Bhasmangi Fort (Tumkur District)

Bhasmangi is a hill fort that lies near Sira Taluk in Tumkur District of Karnataka.  

It is approximately a three -hour drive from the junction of NICE Road and Tumkur Road 

(I have chosen this as the starting point central location but your travel time will vary depending on which part of Bangalore you stay, the traffic and your speed of travel)

 

This fort is one among the many that dot the landscape and it lies in the company of forts such as Madhugiri, Devarayanadurga, Channarayanadurga, Medigeshi etc.

Not much is known about the fort or the role it played in history. It is said to have been built by a local ruler however, it was then strengthened by Haider Ali.

The road is smooth and empty. You can park your vehicles safely at the foot of the hill and follow the path up. (There is no direct road to the top)

It is not steep at all and the climb will take you 20-30 minutes maximum. However, the time taken to explore this fort can range from 2 hours to much more depending on your interest in the design and architecture as well as your interest in exploring.

The Entrance

As you approach the entrance of this fort you realize that this fort too does not have a grand entrance. A 6-foot man would have to stoop to enter. Also, anybody mounted on a horse would have to dismount. Lastly, being a narrow entrance, one can assume that nobody could enter (or exit) the fort in large numbers. 👇

 

The other interesting aspect of this fort is that it has an outer wall that appears to be older and more shabbily built. It is shorter in height and width but retains the slits for firing. This leads me to believe the following:
i) Either it was the older fort wall and the newer (and stronger) fort was constructed later.

ii) Alternately it may have served as a tier…sort of first line of defense

ii) Both of the above points combined

 The following pictures will show the older/earlier, smaller outer wall 👇

Coming back to my earlier point on the entrance being very small; I am inclined to believe that this fort was built more for defensive purposes. I reached this conclusion when observing the slits on the fort walls all along the ramparts

Places of Worship. 

After you enter the fort, you see a small entrance from a distance. You might think of it as another entrance or perhaps a tunnel but as you approach it, it is a mini temple dedicated to Lord Anjaneya. The next few pictures will show the temple unfold as you approach it. 👇

Beesuva Kallu (ಬೀಸುವಾ ಕಲ್ಲು)

Just like in Gudibanda fort, I saw the same circular granite stone here as well. These stones are called Beesuva Kallu (ಬೀಸುವಾ ಕಲ್ಲು). Now, while these are almost always associated with grinding food items (rice dal etc.), I have read that they were also used to grind gunpowder. I tend to subscribe to both the theories as one needs to have a higher output to service more people (i.e. soldiers) 👇

 

There appears to be the main body of water here but the supply is ample. 👇

Central Temple

As with many forts, this fort too has a central place of worship. Interestingly, this too has a mini fort around it (the area of the mini fort being about the size of a basketball court. Mind you – even these walls had slits for firing. Looks like they put up a spirited fight everywhere. 
The temple had a Nandi bull carved but the enclosure around was very small. I doubt if anyone could enter it. 

The pictures below show the view as you approach the temple. Notice the old mini-fort walls with slits for firing 👇

 

Temple when viewed from the keep of the fort 

As you approach it, you realize that the wall around it has a purpose 

The slits for firing are now evident 

This is the mini temple withing the protective walls

Peek a boo

Dug-up by Treasure Hunters

When you come to the enclosed areas, you find that they are all dug up. I remember reading once that many years ago, there was a rumour that this fort along with others in the vicinity had hidden treasures. This lead to a lot of wannabe treasure hunters digging these places scouring for treasures. To the best of my knowledge, nothing was found.👇

 

Fort Ramparts.

This fort has tall, strong walls made of granite blocks and the topmost 20% is made of bricks and concrete. Interestingly, only the bastions have embrasures for firing. The main walls are long and meandering however none of them have any crenalations/merlons. They do have loopholes (Slits) in the walls to fire at the approaching enemy 

Incidentally, each bastion 👆has two storage chambers on either side at the top. Logically it makes sense to store arms and other things from the wrath of the rain during wars 👇

I simply love the way the meandering walls envelope the hill 👆👇

Some of the bastions are squareish unlike the others that are circular 👆👇

Slits for Firing

As mentioned earlier, all the walls have slits and while most of the slits have a single loophole, there are many designed to have two or three with a common orifice. These provide increased range for firing

 

Single Slits 👆👇

Approaching the point of 3-slit loophole 👆👇

 

 

Three-way slit 👆👇

Sally Ports: 

Bhasmangi Fort too has Sally Ports (tunnels) that go under the fort wall. In some places one has to crawl in all fours to go through it or else bend and walk. 

Crumbling Walls

In many places the walls have crumbled. I am assuming the weather played it's part. Remember, this is a fort that is at least 300 years old. 

Other parts of the fort 

Me at Bhasamangi Fort 

Miscellaneous information

• Nearest Petrol Bunk & Puncture Shop: SIra Town (20 km away)
• Nearest Hotel: Plenty of Eateries on Bangalore-Pune highway (aka Tumkur Road)      Road. Sira town has only limited options. 
• Nearest Police Station: Sira Town
• Local Hotels for Stay: SIra Town 

Pros:

a)  a) Easy to approach with ample parking place at the foot of the hill.
b)  Safe: I have been there only once and have not encountered any hostility or faced any shady characters. 
c)  No commercialization: Simply put – no ‘parking or entry’ fees, No solicitations for donations,  no monkeys...empty
  

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/VLtSinaFeoXK2wgy9