>Utcursch at 11:47, 26 February 2020

2020-02-26T11:47:07Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort
|native_name =
|alternate_name =
|image =
|alt =
|caption = Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort
|map_type = India
|map_alt =
|map_size = 250px
|coordinates = {{coord|13|44|35|N|76|54|50|E|display=inline,title}}
|location =[[Sira, India|Sira]], [[Tumkur district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]
|region =
|type = Fortification
|part_of =
|length =
|width =
|area = {{Convert|197.5|acre}}
|height =
|builder =
|material =
|built = 17th century
|abandoned = ruins
|epochs = 
|cultures =
|dependency_of =
|occupants =
|event =
|excavations =
|archaeologists =
|condition =
|ownership = Nayakas of Chitradurga
|management =
|public_access =
|website = 
|notes =
}}
The '''Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort''' in [[Sira, India|Sira]] in [[Tumkur district]] of [[Karnataka]] is named after the Nayaka ruler [[Nayakas of Chitradurga|Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka]], who had ruled over Sira in the early 17th century as a [[palegar]] under the [[Vijayanagar Empire]]. After their rule, the fort and the [[Province of Sira]] came under the control of several rulers.<ref name=Deccan/><ref name=City/><ref name=Keep/> Restoration works have been carried out by the Archaeology Department of Karnataka.<ref name=Restore/>

==Location==
The Nayaka Fort is located in the Sira town in Tumkur district of Karnataka. It is located on the [[National Highway 234 (India)(old numbering)|NH-4]] ([[Pune]] – [[Chennai]]) and [[NH-234]] ([[Mangalore]] – [[Villupuram]]). It is {{Convert|123| km}} from [[Bengaluru]].<ref name=City/><ref name="Michell2013">{{cite book|author=George Michell|title=Southern India: A Guide to Monuments Sites & Museums|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdBbBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT192|date=1 May 2013|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=978-81-7436-903-1|pages=192–}}</ref>

==History==
History of building the fort is traced to the early 17th century when Nayakas (Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka) ruled over Sira as a fiefdom under the Vijayanagara Empire. He laid the foundation for the Sira town and the fort. The site was selected as auspicious on the basis of a good omen of a hare chasing the hound, a common legend of the times in the building of many forts in India.<ref name="Rice2001">{{cite book|author=B. L. Rice|title=Mysore: A Gazetteer Compiled for Government|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0wSoEIub1YC&pg=PA198|date=February 2001|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0977-8|pages=198–99}}</ref> The foundation of Sira is also based upon this legend.<ref name="Rice2001"/> Before the fort was completed, Sira and its fiefdoms were captured by an army sent by the Bijapuri general Randullah Khan. A force led by his subordinate [[Afzal Khan (general)|Afzal Khan]] defeated and killed and the Sira chief Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka.<ref name="SatyanarayanaMuseums1996">{{cite book|author1=A. Satyanarayana|author2=Karnataka (India). Directorate of Archaeology & Museums|title=History of the Wodeyars of Mysore, 1610–1748|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jduAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Directorate of Archaeology and Museums}}</ref> Malik Husen, who was the then made the governor, completed the construction of the fort and also built a mud wall enclosing the town.<ref name=City/><ref name="Rice2001"/><ref name=Keep>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Centrepromises-to-keep-Sira-Fort-safe/articleshow/50386596.cms|title=Centre promises to keep Sira Fort safe|date=31 December 2015|accessdate=3 April 2016|newspaper=Bangalore Mirror}}</ref>

Sira, according to a time line, was under the reign of [[Vijayanagara Empire]] (1638 to 1687), the [[Adil Shahi]] of [[Bijapur Sultanate]], the [[Mughal Empire]] (1687 to 1757) and [[Maratha]] (1757 to 1759 and 1766, the [[Wodeyars of Mysore|Wadeyars]] (1799 to 1947) and the [[British Raj]] (until 1947).<ref name=Deccan>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Dec242007/district2007122442860.asp|title=Plea to protect Sira fort|date=24 February 2007|accessdate=3 April 2016|newspaper=Deccan Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414181400/http://archive.deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Dec242007/district2007122442860.asp|archive-date=14 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=City>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siracity.mrc.gov.in/tourism|title=Sira|accessdate=3 April 2016|publisher=Sira Municipal Administration}}</ref><ref name=Restore>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/sira-fort-restoration-rankles-activists/article7126958.ece|title=Sira fort restoration rankles activists|date=22 April 2015|accessdate=3 April 2016|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref>

==Features==
The fort, made of stone and bricks, is spread over an area of {{Convert|197.5|acre}} and has many historic monuments which need to be conserved.<ref name=Deccan/> The fort was enclosed by a [[moat]] and a well-made [[glacis]] also formed part of the fortifications.<ref name="Rice2001"/>

==Restoration==
The restoration works undertaken on the fort by the Archaeological Department of Karnataka, particularly of the ramparts and other works made of stone and bricks were carried out initially with the use of bulldozers. The brick and masonry work were destroyed irretrievably and gun positions had been closed. According to the [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage|INTACH]] expert, international procedures and guidelines prescribed in [[Archaeological Survey of India|ASI]] manuals prescribed for such restoration works had not been followed. However, the local Archaeology Conservation Engineer defending his work said the brick layer (1.5 inches thick) removed was too thin to be retrieved and not available in the market and that the outer layer would be restored with older bricks and the original openings of placement of gun and canons would be restored fully including repair of parapet walls. Following the objections, use of heavy machinery for restoration was stopped.<ref name=Restore/> Another issue which was affecting the fort was widening of the National Highway 234. This was resolved by the Government of India by keeping a safe margin of {{Convert|90| m}} between the fort boundary and the highway.<ref name=Keep/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Forts in Karnataka]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tumkur district]]

Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka Fort - Revision history

>Utcursch at 11:47, 26 February 2020