FORT ST. GEORGE

Built in the ^mid-17th century by the British East India Company, this bastion is named after St. George, the patron saint of England. The mast that tops it is still the highest in the country. The fort currently houses the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and Legislative Assembly. Its exterior architecture bears no resemblance to a military defense building. Believed to be the oldest British building in India, it was originally used as a trade and exchange center. The color white was chosen as a tribute to Madras, then known as "the white city". The part of the fort open to the public is divided into two sections.

St. Mary's Church was built in 1680 and is the oldest Anglican church in India. The tombs in the courtyard are the oldest British steles in the country. The pride of the British occupiers, they dubbed their church "the Westminster Abbey of the East".

The Fort's museum displays rare collections from the British period and memorabilia from the French East India Company. The building was constructed in 1795 to house the Bank of Madras. The statue in front of the museum depicts Lord Cornwall in the company of Tipu Sultan. The banqueting hall was added in 1802 and now features portraits of the governors of Fort St. George and officials of the British regime. No cash or credit card is accepted for admission; payment is by QR Code only (impractical for foreign tourists).