Discover Forts of Karnataka

Nagara  Nagara is a small town in Malenad region of Karnataka. It is 17 km from Hosanagar and 83 km from Shivamogga. It was called Bidanur  ( Bidanoor ) earlier during the 16th century, this was the last capital city of the Nayakas of Keladi .     Entrance to the fort  It is scenic almost throughout the year particularly during the monsoon season, it will be like fully green. However, I had gone there in peak summer hence the pictures have a warm, yellowish hue. The fort is built on a small hill, beside a lake. The fort has a system to circulate water around it for safety. On the hill, within the fort, there are ruins of what was a Darbar Hall (King's Court), remains of a palace, two tanks called Akka Thangi Kola  (Tanks of two sisters), and a lone cannon lying on the ground. Devaganga tank is a cluster of seven tanks for bathing.  Nagara  in Kannada  language means city . The fort is amidst green thick forests which are (sadly) giving w...

  Pavagada Fort – The Sentinel of the Eastern Frontier Rising dramatically above the dry plains of eastern Karnataka, Pavagada Fort stands as a silent witness to more than four centuries of warfare, political intrigue, and shifting empires. Perched atop a massive granite hill, the fort dominates the surrounding landscape, its rugged silhouette visible from miles away. Fort View Majestic Boulders The fort hill rises to roughly 3,400 feet above sea level , making it one of the more prominent hill forts in this part of Karnataka. Today, Pavagada is a bustling taluk town in Tumakuru district, but its origins are deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of the post-Vijayanagara period. The fort was constructed in 1586 by Ballappa Nayaka (also known as Mallappa Nayaka), a local chieftain who served under the Aravidu dynasty—the last ruling lineage of the once-mighty Vijayanagara Empire. As imperial authority weakened following the Battle of Talikota, regional Nayakas emerged as powe...

Nijagal Betta has got to be the closest, simplest, and fastest getaway from Bangalore. It is located after Dobbespet on the Bangalore-Tumkur highway (aka Tumkur Road). It is fairly isolated and yet safe.  Parking your vehicle on the highway is not an issue and you can always have a steaming cappuccino at the CCD at the foothill to pump up your energy.    View from the foot of the hill  G Coming to the fort, the place is also known as 'Hale Nijagal' which translates to 'Old Nijagal'. Although it may not inspire awe compared to its neighbors such as Channarayana Durga, Devarayanadurga, and Madhugiri, it does have its own aura when viewed from the highway as it stands tall upon the hill    I first explored this hill fort in 1992. At that time, it had an upcoming dargah as well as some old temples in ruins. Now, after 30 years, some more pucca mosques have come up and there seems to be electrical connectivity. Having said that, the place still retains its ...