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{{Infobox military installation
|name = Bellary Fort
|partof = [[Bellary]]
|location = [[Bellary district|Bellary]], karnataka, India
|image = [[File:Bellary Fort3.jpg|300px]]
|caption = Ramparts of the Fort
|map_type = Karnataka
|map_size = 300
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates = {{coord|15.15|76.933|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|code =
|built = 16th century
|builder = Hanumappa Nayakar, feudatory of [[Vijaynagar Empire]],
|materials = [[Granite]] [[rock (geology)|Stones]] and [[mud]]
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = [[Ruins]]
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = [[Government of Karnataka]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles = Several
|events =
|image2 = [[File:A passage through the rocks leading to the upper fort of Bellary..jpg|300px]]
|caption2 = Rock-scattered passage to Upper Fort
}}

The '''Bellary Fort''' ("Bellary Kote") was built on top of a hill called the "Ballari Gudda" or the Fort Hill. It is situated in the historic city of [[Bellary]], in the [[Bellary district]], in [[Karnataka]] state, India. It was built in two parts namely, the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort. The Upper Fort was built by Hanumappa Nayaka, a feudatory of [[Vijayanagara Empire]], but the Lower Fort was built by [[Hyder Ali]] in later part of the 18th century.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer">{{cite book |last =Cotton |first =James Sutherland|title =The Imperial Gazetteer of India | volume=7| publisher=Clarendon Press|date=1908–1931 |orig-year=vol. 1, 1909| location = Oxford |pages =158–176| url =https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_168.gif&volume=7}}</ref>
<ref name= balla>{{cite web |url = http://www.slothbearfoundation.org/bellary.html |title = Sloth Bear Foundation |access-date = 2009-09-08 |publisher = Slothbearfoundation.org/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081011231334/http://www.slothbearfoundation.org/bellary.html |archive-date = 11 October 2008 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

A French engineer was the architect and builder of the Lower Fort. He refurbished the Upper Fort also. After the forts were completed, Haider Ali found that the forts built were at a lower elevation vis-a-vis an opposite hill called the 'Kumbara Gudda', thus putting the new forts militarily at a strategic disadvantage. As a result, Haider Ali was annoyed with this lapse and it is said that he ordered hanging of the French engineer at the east gate of the fort. The French engineer's grave, dated 1769 (inscribed as unknown French Engineer), is located at the east gate of the fort and has been preserved due to efforts of local Muslims who also claim that it was the tomb that belonged to a Muslim saint.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer"/><ref name="balla"/><ref name=Barry>{{cite web| last = Lewis| first = Barry| title = Bellary District Graves| work = Tomb at the East Fort Gate, Bellary| url = https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/blewis/www/Bellary.htm| archive-url = https://archive.today/20121212174315/https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/blewis/www/Bellary.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2012-12-12| access-date = 2009-09-09}}</ref>

The forts have fine ramparts with a rich history with several historical and religious monuments. A citadel was in the upper fort with several ancient tanks while the lower fort on the east housed the [[arsenal]].<ref name =citadel>{{cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019wdz000000516u00000000.html|title= View of the N. and E. faces of the citadel at Bellary; Hindus worshipping at a shrine in the foreground|access-date=2009-09-08|publisher = On Line Gallery of British Library}}</ref>

==Legends==
There are several legends attributed to Bellary, the city where the fort is located.

A mythological legend states that the city is named after [[Indra]], the king of gods, who destroyed the [[Rakshasa]] (demon) ‘'Balla'’ who resided in the area.<ref name= balla/>

Another ancient legend links this place to some events in the epic [[Ramayana]]. It is said that [[Rama]] while searching for [[Sita]] met [[Sugreeva]] and [[Hanuman]] at a place near [[Hampi]], {{convert|30|km|mi}}, from Bellary, the celebrated capital of the [[Vijayanagara Empire]].<ref name=bellary/>

The historically linked legend states that Bellary is the name derived from the old [[Kannada]] word "Vallari" and "Vallapuri". An inscription from the time of the rule of [[Western Ganga Dynasty|Ganga Dynasty]] of [[Talakad]], testifies to the territory of Sindha [[Vishaya]], which today consists of Bellary and [[Dharwad district]]s. In the [[Hoysala]] period, the dynasty of "Bellariya Naredu" had sovereignty over Bellary when it was known as Kuntala Desha, though it subsequently came to be known by the name 'Vallari-Vallapuri'.<ref name= balla/>

