Chapter - V

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CHAPTER-V

MILITARY ARCHITECTURE UNDER HAIDER ALI AND

TIPU SULTAN

Evolution of Fort

Forts are military constructions or buildings designed for the defense of

territories in warfare, and also used to solidify rule in a region during peace

time. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years,

in a variety of increasingly complex designs. The term is derived from the

Latin fortis ("strong") and facere ("to make").

From very early history to modern times, walls have been a necessity for

cities to survive in an ever changing world of invasion and conquest. Some

settlements in the Indus Valley Civilization were the first cities (They were

very small in comparison to later, major cities) to be fortified. In ancient

Greece, large stone walls had been built in Mycenaean Greece, such as the

ancient site of Mycenae (famous for the huge stone blocks of its 'cyclopean'

walls). A Phrourion was a fortified collection of buildings being used as a

military garrison and is the equivalent of the Roman castellum or English

fortress. These construction mainly served the purpose of a watch tower, to

guard certain roads, passes, and lands detrimental to the kingdom. Though

smaller than a real fortress, these constructions acted as a border guard rather

than a real strongpoint to watch and maintain the border.

Forts in ancient India

Three major methods were used for the construction of ancient Indian

forts. The first consisted of earthen ramparts. Often they were constructed of

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the sand which was dug out of the ditch surrounding the fort. The second of

rubble with earth on the outside which was more sturdy. The third type of

construction was with stone and masonry work. The last was the strongest.

Often materials from demolished forts were reused in the building of new

forts.1

By 4 BCE, fortified cities were common in India. The largest ones were

between the city of Mathura (on the Yamuna river) and Magadha (on the

Ganges). Another series of forts in the south, was on the Ujjain(on the

Narmada) leading into the Deccan. These are inferred by the remains of fort

walls and bastions seen on excavation at Rajagriha and at several sites in the

Gangetic plain notably Kaushambi. At the latter site huge walls of burnt brick,

which look like they have been battered. There does not seem to be any formal

planning of these forts.

There are few descriptions of these ancient structures. The most noted is

the one by Megasthenes, an ambassador of Seleucus I Nicator to the court

ofChandragupta Maurya. He describes Pataliputra as being guarded by a ditch

with wooden walls. The fort had 570 towers and 54 gates with colonnaded

halls decorated with gold and silver. One such hall has been excavated and is

one of the oldest stone structures in India.

Types of Ancient Indian Forts

Though most of the structures have been decayed and are lost, India's

legacy of ancient forts is seen mostly in the shastras (ancient Indian treatises)

and in the reliefs on stupas. On some of the early relief work, the carvings

1 WILKS, Mark. Historical Sketches of the South of India in an Attempt to Trace the History

of Mysoor: Mysore: Government Branch Press,1930-1932.[vol-II] pp-495-500 .

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indicate that ancient Indian forts has crenallations, embrasures and sloping

walls. The Arthashastra the Indian treatise on military strategy describes six

major types of forts differentiated by their major mode of defense.

Detail on stupa at Sanchi showing evidence of crenallations andembrasures

Jal durg:a fortress surrounded by water, also known as audaka-

durga and ab-durga. There are two subtypes - the island fortress,

or antardvipa-durga, and the plain fortress or sthala-durga. The sea or

the waters of a river wash the first like Murud-Janjira.The latter is

encircled with artificial moats filled with water or irrigated by a river.

Plain fortresses are naturally much more common.

Giri durgs: Giri-durga, or parvata-durga, is a hill or mountain fortress.

There are three varieties: prantara-durga, giri-parshva-durga and guha-

durga. Prantara-durga is a fortress built on the summit (usually flat) of

a hill or a mountain. Ingiri-parshva-durga both major civilian structures

and fortifications extend down the slope of a hill or mountain though the

summit is certainly included into the defence system, too. The living

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quarters of a guha-durga fortress are situated in a valley surrounded by

high, impassable hills. The hills house a chain of outposts and signal

towers connected by extensive defensive walls.

