Sajra and Gojra Forts

Sajra and Gojra Forts
Vellore in India
Gojra Fort entrance
Coordinates	12°55′03″N 79°08′10″E
Site information
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	1678 (1678)
Built by	Maratha Empire
Battles/wars	Siege of Vellore Fort
Garrison information
Occupants	Maratha Empire

Sajra and Gojra forts are hill forts built on top of Naammam Malai hill to the east of Vellore City in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Sajra and Gojra literally means "smart" and "cute" respectively.

History

In 1678, during the siege of Vellore Fort by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army, the commandant of the Vellore Fort Abdulla Khan (Abyssinian) defended the fort. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj deputed his Sardar Sabnis Narhari Rudra with 2000 cavalry and 5000 infantry to continue the siege which lasted fourteen months. He built two small forts, Sajra and Gojra on the hill top which is nearly 2 km from the Vellore Fort. These forts dominated the lower Vellore Fort allowing it to be effectively bombarded. It is said out of the original 500 soldiers defending the fort 400 perished. Abdulla Khan surrendered the Vellore Fort on 21 August 1678, and the Maratha Empire strengthened the Vellore Fort's fortifications, ruling for 30 years.

See also

• Vellore
• Vellore Fort
• Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore
• St. John's Church, Vellore
• List of forts in India

External links

• "Sajra and Gojra Forts, Vellore" (Map). Google Maps.