Vellore - Tourist Information

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Vellore - Tourist Information

VELLORE FORT

The fortification of the fort c onsists of a main rampart broken at irregular intervals by round towers and rectangular projections. The walls are constructed with hewn Kangaroo stones of rectangular shape. The walls of the fortress are connected so that the outer wall which is lower than the other, which is extended to the inner wall, from a curtain of enormous thickness which cannot be affected by gun, spears and arrows. The upper parapets are built lined with brick work in which embrasures are cut. This is evidently the work of European engineers at a later period of fort's history. For More details ...

JALAKANDESWARAR TEMPLE

The temple which had been built in the late Vijayanagar style, comprised of the main shrine and closed ambulatory passage around, and the integral Mahamantapa, with a northward projecting shub-shrine for Nataraja, containing also several other sub-shrines. The temple has two court yard, one is inner prakara and the other is outer prakara . The structures in the court yard on the outer prakara include the lofty Gopuram on the southern side which is the entry to the temple. One the South-West corner of outer court yard is the Kalyanamantapa which is the gem of architecture of Late Vijayanagar style in embellishments and the art motifs of its pillars, ceilings and plinth mouldings. It stands as testimony for the architectural workmanship of that period.

VAINU BAPPU OBSERVATORY - KAVALUR

The Vainu Bappu Observatory of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics traces its origin back to the year 1786 when William Petrie set up his private observatory at his garden house at Egmore, Madras, which eventually came to be known as the Madras Observatory. Later it was moved over to Kodaikanal and functioned there as the Kodaikanal Observatory since 1899. M.K. Vainu Bappu who took over as the Director of the Kodaikanal Observatory in 1960, found a sleepy little hamlet called Kavalur in the Javadu Hills as a suitable site for establishing optical telescopes for observing the celestial objects. This came to be known as Kavalur Observatory. Later on, autonomy was obtained and the Head Quarters moved over to Bangalore with the new name as the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

Kavalur observatory is located in Kavalur in the Javadu Hills in Alangayam, Vellore District. The Kavalur Observatory is located in a 100 acre forest land in Tamil Nadu, which is strewn with a variety of greenery of tropical region besides a number of medicinal plants with an occasional appearance of some wild life like deer, snakes and scorpions. Several varieties of birds have also been spotted in the campus. The observatory is at an altitude of 725m above mean sea level (longitude 78° 49.6' E ; latitude 12° 34.6' N). Apart from being reasonably away from city lights and industrial areas, the location has been chosen in order to be closer to the earth's equator for covering both northern and southern hemispheres with equal ease. In addition, its longitudinal position is such that it is the only major astronomical facility between Australia and South Africa for observing the southern objects.

Amirthi Forest

Amirthi zoological park is situated under the Javadu Hills of Tellai across Amirthi river which is 25 kms away from Vellore. It is a tourism spot. This zoological park was started in October, 1967. The area of the park is 25 hectares and one can find beautiful waterfalls. There are also different kinds of birds and animals. Play equipments like swings, seesaw etc., are available for children. Numerous kinds of herbal plants and trees and sandalwood trees also grow here. There are 2 rest houses and five members can stay in one dormitory. There is a meditating hall where one can have full concentration and be in serenity.

The inflow of tourists is more only during the holidays. This zoological park has been recognized recently and so the state Government has taken initiative to develop this area. The entrance fees is only Rs.2/- per head, Rs.3/- for cycles, Rs.5/- for vans and Rs.2/- for motor cycles. The Government earns Rs.6000/- per month and Rs.72,000/- per year by way of entrance fees. The tribal people reside in this area.

There is a range office at Amirthi headed by the forest ranger, Mr.A.B.Jayaseelan at present (2006). There is also a hill tribe society at Nimmiyambattu near Amirthi. The main aim is to provide employment opportunities to the hill tribals in that area.

Yelagiri

Yelagiri hills, is an idyllic place for a short holiday. Green hills and picture post-card scenery greets you here. It is called the princess of hill stations and is the most pristine and unpolluted among the hill stations in Tamil Nadu. Yelagiri Hills is a backward area with few glaring developments like cottages and farm houses, yet a place that has maintained its 'remote' label.

Vellore Prison

The central prison in Vellore , set up in 1830 A.D. is another historically important land mark as some eminent personalities and freedom fighters like Thiru. Rajaji, Thiru C.N. Annadurai, Thiru. K. Kamaraj, the former presidents of India Thiru. V. V. Giri, Thiru. R. Venkataraman had served their prison terms here.

Vellamalai (18 km)

Vellamalai TempleThe temple of Vellamalai is dedicated to Siva's son, Kartikkaya ( Murga in Tamil). There's a temple at the bottom of the hill but is at the top. Shoes must be removed at the base of the hill. There's a good view of the bleak countryside around Vellamali- the ground is stony and strewn with boulders. The cloth knots you will see tied to trees are requests that wishes be granted.

Vellore - Tourist Information

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