Veera Pandiya Kattabomman's brother, was imprisoned. There is no truth to that.  However, in more recent times, the Police Station was relocated to a new location, allowing for the comprehensive renovation of the entire fortress, including its ...

The site about which I am going to write in this post is a place where you will no longer be able to visit. However, when I started writing a series of posts on  Chennai , I thought I shouldn't miss it. Chennai Central Jail was one of the oldest prisons in India. It was located in the heart of the city, right opposite the Central Railway Station. It began its operations during the British period in the year of 1837 CE. The Government constructed a new prison in the suburb of Chennai, and hence it got closed. Before demolishing this massive structure spread across 11 acres, the Government kept the prison open to the public for about one month. The prison had housed notable national leaders such as Subhash Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar. The prison had also housed some prominent Tamil political leaders including Anna Durai, Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha. I wonder why the Government didn't take steps to convert this into a memorial. Happy travelling. Visit my site,  krishnakumar...