Vana durg or vrikshya-durga, would be surrounded on all sides with a

dense, impassable forest over a distance of at least 4 kroshas(14.6 km).

Variations were the khanjana-durga, built on fens and encircled with

thorny woods, and the sthambha-durga, erected in the jungles among

high trees but lacking sufficient sources of water.

Dhanu durg Dhanvana, dhanva, or maru-durga are desert fortresses,

usually to be found in an arid area bare of trees, grass or sources of water

over a distance of no less than 5 yojanas (73 km), hence its other

name, nirudaka-durga, or waterless fortress. An airina-durga is built on

saline soil of barren tract or on fens impregnated with saline water and

protected by the thorny bushes that grow there.

Mahi durg There are three types of mahi-durga or earth fortress. Mrid-

durga are encircled with earthen walls; the approaches to panka-

durga are protected by fens or quicksand; and parigha-durga are

surrounded by walls made of earth and stone or brick, their height

exceeding 5.4m and their width constituting half of the height.

Nar durg or fortress with men, was defended by a large and loyal army

of proven warriors, and was well supplied with arms. It was usually a

city fortress, well populated with a substantial garrison. It was also

called nara-durga and bala-durga.

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Each type of fortress had different advantages. Manu (author of

the Manusm ti a Vedic text) considered the hill forts offers the best defenses.

Some Sanskrit text also consider hill forts to be the abode of gods and hence

auspicious. Manu also considers the disadvantages of other fortresses. A

fortress surrounded by water often sheltered reptiles and snakes, which made

for a rapid spread of disease; on the other hand, reptiles and snakes could deter

an assault on a fortress, and disease could force the enemy to lift a siege.Earth

fortresses often swarmed with rats and rodents, which might in the long run eat

away their foundations. Monkeys plagued the inhabitants of arboreal fortresses,

while a fortress that housed a lot of people had to be kept well supplied with

food and water to feed all those mouths.However the Mahabharata considers

Nri-durga to be the best defensive structures. Most of the time a combination

of defenses were used to guard the fort. Ranthambore Fort, for example, stands

on a hill (giri-durga) and used to be surrounded by dense forests (vana-durga).

When a considerable garrison of soldiers was billeted in it, the castle could also

be classified as nri-durga.

The method of planning of the fort is also described along with the

layout of the roads. Kautilya suggests that the roads should be laid along the

four cardinal directions with a temple at the centre. The Kings house should be

at the north.

One of the oldest and most well preserved of such structures are the

excavated ruins of ancient fortifications at Sisupalgarh in Orissa. It is estimated

to date from the 3rd century BCE and was in occupation for a thousand years at

least. Outlines of the fort indicate it had eight gates and thick walls. The

western gate was quite elaborate. In 2005, sonar analyais suggested the

presence of a deep moat around the fort.

Chapter - V

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Forts in Medieval India

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur a Giri durg

Bastions of Murud-Janjira a Jal durg

Ruins of Golkonda Fort, Hyderabad

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172

With the advent of the Muslims, closely followed by the introduction of

artillery in the 16th century there were several changes to the construction and

design of forts. These changes were similar to the changes that took place in

Western forts with the advent of gunpowder, i.e. the lowering of walls,

thickening of walls, further pushing out of bastions etc. The construction of a

citadel in the centre and putting in more area between the citadel and the walls

was characteristic of Muslim forts (influenced in turn by the Norman motte and

bailey). Classic examples of such structures are the Golkonda and the Berar

fort.

The gates of medieval Indian forts were highly decorated. Two distinct

styles are seen. The Hindu style with a lintel and the Mughal style with an arch.

Gates in Indian forts were often high and wide to allow elephants to pass.

Often they had rows of sharp, stout iron spikes to dissuade an attacking army

from using elephants to break down the gates. Such a gate with spikes can be

seen on the Shaniwarwada fort, Pune. The walls of the forts were often looked

higher from the outside than the inside as the forts made use of the natural rock

formations on hills. This not only gave an illustion of greater height but also

lead to the lower walls of the fort to be entirely made up of natural rock

providing almost a perfect defense against the use of a battering ram or

elephants to tear down the walls.

