The monuments of Vellore are resplendent in their historical legacy. They are an exhibition of the life and times of the various dynasties and rulers that they have been constructed by-from the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Rashtrakutas, Nayakas and right up to the Bijapur Sultanate the Nawabs of the Carnatic and the British. These dynasties are well-known as patrons of art and architecture, and the monuments found here speak volumes of their artistic prowess.

Vellore is situated 80 miles west of Tamil Nadu and is the headquarters of the Vellore district. The name Vellore which means city of spears itself suggests that this city was a battle field and has witnessed many wars. It also signifies that Vellore has seen many rulers come and go. The town is a typical rural centre, with chaotic bazaars and colourful street markets.

The main attractions of the town are the Jvarakandeshvara temple and the Vijayanagara fort, apart from some other temples.

Historical Monuments in Vellore
The Vellore fort was built in the 13th century and was considered to be the most infallible fort in India. It had a very important role to play in the Carnatic war fought in the 17th century and was the site of the Sepoy mutiny of 1806 which many consider the prelude to the Sepoy mutiny, 1857.

Though there is no way of ascertaining the exact date of the construction or the ruler under whom it was established, it is believed that in all probability it was made by Chinna Bommi Nayak sometime between 1274 and 1283. The fort is one of the finest examples of military construction in India. It has been constructed entirely using large blocks of granite. Surrounded by a moat, the main rampart has circular bastions and square towers at intervals to provide clear fields of fire. The outer wall, which is lower than the inner, to which it is joined, provides a curtain of enormous thickness. The crenellated parapets have wide merlons for musket fire. On the south face the moat is crossed by a stone causeway which leads to a sally-port. Within the fort the parade ground is flanked by great mahals, two-storey houses with large internal courtyards.

The fort has witnessed a long history with its ownership passing from the Nayaks, to the Bijapur Sultans, to Marathas, to the Carnatic Nawabs and finally to the British, who held the fort until India gained independence. In 1676 the Marathas under Takaji Rao captured Vellore after a four and a half months` siege. In 1708 Daud Khan from Delhi in turn ousted the Marathas. It became the headquarters of Mortaza Ali, brother-in-law of the claimant to the Arcot throne, and in the 1740s it was renowned as the strongest fortress in the Carnatic. In 1780 an English garrison held out against Hyder Ali for over two years. After the fall of Seringapatam in 1799 Tipu`s family were detained here. The subsequent mutiny at Vellore in 1806 has been attributed to their intrigues, but it was more probably due to the orders of Sir John Cradock prohibiting the wearing of caste marks and beards. The first rebellion against British rule erupted at this fort in 1806, and it is also a witness to the tragic massacre of the Vijayanagara royal family of Emperor Sriranga Raya.

To the right of the entrance to the fort is a small enclosure, the Old Cemetery. There is a low sarcophagus (1863-4) here, inscribed to the memory of the officers and men who were killed in the 1806 mutiny. There is a modern church nearby.

The Muthu Mandapam or pearl palace is a rock memorial. It has been constructed around the tombstone of Vikramraja Singh the last Tamil ruler of Kandy (now in Sri Lanka) from 1798 to 1815 A.D.He was imprisoned in the Vellore fort for seventeen years. It is near the banks of the river Palar, located a kilometre off town.

The Government museum is a multi purpose museum-cum-archive maintained by the Department of Museum Government of Tamil Nadu. It contains historical monuments of the erstwhile North Arcot which have been depicted through beautiful frescoes. It exhibits ancient and present day curios relating to Anthropology, Geology and Numismatics.

Religious Monuments in Vellore
Jvarakandeshvara Temple is a beautiful example of Vijayanagara architecture, with fine stone carvings. The temple is renowned for its sculptures and a standing testimony to the excellent craftsmanship of the period. The temple is built within the fort complex and has beautiful carvings of Nandi adorning the walls. The gateway has a seven-storey gopura on blue granite with rich ornamental carvings. There is a huge wedding hall or `kalyanamandap` within the temple just to the left of the entrance. It has some exquisite carvings on it and is adorned with monolithic sculptures. For a long time, the temple was used as an arsenal and remained without a principal deity. Only recently it was sanctified with a statue of Lord Shiva.

The Mausoleums in Aruganthampoodi area on the Vellore - Arcot road are also of great significance. About 1-2 km to the east of the fort arc the tombs of the family of Tipu Sultan, situated in a walled enclosure. To the right on entering is the tomb of Padshah Begum, Tipu`s wife, who died in 1834. Next is Aftab Khan`s tomb, beyond which is a large tank and two plain tombs of women attendants. The large granite pavilion contains the tomb of Mirza Raza, who married one of Tipu`s daughters. At the end is a 6 m {20 ft) high mausoleum with a lofty dome to Bakshi Begum, widow of Hyder Ali, who died in 1806. To the left is a plain mosque.

Vellore bears a beautiful legacy of India`s glorious history which has been captured in the architecture of the monuments here.