One
of my long wishes to visit this fort came true on 30th September
2018. Though a few times crossed this fort on my way to Chettinad, Ponniyin
Selvan's meet at Thanjavur made it happen. It was planned to Visit this fort as a
part of our Pudukottai Heritage Visit and proceed to Thanjavur. The fort is a
ticketed monument beautifully maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (
ASI ). Extensive renovations have been carried out by ASI in the year 2012 CE.
The bastion with the cannon on the top of the hill
Thirumayam is a corrupted word of Thirumeyyam ( The Land
of Truth). This place was ruled by Mutharaiyar, Chozhas, Pandyas,
Vijayanagara, Pallavas, Hoysalas, Thondamans and Sethupathis. There are two
rock-cut cave temples on the south side of the hill, of which one is dedicated
to Vishnu. In addition to this, there is a Rock cave temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva inside the Fort. The shrine is excavated on a boulder about 30 feet high above
the ground level.
The fort with a moat around the small hill was built by Sethupathi
Vijaya Raghunatha Thevan ( 1673 – 1708 CE ) of Ramanathapuram also called Kilavan
Sethupathi. Later came under the control of Pudukottai Raghunatha Raya Thondaiman, said to be Sethupathi’s
brother, who ruled this area. The main gateway is on the east with small Shrines
for Vinayagar, Hanuman, Kottai Bhairavar, and Kottai Karuppana Swamy. The
original fort had 7 concentric circular walls, of which only three are
surviving now.
The Fort occupies an area of 40 acres. There are natural shelters and a
rock boulder with prehistoric rock art on the rocky hill. Before independence
the fort was under the control of the British and the same was used for military
purposes. On the top of the hill, an elevated bastion was constructed with a
cannon. Other than this there is no trace of structures connected to the Military. During British rule, after the Palayakar war with Kattabomman
of Panchalankurichi ( Tuticorin area ), his brother Oomaithurai took asylum in
this fort. Fearing threats from the British, Oomaithurai was handed over to the British. Hence this fort was called Oomayan Kottai,
by the locals.
Rock Cut Cave Shiva Temple
HOW TO
REACH:
Thirumayam is on the way to Trichy to Karaikudi bus route.
Thirumayam is 69 KM from Trichy Railway Station and 22 KM from
Pudukkottai.
LOCATION OF THE FORT: CLICK HERE
Rock Cut Cave Shiva Temple
Natural Shelter
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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