Saadatullah Khan Tomb / Pachaikal Mosque, Raja Desingu Cenotaph, Delhi Gate, Alambana Fort / Arcot Fort and Abdullapuram Palace , Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

18^th November 2018.

This post is a part of our Heritage visit to the heritage monuments in and around Vellore and Arcot, organized by the History of Vellore Group (வேலூர் வரலாறு). Thanks to M/s Asraf Ali, Tamil Vanan, Saravanan Raja and Dr Kumaran Shanmugam. The first 4 heritage monument's history revolves around this Arcot Fort. This post will cover a little portion of history and the present status with Photographs.

Saadatullah Khan –I and Arcot Fort..

It was a practice to build forts in strategic locations by the Mughals, to safeguard themselves from enemy attacks in Carnatic regions. Before the Mughals, this Arcot area was under the control of the Marathas. The Arcot was captured by the Mughal Governor, Daud Khan Panni, in 1698 CE and built a fort on the banks of river Palar. Daud Khan Panni was appointed as Governor by Aurangzeb’s General Zulfiqar Ali Khan.

The Successor of Daud Khan Panni was Saadatullah Khan –I, 1710 to 1732 CE  also known as Muhammad Sayyid Sa'adatullah Khan, the last Governor of Mughal, appointed as a Nawab of Carnatic ruled from Gingee. Later he shifted his capital to Arcot. In 1711 CE. Saadatullah Khan –I, adopted his brother Ghulam Ali Khan’s son Dost Ali Khan as his successor and he obtained the private consent of Aurangzeb. After the death of Aurangzeb, the control from Delhi weakened and started ruling independently.

SAADATULLAH KHAN TOMB ( PACHCHAI KAL MOSQUE )

Saadatullah Khan –I, was the founder of the Nawabs of Carnatic ruled Arcot between 1710 – 1732 CE and passed away on  28^th September 1732 CE at the age of 81. His body was buried inside the compound of Jamia Masjid, near Alambana Fort. A Tomb was built with green stone sourced from nearby hills. The Stones are polished and floral designs are carved. It has two entrances with two stone jolly windows on the opposite sides. Now this Tomb was identified as “Pachchaikal Mosque” (Greenstone Mosque). The Tomb stands tall and reminds the glory of the past.

The Persian Arabic language inscription above the jolly work records the death of Malik Saadat Allah Khan in 1144 (as per Abdul Aziz Rajput) corresponding to 1770 CE. 

LOCATION OF THE MOSQUE: CLICK HERE

DELHI GATE

The fort has many Gates, which include the existing gate on the south bank of river Palar, believed to have been built by Robert Clive in 1751 CE. Probably the gate served as an entry point for the river transport.

After the death of Saadatullah Khan –I, Arcot was ruled by 12 Nawabs of Carnatic and Arcot Nawabs. Arcot history changed a lot during the Nawab’s rule with the constant threat from the British East India Company and French to take control. The legal heir conflicts in the Arcot Nawab families also added fuel to this. Between 23^rd Sep to 14^th November 1751 CE, the Arcot fort was captured by Robert Clive. The Gate where he used to stay and make decisions on the banks of River Palar was named Delhi Gate. This is to signify that the British will capture Delhi soon.

This Delhi Gate is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The doorway was built in Mughal architecture and steps are constructed to the Robert Clive’s Room at the top. There are two small rooms on both sides of the doorway.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Clive's Room

Moat

ALAMBANA FORT ( ARCOT FORT )

A Moat was built around the Fort. The 15-foot-width channel was built about 700 years before by the Sambuvarayar King Veerasamban ( 1306 – 1317 CE ), to carry Palar water to Cheyyar for irrigation and also served as an additional moat.

 

In 1783 CE, the fort was destroyed by the Tippu Sultan during Anglo- Mysore war. The Palace inside the fort was also destroyed. The Fort built by the Daud Khan Panni, in 1698 CE, survived only for about 85 years. The Arcot Nawabs maintained a cordial relationship with the British and moved to Madras built their own palace in the Chepauk area and now lives in Amir Mahal. Still, they enjoy the special status in Central and State Governments.

Why this fort is being called “Alambana Fort” is not known. A few structures exist now. The locals call the existing structures Rajakulam and Rani kulam. The moat and the traces of the wall can also be seen. It was told that traces of Sambuvarayar’s old channel and one of the gate was unearthed in recent years.

The site is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India and a protection fence was erected. The structures were also reconstructed and painted. Both tanks were built with granite stones taken from some unknown temples. The stones bear the Chozha period inscriptions and some fish reliefs. An old cast Iron gun is also kept on a pedestal at the entrance. The fort area has been encroached completely and permanent structures were also built.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 An inscription stone in Raja Kulam

Fish reliefs

RAJA DESINGU AND RANIBAI MEMORIAL CENOTAPHS.

In Parallel with the Arcot Nawab's history, in 1677 CE the Gingee was Captured by Shivaji from the Bijapur Sultans, after the Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, Vijayanagaras, and Nayaks.  He strengthened the fort on the hills, which could not be captured easily by the enemies. Shivaji’s brother Sambhaji was the successor in 1690 CE. Sambhaji was succeeded by his brother Rajaram. In 1697-98 the Gingee fort came under the control of Mughal Sultans. (Captain Mohammed Khan), after 11 months of captivity. Hearing the Marata’s Rajput Captain Swaroop Singh, who played a key role in the seizure of the fort from the Maratha’s side, Aurangzeb appointed Swaroop Singh as a ruler of Gingee under  Nawab Saadatullah Khan –I to collect Taxes.

The Thejas Singh also popularly known as Raja Desingh son of Swaroop Singh  declared himself as an independent ruler at the age of 18 in 1714 CE. Hence the Delhi  Mughal rulers directed Saadatullah Khan–I to declare war with a backup force from the Britishers ( East India Company ). 8000 horse soldiers and 10000 sepoys/soldiers were deployed from the Nawab's side to fight with a small army of Raja Desingh.   The war took place at  Kadali near Gingee and Raja Desingh was killed in the war on Oct 1714 CE. On hearing the news of her husband Raja Desingh's death, Queen Ranibai, as per Rajput’s customs, jumped into the funeral fire. This incident shook Saadatullah Khan –I’s heart and built two memorial Cenotaphs and named the place Ranipet in 1721 CE.

The Cenotaphs are built in an octagonal shape supported by 8 pillars on a raised platform. The dome was built with brick and floral designs are done with lime mortar. At the center of one Cenotaph, a peedam is installed with sculptures of Hindu deities, elephants, Snakes Lion, etc. The base of the peedam is sculptured with a tortoise. The Cenotaph was built in Islamic architecture.   Both the memorial Cenotaphs are standing in a junkyard, encroached by a private person. The cenotaphs are with zero maintenance and may collapse if left unattended in a year or two.

ABDULLAPURAM PALACE.

On the way to Virinchipuram from Vellore, a part of our private visit, visited this heritage structure. This is the remains of the Palace, built by Abdullah Khan, who ruled Vellore.  Abdullah Khan was defeated in a war with Maratha King Tukkoji Rao and moved to this place and built a two-story palace with 12 rooms.

A major part of the palace was swallowed by the road expansion and the remaining small part faces the threat of demolition for further road expansion. This dilapidated structure is being used as a cattle shed.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---