Situated around 70 km from Kanchipuram, Vellore is located on the banks of the River Palar. The main attraction is the Vellore Fort that is a spectacular specimen of military architecture in South India. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Chinna Bommi Nayak (1526 - 1595 AD) and still remains a popular heritage site. Tourists can also visit the Jalakandeswarar Temple, inside the fort, which is reminiscent of the Vijayanagar architecture. The Kalyanamantapa to the left of the entrance is another example of the architectural prowess of the creators of old. Another must-visit attraction in this small, interesting town is the clock tower, in the bazaar, built in 1928 AD.

The history of Vellore is dynamic and the town served as one of the strongest fortresses in the Carnatic War in the 17th century. Thus, it was the seat of power of the Pallava, Chola, Nayak and Maratha dynasties, as well as of the Arcot Nawabs and Bijapur Sultan kingdoms. It also bore witness to the massacre of a European army during the mutiny of 1806. In fact, the town’s monuments provide great insight into some of the major strategically significant battles fought in Ambur in 1749 AD, Arcot in 1751 AD and Vandavasi in 1768 AD between the French and the English for dominance.  

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