==Geography==
The fort and the town are located around two prominent and large rocky granite hills: the ''Ballari Gudda (ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿ ಗುಡ್ಡ)'' (with the fort built on this hill) and ''Kumbara Gudda (ಕುಂಬಾರ ಗುಡ್ಡ)'' (''Gudda'' means "hill" in Kannada). The two hills provide the dominant backdrop to the city, and can be seen from all parts of the city. Apart from these two hills, there are smaller hills such as the ''Kaate Gudda (ಕಾಟೇ ಗುಡ್ಡ)'' (near the present Municipal Junior College), the ''Eeshwara Gudda (ಈಶ್ವರ ಗುಡ್ಡ)'' (behind the Anaadi Lingeshwara Temple), one hill adjacent to the St. John's High School in the Fort Area and another hill near to the Bellary Central Jail. The fort located on the Ballari Gudda, on a spur of the Sandur range at the border of Karnataka and [[Andhra Pradesh]] has abundant [[granite]] outcrops. There is hardly any vegetation on the barren rocky countryside. The fort has a commanding view of the plains that form the present day Bellary town.<ref name =citadel/> The terrain in and around the Bellary fort consists of granite rocks, which rises suddenly above the plains in the form of a very large mountain. The semi-elliptical shape of the hill has a longer northern side vis-a-vis the southern side. The rock formations consist of a mixture of granite with [[felspar]] in large rhomboidal prismatic form. This type of rock creates a strong reflection of the Sun's rays causing very hot climatic conditions in the fort and the town (Bellary is considered one of the hottest places in India). The climatic condition of the place is explained as hot and arid, but is stated to be healthy weather.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"><nowiki>https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V07_181.gif</nowiki> "imperial-gazetteer" p.175</ref><ref name =photo>{{cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/b/019pho0000212s6u00033000.html|title= View of the N. and E. faces of the citadel at Bellary; Hindus worshipping at a shrine in the foreground|access-date=2009-09-08|publisher =On Line Gallery of British Library}}</ref>

==History==
[[Bellary]] town and the district has a hoary history dating from 300 BC till 1365 AD, the beginning of the Vijayanagar empire. It was ruled by [[Mauryas]], [[Satavahanas]], [[Kadambas]], [[Chalukyas]] of [[Kalyana]], Kalachuryas, [[Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri|Sevunas]] and [[Hoysalas]].<ref name= balla/><ref name=bellary>{{cite web|url = http://www.kar.nic.in/bellary/profile.htm|title = Bellary District – A Profile|access-date = 2009-09-09|publisher = National Informatics Centre|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090503190141/http://www.kar.nic.in/bellary/profile.htm|archive-date = 3 May 2009}}</ref> But the specific history of the fort (Upper Fort) starts with the rule of the chieftain named Hanumappa Nayaka, a feudatory of the Vijayanagar empire, who built the Upper Fort. With the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, the area witnessed political upheaval till the British took control of the region, around 1800 AD.<ref name=bellary/> The region subsequently came under the control of the [[Bijapur Sultans]]. [[Shivaji]], who during one of his campaigns was passing through the fort seized the fort, in 1678, as some of his advance scouting parties were ambushed by the garrison stationed in the fort. He later restored the fort on condition of tribute payment. Under force, in 1761, the fort came under the control of Basalat Jung of [[Adoni]]. The Nayaka chieftain of the fort quarrelled with Basalat Jung and refused to pay the tribute money. The Nayaka sought the help of Haider Ali of [[Kingdom of Mysore|Mysooru (Mysore)]] to attack the Adoni Sultan. Haider Ali convincingly defeated the Adonis. But subsequently, Haider Ali himself usurped the fort and the region. It was during his time that the Upper Fort was restored and the Lower Fort was newly constructed with the help of a French engineer.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

