Latest news with #HwajongLee
The Print
7 days ago
- The Print
Inscribing Gingee Fort in UNESCO World Heritage list is proud moment for TN: CM
'Delighted that #GingeeFort, famously known as the 'Troy of the East', has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India,' the chief minister said in a post on the social media platform 'X'. The ancient fort, located about 40 km from Villupuram and about 157 km from Chennai, attracts tourists. It is part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India and the only one in the state. Chennai, Jul 12 (PTI) The popular historical site in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district, the Gingee Fort known as the Troy of the East, inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list was a proud moment for Tamil Nadu and its enduring cultural heritage, Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Saturday. This majestic hill fortress now joined Tamil Nadu's proud list of UNESCO sites including the Great Living Chola Temples, the monuments at Māmallapuram, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Western Ghats, he said. 'A proud moment for Tamil Nadu and its enduring cultural heritage,' he added. The fort along with 11 other structures in Maharashtra forms a serial nomination portraying the military architecture and strategic design of the Maratha empire. Its recognition was announced at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. An expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Hwajong Lee, visited the site on September 27, last year, for the assessment. The fort existed for several hundreds of years and had served many ruling dynasties including the Vijayanagara, Marathas, Nawabs of Arcot, Tipu Sultan, the French and the British. The Kon dynasty laid the foundation for the Gingee Fort in 1190 CE. PTI JSP KH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Villupuram's historic legacy shines through UNESCO heritage site announcement
VILLUPURAM: Gingee Fort, one of South India's most formidable and historically rich forts, located 40 kilometres from Villupuram has officially been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Saturday. Hwajong Lee, an expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), visited the site on September 27, 2024 for the assessment. The inclusion comes as part of a broader recognition of 12 forts associated with Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji's Military Landscapes. While 11 of these forts are located in Maharashtra, Gingee Fort stands as the only one outside the state, highlighting its strategic significance during the Maratha reign. The UNESCO recognition not only validates the fort's architectural and cultural significance but also opens new avenues for tourism and economic development in the district. District Collector Sheik Abdul Rahman told TNIE that this paves way for the district administration to develop commercial outlets at the site for foreign and other state visitors. 'With the panchayat, and Tamil Nadu Tourism departments the administration will uplift the Fort area in Gingee town to increase revenue through tourism' he said. As the heritage site now stands poised to welcome a global audience to explore its remarkable legacy, the maintenance of the sites need improvement. Sources stated that the toilet facilities at Krishnagiri (Queen's Fortress) gate of the Fort are locked and drinking water facilities were not available. However, in the Rajagiri (King's Fortress) gate, toilets were available for free but drinking water had to be bought from the shops. During May this year, TNIE reported on the issue that left visitors suffer during the summer vacations. Similarly, the site offers a tedious trek 800 metres uphill through rock stairs and occasional porches on either side of the hills to rest. The site lacks sign boards directing the way forward, pitstops, steep hills and other significant alerts for the trek. However, a detailed site description inscribed on a metal plate is displayed at the foothills, by ASI. .
