Chengee

Snow clad mountains or sunny beaches or green valleys and similiar places attract sight seeing tourists who seek visual delight and relaxation.But historical monuments and archiological tresures are of different genere. When you visit these places you are visiting time. You are transported back to time. If you visit Acropolis you travelled back to 4th centuary. If you stand on the ruins of Humbi you stepped back in the vijayanagara kingdom. Visions of Krishnadevaraya and his successors and their pitched battle with Bijapur sultan came to you.Similarly when I visited Brahadeswarar temple in Tanjavur King Raja Raja chola and his Royal court came to my mind. Such is the power of visiting historical monuments. I had similiar experience when I visited Chengee recently.

Chengee is near Thiruvannamalai which is in Tamilnadu. It is 25 k.m from Tindivanam which is again situated on N.H 47 and 65 k.m. from Chennai state capitol. The place is barren without much vegetation and full of granite rocks. The fort is nestled among three hills- Rajagiri, Krishnagiri and Chakkildrug.It is built by chola king during 13th centuary.Then the fort changed hands between Nayak. Muslim rulars, marathas, French and finally British. But when you mention Chengee the name came to your mind is Raja Desingu. The brave Rajput warrior who when surrounded by trecherous moghul army committed harakari instead of surrendered to enemy. His beautiful and young wife commited sathi along with him. There are number of moving ballads about his brave deeds and valour.The desolate and lonly place was photographed once again my cousion Rajesh and given below.