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Gingee Fort history timeline: Gingee, Tamil Nadu

History · Part of the Gingee guide · Last updated 2026-10-23

In short: Gingee grew from a small hill fort into a capital, then changed hands almost every generation between the 17th and 18th centuries; dates for the earliest period differ between sources.

Quick facts

Earliest fort9th century (traditional) to about 1200 AD (varies)
Most surviving structuresNayak period
National Monument1921
World Heritage2025

Timeline

Colour shows who held the fort. Tap an era to jump to it.

Chola and Kon eraVijayanagara and NayaksBijapurMarathasMughals and ArcotFrench and BritishProtection and heritage
  1. 9th to 12th century
    Cholas and Kadava feudatories

    A small Chola fort is traditionally placed in the 9th century. The earliest documentary mention is usually tied to an inscription of Vikrama Chola (1120 to 1163).

  2. Around 1190 to 1270 (dates vary)
    Kon dynasty

    Ananda Kon and Krishna Kon are credited with the early fort; the district page dates this to about 1200 AD.

  3. 14th to 16th century
    Vijayanagara, then the Gingee Nayaks

    Vijayanagara expanded the fort. Nayaks appointed in the early 16th century became independent after Talikota and ruled into the 1640s.

  4. 1649
    Bijapur and Golconda

    Bijapur forces took Gingee and held it for about 30 years, calling it Badshabad.

  5. 1677
    Shivaji

    Shivaji captured Gingee in July and replaced mud walls with granite. Rajaram used it as a base after Sambhaji's death.

  6. 1691 to 1698
    Mughals

    Zulfikar Khan besieged the fort while Santaji Ghorpade defended it. The Mughals took it in 1698 and renamed it Nusratgadh.

  7. 1700 to about 1714
    Bundela rulers, then the Nawab of Arcot

    Aurangzeb granted Gingee to Swarup Singh Bundela in 1700. His son Tej Singh (Raja Desingu) revolted and was killed; the Nawab of Arcot took the fort.

  8. 1750 to 1761
    French

    The French under Bussy captured the fort in 1750 and held it for 11 years.

  9. 1761 onward
    British

    The British took Gingee in 1761. Hyder Ali held it briefly, and the British later used it as a military station.

  10. 1921
    Archaeological protection

    Declared a National Monument; now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.

  11. 11 July 2025
    UNESCO

    Inscribed as part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India.

Frequently asked questions

Who built Gingee Fort?

No single builder. The early fort is credited to Chola-era rulers and the Kon dynasty, and Vijayanagara and the Gingee Nayaks built most of what survives.

Why are early dates uncertain?

Sources give conflicting dates for the Kon dynasty and for the first fort, so this guide flags them as approximate.

More around Gingee

Details such as access, timings and rules can change. Confirm with local authorities before you travel.

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