Forgotten Devanahalli Fort near Bangalore International Airport

Last weekend was spent well exploring the forgotten Devanahalli Fort near Bangalore International airport. A majestic and imposing structure, its vicinity yet to be devoured by the land sharks. This 500 year old fort gained some importance recently and all because of the Kempegowda international airport coming up there, the historical relevance unfortunately lies covered in dust.

If you are a history buff and lover of forts include Devanahalli fort in your list of places to visit. Karnataka tourism has spruced up the place and it is worth making a day trip to this fort. There are lot of restaurants around the fort along the National Highway on which this fort is located.

Devanahalli Fort

A lone board stating the protected status of the monument stands there. So nothing should come up in and around 200meters of the monument, that is if all abide by the ‘Rule 32 of the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains, 1959’. Major part of the monument is in ruins, though some part of the structure has withstood the ravages of time.

Devanahalli Fort near Bangalore International Airport

Devanahalli Fort Bangalore International Airport

Devanahalli Fort Wall

History of Devenahalli Fort

It was built in 1501 by Mallebyre Gowda a chieftain under the king Immadi Narasimha of Saluva dynasty. The fort was under the control of Mallebyre Gowda‘s descendants till 1749 when the Dalawayi of Mysore, Nanjarajaiah, occupied it. Later the fort was taken over by Hyder Ali. After the Mysore war it passed on to the hands of Lord Cornwallis in the year 1791.

This place is historically significant for yet another reason, may be the most important of all – Tipu Sultan was born here in 1750. Hyder Ali and Dewan Purnaiah, the Dewan of Mysore too resided here.

Devanahalli Fort Bangalore International Airport

Devanahalli Fort near Bangalore International Airport

Mighty Walls of Devenahalli Fort

Walk on the walls of Devenahalli Fort, it is sure to give you goose bumps. I was imagining how many soldiers of Tipu Sultan must have lost their lives in this place, fighting valiantly against the troops of Lord Cornwallis. That was almost two centuries back.

The walls must have been stained by the blood of soldiers. There, on the walls of the fort were several holes running through the entire thickness of the wall. The soldiers must have aimed at the enemies inserting their guns and cannons through these holes.

We walked through the semi circular part of the fort wall which withstood the ravages of time till now. The view around from that height is great.

Devanahalli Fort Bangalore International Airport

The thick fort wall, even the longest arm can’t reach the other side.

Devanahalli Fort wall Arrowslit

Can you guess what the above shot is about? Yes, it is tunnel sort of thing… you can see the fields on other side… Any guess to what structure it can belong to?

There are four holes in this. The holes run through the entire thickness of the fort walls of Devanahalli. I am sure you can guess the purpose of these holes.

Walls of Devanahalli Fort

The valiant soldiers of Tipu Sultan once inserted their guns and canons through these holes (arrowslit)to take aim at the advancing troops of Lord Cornwallis. In 1791, Lord Cornwallis laid siege to the fort and took possession of it during the Mysore War.

Devanahalli Fort Arrowslit

View of Devanahalli Fort Battlefield

Two centuries back, the warfare technology was nothing great… yet from these walls one can make out the amount of designing that must have gone in to making them, the strategy they must have used to attack the advancing armies.

Each soldier could aim in four different directions standing in one position. The soldiers on this side of the fort were shielded well from the enemies’ onslaught by the thick fort wall. If anything could have defeated them, it may have been the numbers at the other side.

With a large army, Cornwallis marched through Vellore and Ambure to Bangalore. He captured Bangalore in 1791…

Devanahalli Fort near Bangalore International Airport
Pillars on Devanahalli Fort wall

Devanahalli Fort Wall ends here
Devanahalli Fort abruptly ends here.

Living Fort – The Devanahalli Fort

Inside the lofty walls of the fort is a small town similar to that you will find in a picture book of Malgudi Days. There are many temples some very old, some not so old and some just under construction. Temples there are dedicated to Venugopalswamy, Ranganatha, Chandramouleshwara and many other Gods and Goddesses too. More about the temples in another post here: Temples within Devanahalli Fort

Temple inside Devanahalli Fort

The 20 acres of land inside the fort is divided and owned by many private owners. Have a look at the various sites and the site holders’ names in the Wiki Map of the Fort. Soon these land owners will fall prey to the tempting offers of reputed builders. Then all you will find inside the granite walled fort will be high rise apartments, shopping malls and multiplexes.

Till then every proud Bangalorean should visit the place to pass on the heritage and legacy of the place to the future generations.

Inside Devanahalli Fort

Tickets and Timings

The fort is open throughout the day. No tickets are required. You can enter it for free. You will need one to two hours to tour the fort.

How to reach Devanahalli Fort

After you land at Kempegowda International Airport, don’t zoom off to the Bangalore city to attend meetings; instead start off in the opposite direction on Bellary road. Drive for 10 km and you are sure to hit the fort. Those of you who are in Bangalore, take the Bellary Road, it is 45 km from the city.

Interested in trekking forts? Here are more – Top 10 Forts in Bangalore

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Devanahalli Fort Bangalore Karnataka India

(This post was first published on May 8th, 2008.)

Visit to Temples in Devanahalli Fort Town, Bangalore
Revival of Manas National Park by Maozigendri Ecotourism Society

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