View source for Manora Fort, Thanjavur

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Manora Fort
| native_language = Tamil
| image =Manora1.JPG 
| image_size = 250px
| caption = 
| designation1 = 
| designation1_date = 2008
| designation1_number = 
| designation1_criteria = 
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_free1name = State Party
| designation1_free1value = {{IND}}
| designation1_free2name = Region
| designation1_free2value = 
| location = [[Peravurani]], [[Thanjavur]], India
| elevation = 
| built = [[Serfoji II]]
| architect =
| architecture = Nayaka Architecture ([[Vijayanagara Architecture]]) 
| coordinates = {{coord|10.268|79.304|display=inline}}
| locmapin = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
}}

The '''Manora Fort''' is situated {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Pattukkottai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India and {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Thanjavur]]. The fort was built by [[Maratha]] ruler [[Serfoji II]] in 1814–1815 to commemorate the successful advance of the British over [[Napoléon Bonaparte]]. It is an eight-storeyed, [[hexagon]]al tower, which is 23&nbsp;m high overlooking the [[Bay of Bengal]]. The fort derives its name Manora, from the word ''[[Minaret]]''.
<ref name="victory">{{cite news
  | last = Joshi
  | first = G.V.
  | title =  Victory Tower
  | work=The Hindu
  | date = 15 February 2003
  | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/yw/2003/02/15/stories/2003021500770300.htm
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030710193710/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/yw/2003/02/15/stories/2003021500770300.htm
  | url-status = usurped
  | archive-date = 10 July 2003
  | access-date = 9 April 2008}}</ref>

In December 2004, five monuments including the fort were damaged in the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami]].<ref name="tsunami">
{{cite web
  | last = Ramakrishnan
  | first = T.
  | title = Mughal-era fort, Dutch tombs damaged
  | date = 7 January 2005
  | url = http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/07/stories/2005010715140700.htm
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050131185031/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/07/stories/2005010715140700.htm
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 31 January 2005
  | work = [[The Hindu]]
  | access-date = 9 April 2008}}</ref> It was planned in 2007 by the State Tourism Department to renovate the structure and improve its infrastructure by building several additional facilities including upgrading the children's park and building a tourist's shed.<ref name="face">
{{cite web
  | last = Srinivasan
  | first = G.
  | title =  Manora fort to get a facelift
  | date = 19 September 2007
  | url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091961370900.htm
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080111062500/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091961370900.htm
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 11 January 2008
  | work = [[The Hindu]]
  |access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Manora renamed.jpg|thumb|left|Manora, The Ancient Fort of Tamil Nadu, India|200px]]
The fort was built by [[Maratha|Tanjavur Maratha]] ruler [[Serfoji II]] (1777-1832 CE) in 1814–1815 to commemorate the successful advance of the British over [[Napoléon Bonaparte]] (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) in the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in 1815.<ref name="Arch">{{cite web|title=Manora – Sarabendraraja Pattinam|url=http://www.tnarch.gov.in/cons/forts/fort7.htm|publisher=Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref><ref name="friday">{{cite news|title=Hidden 100: Fort on the coast|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/hidden-100-fort-on-the-coast/article3257748.ece|date=29 March 2012|access-date=2013-07-07|last=Gerald|first=Olympia Shilpa|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Imperial Conversations: Indo-Britons and the Architecture of South India|page=229|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=36IBkEKlEC8C&pg=PR9|last=Jayewardene-Pillai|first=Shanti|publisher=Yoda Press|year=2007|isbn=9788190363426}}</ref> The fort acted as a residence for the royal family and also as a light-house.

==Architecture==
The fort is located in {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Pattukkottai]] and {{convert|65|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from [[Thanjavur]] in a place called [[Sarabendrarajanpattinam]] in shores of [[Bay of Bengal]]. The word ''Manora'' is believed to be derived from the word ''[[Minaret|minar]]'' meaning tower.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Top Ten Temple Towns of India|publisher=Mark Age Publication|first=S.C.|last=Karkar|location=Kolkota|isbn=978-81-87952-12-1|year=2009|page=85}}</ref> The fort is hexagonal structure and has eight storeys, raising to a height of {{convert|75|ft|m|abbr=on}} tapering to its top. The tower is surrounded by a wall and a moat ant it resembles a fort. The monument looks like a [[pagoda]], with arched windows, circular staircase and eaves separating one storey from the other.<ref name="victory"/><ref name="face"/><ref name="Arch"/><ref name="friday"/><ref name="TN">{{cite web|title=What to see – Thanjavur district attractions|url=http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|publisher=Thanjavur District Administration|access-date=2013-07-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518021412/http://www.thanjavur.tn.nic.in/whattoseetou.html|archive-date=18 May 2013}}</ref>[[File:Manora fort board.jpg|left|thumb|An information board at the fort]]

==Renovation in modern times==
The restoration and conservation of the monument was started in 2000 and completed in 2003. Tourists are allowed access up to the second level of the fort. A considerable part of the fort was damaged during the [[Indian Ocean tsunami]] in 2004.<ref name="tsunami"/><ref name="friday"/> The Tamil Nadu state Tourism Development Corporation allocated {{INRConvert|3195000}} for improving the infrastructure around the fort. The project was to develop children's park to have additional facilities, provide additional lighting, install display boards, plant saplings along the road, lay new road from Sethu Road to the fort and modify thatched umbrella roof structures on the beach.<ref name="face"/> The fort is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the district.<ref name="TN"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Thanjavur district}}
{{Forts in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Forts in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manora (Fort)}}
[[Category:Forts in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Thanjavur]]