I wanted
to check some places around Vellore and was planning from December to do the
same but for some reasons it kept postponed. Finally on Sunday we made a
trip. Vellore is usually known for hot
weather, due of the rocky terrain and hills surrounding the city, I don’t want
to be burned visiting it rather than in winter or rainy (beginning from Oct to
Jan) though the summer haven’t kick
started yet, we could feel the hot enough.
Our
first stop was at Delhi Gate, near Arcot on the bank of river Palar. Delhi Gate
is part of the fortification of Arcot, a region that has been battle ground for
number of times, which result in construction of the fortress around Arcot. There
were prolonged disputes between different dynasties fighting for the control of
Arcot, also inspired the British and the French, however their battle was only
for control of south India, the battle fought by the British using handful troops
and Indian solders under the leadership of Robert Clive (to capture the Arcot)
was claimed to be a remarkable battle in Indian history.
 |
| The side view of the delhi gate and the stairs lead to the room atop gate, shot from road |
What’s really
amazing about this battle was, Robet Clive, a clerk, who did not have any
military experience and along with 8 inexperienced officers, won the battle
against enormous forces using the strategies rather than his strength. The
Siege of Arcot lasted fifty days beginning from Sep. 23, 1751 CE become a turning point
in his life and later rise to become the Governor General of India. And he laid
the foundation of the British Empire in India and ruled most of the country as
the governor general.
 |
| You could see the inside of the arched gate, with a storeroom gate and boying playing cricket. Click the image to see the fortified ruins behind the fielding boys. |
Now,
except the Delhi Gate, a gateway structure with a room atop and some ruined fortified
walls and basement shattered around, there isn’t a trace for fort, or perhaps some
other ruined parts may visible around the Arcot. The fort originally built by
Mughal governor, Daud Khan Panni, in early 18th century was
destroyed by Tippu Sultan in 1783. And one of the remaining gates of the fort,
called Delhi Gate, was named after to signify the beginning of the capture of Delhi
by the British and the room atop the ached gate was the room of Robert Clive.
It was about
11 am when reached the Delhi Gate, but I didn’t get into the fort, which was
fenced on the road side and have huge steps to climb in out. During the time of
visit many youngsters were playing cricket between the gate and ruined fort
walls, against the warning board place by the ASI instructing
that misusing the monument shall be punishable with imprisonment. The Delhi
gate has two storerooms inside the archway and two staircases, from outside
leads to the room atop the gate. Locals believe there’s a tunnel from here goes
up to Delhi and thus named after it, but it’s unproven.
