Jan 26, 2026

Devanahalli fort visit


Devanahalli Fort, built by Malla Baire Gowda in 1501 under the Vijayanagara Empire, started as a mud fort and was later rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali, becoming a key site for rulers like Tipu Sultan (who was born here) before being captured by the British under Lord Cornwallis in 1791 during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, marking centuries of shifts in power from local chieftains to Mysore rulers and European colonialists.

The fort is a 45 minutes drive from my home and today being a holiday was a perfect day for a quiet drive with my wife. The fort was a big disappointment. There was absolutely no maintenance and hardly anything for visitors. A building of 500 year old history definitely needs better respect.














2 comments:

  1. It must have been disheartening to stand in a place layered with five centuries of history and find it neglected, especially after making a quiet, hopeful journey there on a day meant for reflection rather than disappointment.

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