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The Indian subcontinent under the control of the Mughul Empire lost its territory with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. The death resulted in the splitting up the Empire between viceroys and local rulers with bitter fighting amongst them. In the 1740s and 1750s French and British colonial companies became more active in local conflicts, and by the Third Carnatic War (1757-1763), the British gained Bombay, Madras and Calcutta - and emerged the largest among the colonial powers. British holdings at Madras were strongly influenced by treaties with the Nawab of Carnatic (Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah), whose territory surrounded Madras. The other major powers in the east were the Nizam of Hyderabad with control of Mysore coming into the hands of Hyder Ali, the Muslim military leader, in 1761.

All of the powers intrigued against one another, and sought to collaborate with British and French colonial companies in order to gain either direct control of territory, or revenues from territory in exchange for financial and military support. Since European military training was significantly better than local armies, small numbers of disciplined European or European-trained forces could defeat larger Indian armies composed mainly of poorly trained infantry and cavalry.

Tiruvannamalai lay at a strategic crossroad; connecting sacred centres of pilgrimage and military routes. Inscriptions show that the city developed around the temple and the area was an urban centre from the time of the Vijayanagara Empire (which substantially pre-dates colonial times). As the Mughal Empire came to an end, the Nawab of the Carnatic lost control of Tiruvannamalai - and confused chaos ensued after 1753. Subsequently, there were periods of both Hindu and Muslim stewardship of Arunachaleswarar Temple; with Muraru Raya, Krishna Raya, Mrithis Ali Khan, and Burkat Ullakhan besieging the temple in succession.

The Battle of Tiruvannamalai and the Battle of Chengam were two successful battles fought by the Madras Army in the Carnatic. The allied forces of Hyder Ali was defeated by the British Army under Colonel Smith in Chengam on 3rd September 1767. A second battle, that lasted for two days, the Battle of Tiruvannamalai took place on 25th September 1767 between the troops of East India Company and troops of Hyder Ali. The allied forces of the English army was led by Colonel Smith. The Nawab's army lost 4,000 men and 64 guns in the battle.

India in 18th Century


After a lengthy tussle, Tipu Sultan captured Tiruvannamalai and then then gathered his army and came close to capturing Madras. A Peace Treaty was signed with the British during April 1769 returning the situation to pre-war days. The treaty also laid terms for mutual aid and the end of a defensive alliance.

(Tipu Sultan was born on November 20, 1750, to military officer Hyder Ali of the Kingdom of Mysore and his wife, Fatima Fakhr-un-Nisa. They named him Fath Ali but also called him Tipu Sultan after a local Muslim saint, Tipu Mastan Aulia).

In 1790 Tipu Sultan re-captured Tiruvannamalai over-riding the Treaty of Mangalore (1784 A.D.) in which he and the English agreed to mutual restoration of conquests and exchange of prisoners. Tipu Sultan attacked Thiagadurga Fort (30 miles south of Tiruvannamalai). The whole population of the surrounding region took refuge in the fort. Activated by the news from Thiagadurga and fearing attack, the people of Tiruvannamalai collected arms and men to defend themselves till British reinforcements arrived. When Tipu Sultan attacked Tiruvannamalai, its inhabitants put up a brave resistance but were compelled to surrender.

Tipu Sultan, it is said, occupied the hillock of Pavala Kundru after destroying the small shrine that was there. His solders, it seems, were cruel to the people of the town but strangely the Temple of Sri Arunachala was left untouched, barring a single cannon shot that was fired at it. The missile seems to have hit a part of the northern wall causing minimal damage. After camping there for some weeks, Tipu Sultan and his army left Tiruvannamalai.

If you mentally delete the recent construction between the Pavala Kundru Hillock and Arunachaleswarar Temple, one can visualise an invading Tipu Sultan army camped on the Hillock with army and canons, raining shots upon the outside of the northern wall of the Arunachaleswarar Temple compound.

Pavala Kundru outlined in red. Amman Ammani,
North Gopuram on left side of photo



View of North Wall of Arunachaleswarar Temple
from Pavala Kundru

A gun belonging to Tipu Sultan was found buried near the hillock where he had camped. It was taken and placed in a museum in Madras. Ramana Maharshi said that whatever Temple might have existed on or about Pavala Kundru seemed to have disappeared probably on account of Tipu Sultan's invasion. The present Temple was probably built only a hundred and fifty years ago.

Historical Military Synopsis:
Between 1753 and 1791 Tiruvannamalai was besieged on ten separate occasions and was six times taken, thrice by assault. The temple and the town adjoining it were on several occasions the scene of severe fighting, the marks of cannon balls being visible on the temple walls to this day. In 1753 it was besieged by Murtiz Ali Khan and Morari Row and very gallantly defended by Barkat Ulla Khan on behalf of the Nawab of the Carnatic. In 1757 the garrison abandoned the place on the approach of a French army under Soupires, but in August of the following year it was recaptured by Krishna Row, the Killadar of Tiagar. A month later, however, a strong detachment under Saubinet attacked and captured it after three assaults when the garrison was put to the sword. In 1760 it was taken by Captain Stephen Smith, and in August of the same year was attacked by Mysore troops which, after two unsuccessful assaults, withdrew to Tiagar. On the outbreak of the First Mysore War allied forces of Hyderabad and Mysore invaded the Carnatic by the Chengam Pass. A desperate fight took place on 3rd September 1767, near Chengam, 16 miles from Tiruvannamalai, when some 6,000 men under Colonel Smith totally routed the invading army. A second battle was fought at Tiruvannamalai which lasted two days and resulted in the allies losing 4,000 men and 64 guns. In 1790, after being repulsed from Tiagar, Tippu captured Tiruvannamalai.

[Extract from narrative compiled by Southern Indian Railways 1900]