Bellary was a stronghold of Haidar Ali after he overthrew the local chieftains. He surprised the forces sent by Nizam under the military command of a Frenchman named M. de Lally and besieged the fort and took total control.<ref name=Oswell>{{Cite book |last=Oswell |first= George Devereux |title= Sketches of Rulers of India, Volume 4 |work=Haider Ali and Tippu Sultan |page= 172 |access-date=2009-09-09 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=emNSY_b42KgC&dq=Bellary+Fort&pg=PA172 |publisher=BiblioBazaar, LLC |year=2009 |isbn= 978-1-103-10880-0}}</ref> But after the defeat of [[Tipu Sultan]], Hyder Ali's son, at the hands of the British during the [[Third Anglo-Mysore War]], the territory was divided and the Bellary district with the fort was given to the then [[Nizam]] [[Asaf ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang|Salabat Jang]]. After the defeat and death of Tippu Sultan in 1799 in the [[Fourth Anglo-Mysore War]] at [[Battle of Seringapatam|Srirangapattanam (Seringapatam)]], the Mysore territories were further divided up between the [[Wodeyar]]s, Asaf Jah II and the British. In 1796 AD, Asaf Jah II, harassed by the Marathas and Tipu Sultan, had opted to get British military protection under [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Lord Wellesley's]] doctrine of [[Subsidiary alliance|Subsidiary Alliance]]. Now, as part of this agreement, the Asif Jah II ceded a large portion of the acquired territory, including Bellary, to the British, to be added to the [[Madras Presidency]] as 'Bellary District'.<ref>"imperial-gazetteer" p.162</ref> This area was also known as the [[Ceded Districts]] (see map at<ref>{{cite web| title = Historical Atlas of India: India Map in 1805|last =Joppen|first = Charles|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co.| url = http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00maplinks/colonial/joppenearly1800s/joppen1805max.jpg|access-date=2009-09-09}}</ref>), a term constantly used then for the areas, and was considerably larger than the present [[Bellary district|district]], including the present districts of [[Cuddapah District|Kadapa (Cuddapah)]], [[Anantapur district|Anantapuram]] and much of [[Kurnool district|Karnoolu (Kurnool)]]. This was also a deal or an agreement that was meant to compensate the company for the expenses they incurred to maintain the British Subsidiary Force at [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]].<ref name =citadel/><ref>"imperial-gazetteer" p.176</ref>

The fort was classified as ''1st class'' by the British Administration.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~poyntz/India/images/Presidencies1893.jpg|title = Military map of India in 1893, showing the Presidency boundaries|access-date =2009-09-09}}</ref> This fort gave Bellary its ancient importance, and led to its selection by the British rulers as the site of a [[cantonment]].<ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

Muzzaffar Khan, the [[Nawab of Kurnool]], was confined here from 1823 to 1864 for the murder of his wife.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer"/><ref name= balla/>

==Fort structure==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:40%; float:right; font-size:90%; border:2px solid orange;"
|+ Artist's views of Bellary Fort in the 19th century
| style="width:40%; text-align:center;"|[[File:View of the N. and E. faces of the citadel at Bellary; Hindus worshipping at a shrine in the foreground.jpg|right|200px]]
| style="width:40%; text-align:center;"|[[File:Bellary Rock and Fort.jpg|200px]]
|-
|valign="top"| N. and E. faces of the citadel at [[Bellary]]; [[Hindus]] worshipping at a shrine in the foreground
|valign="top"| [[Bellary]] Rock and Fort
|}
The fort has two parts, one is the ancient Upper Fort built during the Vijayanagar reign and the other is the Lower Fort built during Haider Ali's rule. The Upper Fort was called the Fort Hill. The Lower Fort was called the Face Hill, since some of the rocks in the fort area resembled the face of a human being.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

The Upper Fort ({{coord|15.148|N|76.9108|E}}[http://www.wikimapia.org/164434 wikimapia]) houses the citadel, at the summit of the spur of the Ballar Gudda with a three-tier fortification, one below the other. It is at an elevation {{convert|1976|ft|m}} m.s.l. It is quadrangular in plan, with a circumference of about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}}, and rises by about {{cvt|460|ft|m}} above the plains below; it can be accessed only through a winding rocky path amongst scattered boulders, which was considered impregnable. On the top, outside the citadel, is a small temple, the remains of some cells and several deep pools of water. Within the citadel, there are several strongly constructed buildings, and an ample water supply from reservoirs constructed in the clefts of the rocks.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer"/> There are no garrisons in this fort. It contains several cisterns, which have been excavated in the rocks to provide for water storage. Outside the turreted ramparts is a ditch and a covered passage. The main turret on the east currently features a huge [[mural]] of the [[Indian Flag]], facing east.<ref name= balla/><ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

The Lower fort, ({{coord|15.1453|N|76.9158|E}} [http://www.wikimapia.org/4930237 wikimapia]), located at the eastern base of the rock, is about {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} in diameter. It probably had an arsenal and barracks in the past. The fort structure is encircled by ramparts with numerous bastions surrounded by a deep ditch and glacis. The lower fort has two entrance gates; one on the western end and the other on the eastern side. Just outside the eastern gate of the lower fort is a temple dedicated to [[Hanuman]] – the Kote [[Anjaneya]] Temple (Kote (ಕೋಟೆ) – fort in Kannada).<ref name="imperial-gazetteer"/> In the past. the lower fort was inhabited by people who had flocked here seeking protection. During the British period, more buildings were added namely the Commissariat stores, the Protestant church, orphanage, Masonic lodge, post-office, and numerous private dwellings. At present, it houses a number of public buildings, offices, educational institutions, temples and churches.<ref name= balla/><ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

