One cannot traverse the monotonous journey towards the Bangalore International Airport along National Highway No 7, without catching a glimpse of this majestic-looking fort.
It is located in Devanahalli, 35 kms from Bangalore.
The citadel, popularly called Devanahalli Kote (Devenahalli Fort) stands a solemn witness to the rapid and unprecedented growth of Bangalore, greeting thousands of commuters that rush past.
Coming closer to the fort, you will be mesmerised with the workmanship.
As many as 12 semicircular bastions at regular intervals span the roughly oval east fortification covered with dressed masonry.
A spacious parapet is provided towards the inner side of the fortification.
Cut plasterwork decorate the entrances of the fort at the east and west.
The entrances are quite small, comfortable enough for the horses.
The parapet is provided with gun points built with lime and brick.
Kannan, the priest of the Venugopalaswamy temple in the fort, narrated the history of the place.
“Devanahalli history dates back to 15th century, when a family of fleeing refugees from Kanjeevaram, camped near the foot of Ramaswami betta, east of Nandi Hills.
One night their leader dreamt that there were seven vessels of gold and jewelry, an idol of Venugopala Swamy and Thimarayana Swam in the anthill close to the camp and instructed him to install the idols.
They dug out the treasure and installed Thimarayana Swami in Gauthama Giri Beta (hill) and proceeded to this place that came to be called Devanahalli later,” he said.
The area came under a Feudal Lord called Deve Gowda, who granted permission for installing the idol and building a fort on the condition the place would be named after him.
Accordingly, in 1501, a mud fort was built by Mallabairegowda in 1501 spread over 20 acres and the town was named ‘Devadanahalli’ or ‘Devanahalli.
’ The fort remained with his descendants until mid-18th Century and in 1749, the then Dalwai of Mysore, Nanjarajaiah, occupied it.
In the years that followed, the fort was conquered regularly by the Marathas, the Mysore kingdom and the British under Lord Cornwallis.
Later, the fort passed into the hands of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who re-built the fort with stones in the form that it stands now.
Tipu and Hyder Ali’s houses and Dewan Purnaiah, a high-ranking official in Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan’s court lived also exists till date.
As one enters the fort area, green fences demarcate the temple areas.
On the right is the famous Venu Gopalaswamy Temple which has a traditional courtyard with a ‘Garuda Stamba’ with the walls showing scenes from the Ramayana and also the antics of Lord Krishna as a child.
The sculptures within the temple are in the lines of those found in Halebid and Belur (Hoysala style).
There are two horsemen that are shown standing at the entrance.
There is a Garbagriha within which has a lovely image of Venugopala in true Vijaynagara style.
A shikhara made on the lines of the Dravidian architecture is found over the temple.
There is a Navaranga which has four black stoned pillars and has the best relief sculptures everywhere.
There are figures of dancing females, musicians, a conch blower, a huntress who is shown removing a thorn in her leg.
Then there is another unique painting about the kinnara with the lower half of the body in bird form.
A few yards away from the Venugopalaswamy temple is Siddalingeshwara temple, Raghavendraswamy Math and another age old temple, Chandramouleshwara Temple.
It has a spacious inner prakara is built in Vijayanagara style.
On the left of the main road stands another temple dedicated to Anjaneya known as Sarovaranjaneya temple.
The Nanjundeshwara temple, regarded as the oldest temple in the town, is a small building with two sanctum sanctorums in a line and a common navaranga.
Half a kilometre outside the fort towards the Devanahalli town, you will be greeted by an Archeological Survey of India (ASI) board that protects the Tipu Sultan’s birthplace.
There stands a memorial with a small plaque that states Tipu Sultan was born here in 1751.
It is about six feet (2 m) tall with a pillared enclosure and square top and bears a stone tablet.
The area around the memorial has banana, tamarind and mango plantations.
As you move away, you marvel at the spirit of the formidable structure that has stood defiant for centuries, a mute spectator to many trails, tribulations and trysts of destiny.
HOW TO REACH
Devanahalli Fort is located near Bangalore city on the Hyderabad Bangalore on the National Highway NO.7.
Just before the Bengaluru International Airport, you will find the Devanahalli fort on the left.
It is visible from the high way if you are watchful enough.
*Eateries around: On the way to Devanahalli Fort you fi nd several hotels, cafes and eateries but near the fort there are no eating joints.
*Distance: From Bangalore Railway Station to Devanahalli Fort is around 36 kms and it takes 45 minutes to reach the place.
*Directions: Travel on Bellary Road(NH-7) to reach Mekhri Circle. 9 kms from here is Yelahanka.
Proceed straight ahead for 29 kms till you reach outskirts of Devenahalli town.
Turn left at a junction with a circle and half-a-km from here is Tipu’s birthplace and then the fort.
*Mass transport: From Kempegowda Bus stand (Majestic) to Devanahalli town.
*BMTC Volvo AC buses, BMTC Suvarna Buses
*On reaching Devanahalli bus stand take an autorikshaw to the fort