Fort St. George -- Secretariat for Tamilnadu.

Location : Island Grounds, Rajaji Salai , Secretariat Chennai-60009
Built By : The British
Google map : Fort St George
Timing : 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.mming : Timing : Saturday to Thursday From 10.00 to17.00 hrs.Saturday to Thursday From 10.00 to17.00 hrs.

Fort St.George is the administrative building of the Government of Tamilnadu. Today its used as a offices of Tamil Nadu Secretariat and the Legislative Assembly.The fort is open to the public however only to a certain area. The main building or the Secretariat is approachable only by government officials and the police. The cannons and the moat which guarded this old building have been left untouched.Fort St. George.


Flag post at Fort St. George, the tallest in India

History:

The fort was completed on April 23, coinciding with St. George’s Day, celebrated in honour of St. George, the patron saint of England. The fort, hence christened Fort St. George faced the sea and a few fishing villages, and soon became the hub of merchant activity. It gave birth to a new settlement area called George Town (historically referred to as Black Town), which grew to envelop the villages and led to the formation of the city of Madras. It also helped establish British influence over the Carnatic region, and keep the kings of Arcot and Srirangapatna, as well as the French forces based at Pondicherry, at bay.


St. George Fort is located on the banks of Bay of Bengal. It was built by the British East India Company in 1640 AD. The fort is believed to be the first establishment of the British in India. It is a military architecture marvel, which was erected as a trading post and later evolved to be the origin of modern Indian Army. The fort is a stronghold with 6 meter high walls that withstood a number of assaults in the 18th century. It briefly passed into the possession of the French from 1746 to 1749, but was restored to the British under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of Austrian Succession.

Situated in the coastal state of Tamil Nadu, this ancient monument is worth watching on your trip to Chennai. St. George Fort holds great historical importance and is looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India.


Buildings inside the fort:

The Church:

St. Mary's Church is the oldest Anglican church in India. It was built in 1678-80 AD. The tombstones in its courtyard are the oldest British tombstones in India. This ancient prayer house solemnized the marriages of Robert Clive and Governor Elihu Yale, who later was first benefactor of Yale University in the United States. The church is popularly known as the 'Westminster Abbey of the East'.

Museum:

The Fort Museum exhibits the items of the British rule. This building was completed in 1795 and first housed the office of the Madras Bank. The hall upstairs was the Public Exchange Hall and served as a place for public meetings, lottery drawings and occasionally for entertainment. These relics are the reminder of the British rule in India. The objects on display in the museum are the weapons, coins, medals, uniforms and other artifacts from Britain, France and India dating back to the British period. The original letters written by Clive and Cornwallis make fascinating reading. One set of quaint period uniforms is displayed for viewing, as well. However, the piece de resistance is a large statue of Lord Cornwallis.

Wellesley House

The first floor of the building has the banquet hall, which holds the paintings of the Governor of the Fort and other high officials of the Regime. The cannons of Tipu Sultan decorate the ramparts of the museum. The 14.5 ft statue stands at the entrance near a stairway in the museum. This statue was created by Charles Bank in England and then brought to India. The pedestal of the statue is carved with a scene depicting Tipu Sultan's emissary handing over Tipu's two sons as hostage in lieu of a ransom he was unable to pay to the British. It takes its name from Richard Wellesley, Governor General of India, and brother of the Duke of Wellington.

Garden Opposite Fort St George


The Chennai Corporation has put up an Beautiful Park opposite Fort St George . The place is clean and well Maintained . I have never seen Such beautiful Fountain in Chennai for an Decade , the Park is green and Clean.The Park has ample space for Parking and is maintained very well. You get to see the beauty of the fort from inside . The fountains add beauty to the park.You could easily spend an hour in the park. The park is spacious and lot of people around the fountain to take photos.