The impressive fort is illuminated during Sundays and holidays of state and national importance.<ref name=taluk>{{cite web|url=http://www.bellary.nic.in/BelProf.htm|title=Bellary taluk profiles|access-date=2009-09-09|publisher=National Informatics centre|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721163310/http://www.bellary.nic.in/BelProf.htm|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Access==
The fort is well connected by road, rail and air transport facilities linking all parts of the country; all linked to the Bellary city where the fort is located.

National Highways (NH 13 & NH 63) and State Highway road networks provide an excellent net work of road communications in the district and to the town.<ref name=bellary/> It is located at {{convert|300|km|mi}} from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state. Distances to other important towns around Bellary are: Chennai – {{convert|304|km|mi}}, [[Hadagali]] – {{convert|148|km|mi}}, [[Hospet]] – {{convert|63|km|mi}}, H.B.Halli – {{convert|100|km|mi}}, Hampi – {{convert|75|km|mi}}, Hyderabad – {{convert|367|km|mi}}, [[Kudligi]] – {{convert|85|km|mi}}, Pune – {{convert|336|km|mi}}, [[Sandur, India|Sandur]] – {{convert|63|km|mi}} and Siriguppa – {{convert|60|km|mi}}.<ref name=transport>{{cite web|url= http://bellary.nic.in/transport.htm|title= Bellary Transportation|publisher= Bellary District Administration|access-date= 2009-09-08|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090619075508/http://www.bellary.nic.in/transport.htm|archive-date= 19 June 2009|url-status= dead}}</ref>

The city has two railway stations, both built during the British rule – the City station (''Bellary Junction'') and the Cantonment station (''Cantonment''). Railway links available are the [[Hubli]]-[[Guntakal]] line and the extended Bellary-[[Rayadurgam]]-[[Chitradurga]] line and falls under the jurisdiction of [[South Western Railway zone|South Western Railway]]. Bellary is also well connected by Rail to [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], [[Raichur]], [[Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh|Anantapur]]am, [[Hindupur]]am, [[Tirumala - Tirupati|Tirupati]], [[Hubli|Hubballi]], Guntakal, [[Vijayawada]], [[Howrah]] etc. Guntakal is an important junction near Bellary from where trains to [[Delhi]], [[Chennai]], [[Mumbai]] and to most of the places in India are available.<ref name=transport/> In the past, during British rule, the Southern Mahratta Railway passed through the town connecting to [[Madras]] ( now [[Chennai]]) via Hubli on the west and Guntakal on the east.<ref name="imperial-gazetteer p.175"/>

The civilian [[Bellary Airport]] is located at the far end of the Cantonment area with regular flights operating from Bangalore and [[Goa]]. An [[air strip]] located at the [[Jindal Steel|Jindal Vijayanagar Steels]] complex, Toranagallu in [[Sandur, India|Sandur]] taluk, {{convert|40|km|mi}} from Bellary, is used by private airlines to operate [[sightseeing]] [[Charter#Charter flights|charter flights]] to [[Hampi]] and [[Mysore]] since October 2002.<ref name =Air>{{cite web|url = http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/hampi/|title = Hampi, World Heritage Site|publisher=Karnataka.com|access-date = 2009-09-08}}</ref>

==Gallery==
{{Commons category|Bellary Fort}}
<gallery>
File:Bellary Fort.jpg|View of Bellary Fort
File:Bellary Fort 1.jpg|Another view of the Fort
File:West View of Bellary Fort.jpg|Artist's West View of the Fort
File:Bellary Rock and Fort.jpg|Bellary Rock and fort
File:NE View of Bellary Fort.jpg|Artist's NE view of the Fort
File:E. View of Bellary Fort.jpg|Artist's E view of the Fort
File:Ballari-Fort-01.JPG|Entrance of Upper Fort
File:Ballari-Fort-02.JPG|Ballari Fort
File:Ballari-Fort-03.JPG|Details about Ballari Fort by Archaeological Survey of India
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

{{Forts in Karnataka}}
{{Forts in India}}

[[Category:16th-century forts in India]]
[[Category:Forts in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Bellary]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bellary district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ballari district]]

Bellary Fort - Revision history

Bot at 20:52, 13 October 2022