What's of interest
Vellore Fort:
Vellore boasts of a historical Fort that's a
few hundred years old - the biggest landmark in the
city, also the monument that gives Vellore the name '
Fort Town'.
The Vellore Fort is made of granite blocks
and is surrounded by a moat. History says that there
used to be alligators in the moat, enough to deter any
unwanted intrusion attempts. There are no alligators
now, but visitors can now take a boat ride
around the fort for a very small fee. The Fort and the
area around the it is now under the Archaeological
Survey of India, and is a protected monument.
Inside the fort are a few Government offices, a Police
training unit, a temple, a Church, and a Mosque.
Jalakanteswara Temple:
The Jalakanteswara temple is located inside
the
Vellore Fort , and is an exquisite piece of Indian
Art. The temple is constructed of carved stone.
Interestingly enough, this was one of the seven
'Wonders' of Vellore - a temple without a God!
History has it that a temple dancer was murdered in
the temple court. Since the murder desecrated the
temple, the idol was removed to a temple a few
kilometers away and was there for over 200 years! In
recent times, though, the idol has been returned to
its initial place.
Inside the temple is a well that is supposed to
have
a secret passage to the temple in Kancheepuram, about
75km from Vellore. Interestingly, this temple has
survived times of being occupied by Muslim rulers like
Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan.
St.John's Church:
Also located inside the Vellore Fort is the St.John's
Church. This was built in1234 by the British Colonists
who had occupied the fort. This bears stark contrast
to the architecture of the temple in the fort, in the
absolutely Anglican style it is built in. Though
renovated, the majority of the original structure has
been preserved as also the looks.
CSI Central Church:
This islocated opposite the Vellore Fort. It is
largest Church in Vellore. It also has a historical
Cemetery where many freedom fighters were buried. Also
here one will find a memorial to the soldiers who died
in the Vellore mutiny of 1806.
Vellore Museum:
The Vellore museum is not a very large museum, but is
certainly a unique one. Run by the Government, the
museum has a good collection of paintings and ancient
artifacts that go back all the way to the Cholas and
the Pallavas (17th Century AD).
Clock Tower:
The clock tower in the Vellore Market was built in
1928 AD and bears a stone inscription that reads
"Vellore - From this village 277 men went to the great
war 1914-18, of them 14 gave up their lives".
Muthu Mandapam:
Located near the Palar river, in a rather
inconspicuous place is the Muthu Mandapam. Though
built recently (1990), this is built in memory of
Vikrama Raja Singhan, the last Tamil ruler of Ceylon
(Sri Lanka)
Places to
visit nearby
Amirthi Forest & Zoo:
Amirthi is 25km from Vellore and is a nice picnic
spot. There is a stream that runs through semi-dense
forest, and a zoo with quite a few animals. For those
interested in Trekking, there is a fantastic path to
trek up the stream, at the end of which is a small
waterfall. The best time to visit Amirthi is soon
after some rains or after the monsoon (June-August and
September-November), that's when there is a lot of
water in the stream. There are wild animals in the
forest too, and as a protected area, hunting is
banned. Visitors are encouraged to leave by sundown
for their own safety. On request, rest house
accommodation can be got to stay overnight for up to 5
members.
There are local buses available to Amirthi. Most
people though prefer to get there by van or cab.
Yelagiri:
Yelagiri is a hill station located about 100km from
Vellore. It is a good place to get away from the
Vellore heat. Though there is not much to see in
Yelagiri, apart from the lake and a trek through the
forest to the top of the hill, it is a lovely place to
relax and unwind. especially for those who want a
weekend off to spend with the family, this is an
excellent place, as even mobile phones don't work
there! tourists are advised not to travel up or down
late at night due to safety reasons, especially if the
weather is rainy, as there have been frequent
incidents of road blocks due to falling rocks loosened
by rain.
Where next
from Vellore?
For those who want to go places from Vellore, there
are Bangalore, Chennai, Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram),
Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Yercaud. These places
are all within a distance of 250km from Vellore and
are all well connected by road and rail (except for
hill stations). Ample bus facility is available.
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