Visit to Fort St.George, Chennai
Though I have been to Tamil Nadu Government Old Secretariat (which is inside Fort St.George campus) few times, I haven’t had time during those visits to explore the historic places. Today I had few hours to spare and I decided to see around the Fort, both the Fort Museum and St.Mary’s Church which are open to the public. The old assembly and other buildings are off limits to the general public. To enter Fort St.George as a visitor, you need to clear security at the entrance (takes 15-20 minutes) as still government departments are functioning there and haven’t yet moved to the new Secretariat campus.
Fort Museum is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India and you need to pay Rs.5 (for Indians) and Rs.100 (for others), it houses artefacts from British, French and Mysore ruler’s days. Remember it is closed on every Friday. Quite interesting.
St. Mary’s Church is the oldest Anglican church in India. It was built in 1678-80 AD. It maintains oldest marriage registries and a panoramic photograph of Chennai dating few centuries – fascinating to see these.
I will recommend every resident of Chennai & visitor to this great city should visit Fort St.George where it all began in the 1600s.
3 Comments
Tim Venkat
Nice Venkat,you have enlightened teh ebauty of St george Fort in Chennai.True a marvelous work and spiritual time filled St Mary’s church.I lived in quarters there too.It needs to be protected and preserved well,which is not happenng so far.Thank you once again.I was there a month ago it is still fabulous in look.Vanakkham.
Venkatarangan TNC
@s.krishnan. Thanks for your comment.
The ASI in their website, which I have linked above have good information on what is there in the museum, so I didn’t repeat it. Most of the items displayed don’t have any detailed descriptions written about them on display.
From ASI Website: "In the Portrait Gallery oil paintings on canvas are displayed including those of George III and his consort, Queen Victoria and Robert Clive, Sir Arthur Havelock. Another interesting, painting is the earliest depiction of Fort St. George in 1738".
You are correct on the wedding of Robert Clive that was recorded in the Register of the St. Mary’s Church which is inside the fort.
s.krishnan
Thanks. Like you i had also gone to secretarial so many times. tried to visit this museum once. Unable to make it. You could have shared some of the highlights of this museum ( Think, Robert clive wedding happened on this church if my history knowledge is right!).