Gingee, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India
When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the latter becomes irresistible.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948), Indian political leader and father of India
The thirteenth-century Gingee Fort, once called the “Troy of the East” because of its impenetrability, is actually a citadel complex built by the Chola Dynasty to protect a palace and temples, a mosque, granary, treasury, marriage hall, entertainment hall, “ladies’ court,” gymnasium, funeral pyre area, and sacred pool. Today, the ruins of these once-grand buildings occupied by Vijayanagara kings and then by French and British colonists remain a memorial to the fortitude of those who lived and worshipped there.
If you are inspired by symbols of power, consider a visit to Gingee Fort, now a national monument. The nearest airport is in Chennai (the capital of Tamil Nadu). The train station is in Tindivanam; from there, take a taxi, scooter, motorcycle, car and driver, or bus.
Take your time walking the almost 3-acre site that covers three hills, each with its own citadel (fortress). Ask God, who bestows power and grace, to fill you with the kind of strength that fortified the inhabitants of this special place, attracting kings, foreign governments, and the faithful alike.
Occupation of the fortress-like hills of Gingee (also known as Chenji or Jinji) dates back to the Jains in A.D. 600. According to local legend, Gingee Amman was one of seven virgin goddesses who guarded the village.