Panjalamkurichi Memorial Fort & Ancient Fort
Ruins, Thoothukudi
Panchalankuruchi
is a small but historic village around 70 kms from Tirunelveli and 18 km from
Tuticorin. From here the great warrior Katta Bomman popularly known as
'Veerapandiya Kattabomman' raised his voice against the British regime in the
17th Century A.D. The Government of Tamil Nadu constructed the existing
memorial fort in 1974.
Veerapandiya
Kattabomman fort (Panchalankuruchi) in Tuticorin is located at 8°56'01.4"N
78°02'02.4"E or 8.933722, 78.033994. Apart from the statue of Kattabomman,
half size statue of Oomathurai, Thanathipathi Pillai, Sundaralingam and
Vellaia Thevar are also found in the Memorial. There are seven arches in
honour of Goddess Jakkammal from Kurukkusalai to the Fort. City
bus services are available from Thoothukudi. Kattabomman Festival is celebrated
on January 15 and May second week every year which attract thousands of people.
Small bullock cart race is the special attraction during festival.
History
The Fort
was constructed by the Government of Tamilnadu in 1974. The fort was built in
honor of Kattabomman, one of the greatest warriors of those times who were from
Panchalankuruchi village. He is popularly called 'Veerapandiya Kattabomman'. He
had opposed the policies of the British rulers in the 17th Century.
In fact,
he fought a war with the British. This was 60 years before the commencement of
Indian War of Independence in 1857 in North India. The British captured
Kattabomman after a bloody war and hanged him to death in 1799. The British
army confiscated his wealth and destroyed his fort. Presently, the
Archaeological Survey of India maintains the Kattabomman Memorial Fort.
Fort of Panchalankuruchi:
The Fort
of Panchalankuruchi is one of the greatest examples of Indian architect. Twice
the East India Company destroyed the fort after capturing the Kattabomman. Kattabomman’s
brother Ummaidurai came to Panchalankuruchi after spending 16 months in the jail
on February 2, 1801. He gathered all his people and built a new fort, which can
face tanks.
The fort
was built in five days involving 7,000 workers with new techniques. In February
8, 1801 General Vellsdurai of East India Company looked at this fort and was
surprised he called this fort as another Gibraltar. After capturing the fort
from Ummaidurai the East India Company destroyed the fort with great
difficulty. The fort of Panchalankuruchi was razed to the ground and the
English soldiers looted all of Kattabomman’s wealth.
The
Tamilnadu Government at Panchalankuruchi reconstructed a fort in 1972 stands as
a monument to this great hero from the south that played a pivotal role in the
freedom movement of our country.
Reason for choosing this place:
During
his hunting in the forest of Salikulam, Kattabomman watched the spectacle of a
hare chasing seven hounds. Kattabomman was amazed at this miracle. Believing
that the land possessed great powers that could instill courage in people, he
built his fort there and named it Panchalankuruchi.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman:
Kattabomman
was a fearless chieftain who refused to bow down to the demands of the British
and gave them sleepless nights to the British East India Company, between 1798
and 1801, a brave warrior who laid down his life for his motherland. The fight
he launched in Panchalankuruchi has been hailed as the inspiration behind the
first battle of independence of 1857, which the British called the “Sepoy
Mutiny”.
Born in
this clan of Adi Kattabomman was Veerapandiya on January 3, 1760 – the 47th
king of Panchalankuruchi. On February 2, 1790, Veerapandiya became the king of Panchalankuruchi.
War against Panchalankuruchi:
The
Nawab of Arcot who had borrowed huge sums of money from the East India Company
gave them the right to collect taxes and levies from the southern region in
lieu of the money he had borrowed. The East India Company took advantage of the
situation and plundered all the wealth of the people in the name of tax
collection. All the ‘poligars’ paid taxes except Veerapandiya Kattabomman.
Kattabomman
refused to pay his dues and for a long time refused to meet Jackson the
Collector of the East India Company. Finally, he met Jackson at ‘Ramalinga
Vilasam’, the palace of Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram. The meeting ended in a
skirmish in which the Deputy Commandant of the Company’s forces, Clarke was
slain. Kattabomman and his men fought their way to freedom and safety, but
Thanapathi Pillai, Kattabomman’s secretary was taken as prisoner.
The
Commission of Enquiry that went into the incident fixed the blame on Jackson
and relieved him of his post, thinking the Company’s plan to take over the
entire country gradually could be marred by Jackson’s fight with Veerapandiya
Kattabomman. The new Collector of Tirunelveli wrote to Kattabomman calling him
for a meeting on March 16, 1799. Kattabomman wrote back citing the extreme
drought conditions for the delay in the payment of dues and also demanded that
all that was robbed off him at Ramanathapuram be restored to him. The Collector
wanted the ruling house of Sethupathis to prevent Kattabomman from aligning
himself with the enemies of the Company and decided to attack Kattabomman.
