Jalakandeswarar Temple

Located inside the Vellore Fort, this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Being one of the attractions of the Vellore Fort, Jalakandeswara Temple stands out as a mark of excellence of Vijayanagara Architecture.

The temple tower has intricate carvings on it, and some richly styled stone pillars support the temple structure. The tower is measured to be around 100 feet in height with a Mandapam that is supported by pillars carved in shapes of mythological creatures such as dragons, horses and yalis.

A legend says that the place which is now the main chamber of the temple once had an ant-hill surrounded by stagnant rainwater and had a Shiva Linga placed near it before the temple was built. Chieftain Chinna Bommi Nayaka who controlled the fort had a vision in his dream and constructed the Temple after demolishing the ant-hill. The Fort is said to have served as an arsenal for 400 years until it was mutilated in the Muslim invasion.