Namakkal Fort

Namakkal Tamil Nadu

#3 Among Things To Do in Namakkal

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Tags : Forts & Palaces

Timings of Namakkal Fort : The fort opens to the public at 6 a.m. and closes at 5 in the evening on all days.

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Namakkal Fort, Namakkal Overview

Namakkal Fort or Rock Fort, located atop a hillock that’s made of a single rock, is another famous attraction in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. Built during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak, in the 17th century, the fort stands a historical symbol today. The fort is spread over an area of one-and-a-half acres. There are two religious sites located within the fort: one is a mosque and another is Narasimha Swamy Temple.

The fort is reportedly built by Ramachandra Nayakar, the poligar(governor) of Thirumalai Nayak, who was the most-remarkable and charismatic king of the 13 Nayaks that ruled Madurai.

A view of the Namakkal Fort, dating back to 17th century. — Source

The hillock which forms the base for the fort is called Namagiri. The fort sits at a height of 75 metre, offering splendid views of the entire town. The fort was captured by the British from the Mysore king of Hyder Ali. He reconquered it, but had to lose again to the British in 1792. There are eight water tanks in and around the fort, of which Kamalalayam tank, the famous among them, is located at the centre of the Namakkal town.

Legend Of Namakkal Fort

The hillock is also referred to as Namagiri, because of its connections with Hinduism, and in particular with the epic Ramayana. Belief has it that the hillock was carried by Lord Hanuman. When He was flying towards the south with a stone that He had found on Nepal, He happened to see the Kamalalayam tank and decided to have a bath and His morning prayers here. According to the legend, it was here that Goddess Lakshmi had come for penance, after Lord Narasimha Swamy slayed King Hiranyakashyap.

Hanuman had asked the goddess to hold the stone until He returned. But as She placed it on the ground, the stone grew into a hillock(on which the fort is built) and Lord Narasimha Swamy appeared before them and expressed to make the place His abode.

There is also the famous Anjaneyar Temple, which is approximately 200 metres from the fort.

Best Time To Visit

Summers, from March to May, will be hot here, with the average temperature of the three months fluctuating between 32-35 degree Celsius. It is best to visit from November-February when the climate is pleasant.