Gudibande (ಗುಡಿಬಂಡೆ)
also pronounced as Gudibanda is a hill fort in Chikkaballapur taluk.
It is approximately a two-hour drive from Mekhri Circle,
Bangalore. (I have used Mekhri Circle as a central location but your travel
time will vary depending on which part of Bangalore you stay, the traffic and
your speed of travel)
The fort is said to be 400 years old and was built by a local chieftain called Byre Gowda. It
is said to be inspired by Madhugiri Fort (in Tumkur District). It is a
multilayered fort comprising of seven tiers (although I did not count them to
ascertain this)
Unlike Nandi hills, there is
no direct road to the top. There are however, steps that have been laid out
that lead you all the way to the top. This begs the question what was it meant
for? Storage, defensive siege. The reason I raise this question is because
there is no way elephants or horses could have reached the top (or even the
early tiers) 👇
You will encounter abandoned
religious structures. And at the summit there is a Shiva-Parvati temple. 👇
Stone carvings of Lord Anjaneya are common in most forts
So what else is at the top? Well, there are many structures that have withstood the test of time. They protect from the elements (sunlight, rain etc.) and many also offer ample ventilation. However, it may be noted that I have not spent the night there so am not aware of the presence of any animals viz rats/bandicoots. 👇Any fort is required to have ample water to withstand a siege. In such forts, the water is generated either through springs or collected during the rains. This hill has many small water bodies and the water was very clear. Some ponds have fish in them 👇
Exploring the Ramparts:
Like most forts, this too has it's share of tiers, bastions and the walls have merlons, embrasures and crenellations to fire at the enemy without being hurt. Naturally, the walls have slits in them to fire arrows/guns. The walls are primarily made of granite stones but the uppermost layer is or brick and mortar. 👇
We found two such 'wheels' and a thirst one that was broken. Not sure what it was but certainly not for a 'Ratha'. Neither is there any ongoing sculpting activity going on so I am assuming that it was meant to ground flour 👇
Interestingly, this fort has many 'tunnels' that go under the fort wall. In many places one has to crawl in all fours to go through it or else bend and walk. My limited knowledge on fort architecture leads me to believe that that these are called 'Sally Ports' and may have been used to for the occasional person to escape or do a recce. These were nowhere near the fort entrance and scattered across the ramparts of the fort 👇
Read more about Sally Ports here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_port
Modern Rebuilding Attempts? Some part of this fort have a different style as evidenced by the walls below. Again, I can only assume that the locals have taken initiative to rebuild certain parts. See the pics below and judge for yourselves 👇
Scatterred trees growing on the walls, wild plants, beehives in the steep precipice. 👇
Miscellaneous information
- Nearest Petrol Bunk &
Puncture Shop: Gudibande Town (at the foot of the hill)
- Nearest Hotel: Plenty of
Eateries on Bellary Road. However, Gudibande town has sparse eating options and
only local cuisine
- Nearest Police Station:
Gudibande Town
- Local Hotels for Stay: None
when we had gone. It’s possible some may have opened now
Pros:
a) Easy to approach with ample parking place at
the foot of the hill.
b) Safe: I have been there times and have not
encountered any hostility or faced any shady characters. Many families come
here too
c) No commercialization: Simply put – no ‘parking
or entry’ fees, No solicitations for donations, no monkeys (thank
gawd)
The
reason I say all this is because 25 years ago Devarayanadurga was similar but
is now plagued with all these ills
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/DQw3V2775eJhZZDe9
Excellent!!!
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