Kattabomman
refused to meet the Collector and a war broke out. Under Major Bannerman, the
army stood at all the four entrances of Panchalankurichi’s fort. At the
southern end, Lieutenant Collins was on the attack. When the fort’s southern
doors opened, Kattabomman’s warriors killed him. After suffering heavy losses,
the English decided to wait for reinforcements from PaalayamKottai. Sensing
that his fort could not survive a barrage from heavy cannons, Kattabomman left
the fort that night.
A price
was set on Kattabomman’s head. Thanapathi Pillai and 16 others were taken
prisoners. Thanapathi Pillai was executed and his head perched on a bamboo pole
was displayed at Panchalankuruchi. Veerapandiya Kattabomman stayed at
Kolarpatti at Rajagopala Naicker’s house where the forces surrounded the house.
Kattabomman
and his aides fled from there and took refuge in the Thirukalambur forests
close to Pudukkottai. Bannerman ordered the ruler of Pudukkottai to arrest
Kattabomman. Accordingly, Kattabomman was captured and on October 16, 1799 the
case was taken up (nearly three weeks after his arrest near Pudukkottai). After
a summary trial, Kattabomman was hanged unceremoniously on a tamarind tree. The
fort of Panchalankuruchi was razed to the ground and all of Kattabomman’s
wealth was looted by the English soldiers.
Kattabomman death:
After
escaping from Kolarpur, Kattabomman along with his brothers went to Sivagangai
by foot via Sozhapuram. Finally he reached palace of Vijaya Raghunatha
Thondaiman in Pudukkotai. Vijaya Raghunatha Thondaiman gave tips to British
about Kattabomman the palace was surrounded by the East India Company troop.
Kattabomman was arrested while he was sleeping on October 1, 1799 Kattabomman.
After
four days Kattabomman was taken to Kayathar where East India Company stayed on
October 5, 1799. On October 16, 1799 at 10 am after a summary trial,
Kattabomman was hanged unceremoniously on a tamarind tree. Though Kattabomman
soul went away from this earth still his courage and his life shows way for
many others.
Kattabomman’s humanity:
During
the war between Panchalankuruchi and East India Company lots of soldiers died
on the both sides. East India Company never took away the bodies of their own
soldiers who died during the first war in which Kattabomman won.
Kattabomman
did all the ritual to the bodies for the British soldiers and he created a
cemetery for British soldiers inside Panchalankuruchi where lots of British
soldiers are sleeping today.
Architecture
The
existing Memorial Fort was constructed in 1974, by the government of Tamilnadu.
The Memorial hall has beautiful paintings depict the heroic deeds of the saga
which give a good idea about the history of the period. Sri Devi Jakkammal
Temple, the hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman, is located in the fort complex. A
burial ground build for British military personnel is also an interesting
tourist attraction.
The rest
of the old fort is protected by the Department of Archaeology. Tourists can
also find the snap shot of Veerapandiya Katthabomman’s fifth generation heir.
His name is Jegaveera Pandya Subramanya Kattabomma Durai, also called
‘Veemaraja’.
There is
Sri Devi Jakkammal Temple near the fort. The deity is regarded as the
traditional Goddess of Kattabomman. Kattabomman was hanged at Kayathar, located
near Tirunelveli. Another memorial for this great warrior is constructed here. The
Panchalankuruchi fort area measuring 35 acres remained as a mound. The aim of
the excavation was to find out the remnants of the palace of Kattabomman.
The
excavation revealed the main palace with its east facing entrance in the
southern end. Three rooms on each side flanked the entrance. There was a square
pit about one and a half meters lined with lime plaster probably intended for
storing grains. A passage with a slope to the north led to the audience hall,
which is the most impressive part of the structure. It had a raised platform at
the western end, built of brick.
The
eastern part of the platform was decorated with ornamental mouldings and a row
of sockets for lamps. In the northern wall adjacent to the main platform was
found a cannon ball, embedded into it. The Kalyana mandapa lying adjacent to
the audience hall has at the centre a square platform and a raised platform all
around with an intervening passage.
Fort
Timings
Kattabomman
Memorial Fort is open from 8:00am to 1:00pm and from 2:00pm to 6:00pm daily. The
entrance fees for adult are Rs.2 and Child Rs.1. A Tourist Rest house is
available here for the benefit of the Tourists.
Connectivity
Panchalankuruchi
is located at a distance of 70 kms from Tirunelveli and 18 km from Tuticorin. The
nearest Major airport to reach Tuticorin is located at Madurai. Tuticorin has a
local airport which connects to Chennai by private airliners. Tuticorin, which
is the chief port city of India, has a railway station. The place is well
connected to important towns and cities of South India by road. Tourists can
get buses from Tuticorin that go straight to Panchalankuruchi.