While on our way to Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we made a stop at Bellary to visit the Bellary Fort which bears witness to centuries of rich Indian history. We are sharing here what we learned from our enriching trip to the Bellary Fort.
Location Of The Bellary Fort
The Bellary Fort is an ancient fort at the top of a hill called the Ballari Gudda (Gudda means hill in the local language). The hill is located in the historic city of Bellary in Karnataka’s Bellary district.
Who Built The Bellary Fort?
The Bellary Fort was built in two parts. The Upper Fort was constructed under the orders of the feudal landlord of the Vijayanagara Empire named Hanumappa Nayaka. The lower fort was built by Tipu Sultan’s father, Hyder Ali in the second half of the 18th century.
A Brief Glimpse Into The History Of The Bellary Fort
The Upper Fort And The Vijayanagara Empire
The town of Bellary where the fort is located is witness to ages of Indian history starting from around 300 BC to 1365 AD. Several great dynasties ruled in the region over the centuries. The Bellary Fort, however, has a relatively more recent history that dates back to the rule of the Vijayanagar empire. During this time, as mentioned above, Hanumappa Nayaka commissioned the building of the Upper Fort.
The Lower Fort And Hyder Ali
Following the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, the region experienced political unrest and several powers tried to control Bellary and its fort. Finally, the Bijapur Sultans established a rule in the region. In 1678, the fort was sieged by Shivaji’s forces for a brief period of time but Shivaji restored the fort to the original owner after a tribute was paid to him. The fort was captured by Basalat Jung of Adoni in 1761 who demanded a tribute from the Nayaka chieftain in exchange for the fort. However, the chieftain refused the tribute and instead formed an alliance with Hyder Ali, the father of Tipu Sultan, to drive off Basalat Jung. Although Hyder Ali managed to easily defeat the Adonis, instead of restoring the fort to the Nayaka chieftain, he usurped the fort and the region.
Hyder Ali now commissioned the building of the Lower Fort to strengthen the defense of the fort. A French engineer was employed to design the Lower Fort and refurbish the upper one.
It is believed that when the Lower For was completed, Haider Ali found that the forts were at a lower elevation to an opposite hill which put the forts at a strategic disadvantage. Annoyed by the poor outcome of the architect’s work, Haider Ali hanged the Frenchman at the east gate of the fort where his tomb now exists.
The British And The Bellary Fort
Following the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the defeat of Tipu Sultan at the hands of the British, the Bellary district and the fort had to be surrendered to Salabat Jang, the then Nizam. Later, a further defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and his death, the territories under his rule were further divided BETWEEN Asif Jah II, the British, and the Wodeyars. Since Asif Jah II had earlier taken help from the British to protect himself against the Marathas and Tipu Sultan, he had to cede a large part of his newly acquired properties to the British. This included the Bellary district and the Bellary Fort.
Things To See And Do At The Bellary Fort
The Bellary Fort is open to the public and one can enjoy a tryst with history by visiting this fort. The fort also offers an outstanding vista from the top and is a great photographic opportunity. However, no motorable pathway leads to the summit and one has to climb the stairs through a winding rocky path strewn with large boulders to enjoy the view at the top of the fort.
The Bellary Fort is located around two prominent hills that serve as the backdrop of the city. One can see the hills from all parts of the city. The Upper Fort stands at a height of 460 ft above the surrounding plains and houses the citadel with a 3-tier fortification. A temple and several deep pools of water are also present at the top. The citadel hosts some strong buildings and water reservoirs.
Photo by: Arijit Nag
The Lower Fort hosts several buildings and was inhabited by people in search of protection during wars. The fort has two entrances, one each at the western and the eastern ends. A Hanuman temple stands at the eastern gate. The British added several buildings to the Lower Fort during their rule including a church, an orphanage, educational institutions, private dwellings, etc.
Reaching The Bellary Fort
The fort is well connected by road, rail, and air to various parts of India. For those visiting the historical area of Hampi, the fort is only 75 km away. The distance between the fort and Bangalore is 300 km. Pune is 336 km from the fort. Two railway stations link the Bellary city to different parts of the country. The Bellary Airport receives flights from Goa and Bangalore.
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