Construction

Stone was the most important material for building fortifications in

medieval India. Walls were erected by one of the following three construction

methods. A wall could be an earthen rampart faced with stone on both sides.

The rampart was built using the earth excavated while digging the ditch, with

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three-quarters of it used for building a rampart and one-quarter for levelling out

the surface inside the fortress and in front of the ditch. Facing the rampart with

stone allowed for the erection of higher and steeper walls than those possible

with a purely earthen rampart. The structure had a substantial shortcoming,

however: an earthen core accumulated water, which could destroy the stone

shell. Drainage channels were therefore installed along the length of the wall

from top to bottom.

The second method consisted of filling the space between the outer

layers with earth mixed with rubble. This core was considerably harder than

simply using rammed earth. The third and most advanced method involved the

use of mortar. A rubble-built wall fastened with mortar was strong and long

lasting. Construction methods depended, however, on the materials available.

In medieval India, several reports exist of the practice of burying

humans either dead or alive in the foundations of fort walls, to ensure their

stability, being widely followed. It was believed that the ghosts of those

sacrificed as such would keep evil spirits away. During the building of the Sri

Qila, Delhi Alauddin Khilji is reported to have buried 8,000 skulls of Mughals

killed by him into the foundation. During the building of Purandar Fort one its

bastions gave way several times. The king ofBerar then ordered his minister an

Esaji Naik Chive to bury a first-born son and his wife into the foundation of the

bastion. This was promptly done and after a further offering of gold and bricks.

When the bastion was finished Esaji Naik was given possession of the fort and

the father of the sacrificed boy was rewarded with two villages. This custom

was also followed by Shivaji when he built his forts.

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Many Indian fortifications have parapets with peculiarly

shaped merlons and complicated systems of loopholes, which differ

substantially from similar structures in other countries. Typical Indian merlons

were semicircular and pointed at the top, although they were sometimes fake:

the parapet may be solid and the merlons shown in relief on the outside (as at

Chittorgarh). What was unique is the arrangement and direction of loopholes.

Loopholes were made both in the merlons themselves, and under the crenels.

They could either look forward (to command distant approaches) or downward

(to command the foot of the wall). Sometimes a merion was pierced with two

or three loopholes, but more often, one loophole was divided into two or three

slits by horizontal or vertical partitions.The shape of loopholes, as well as the

shape of merlons, need not have been the same everywhere in the castle, as

shown by Kumbhalgarh

5.1 Forts:

Right from the dawn of civilization the human being had a feeling

protection for his own survival from the natural calamities, wild animals and

other vital human agencies etc. obviously , this feeling initiated the need of

shelter raising barrier etc. around their dwelling . This might have been an

earliest creation of human mind to consult the ramparts, fortification around

his residence. Towns of Pre-history and proto-history period are examples of

this gradually the construction of Ramparts forts, and fortification played

significant roles in building the history with there own evolution process. The

minute observations and scientific survey of the forts and fortification reveal

that certain regions attracted the builders to select the particular spot for raising

such monuments 3 factors may be discussed as follows

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1. Considering the composition of rock beds upon which the foundations of

the forts are layed.

2. The peninsula have escaped for one reason or another, the weathering of

the ages that had cut out all the surrounding parts of the land and are

elevated very high from the general surface level of the land.

3. Indian peninsula these multiple block and basin faulting have attained

isolatic- adjustment and hence its immunity from major earthquake

disturbances.

Some of the hills are surrounded by narrow gorges and slopy plateaus

which have also played important role in protection of forts.

5.2 Types of Forts:

The science of fort and fortification in medieval times was so advanced

that the Silpasastras mention at least 19 varieties of forts- with different

defensive schemes..

1.Giridurga Mountain fort 2.Jaladurga water fort

3.Dhanavana Durga- Desert fort 4.Vanadurga forest fort

5.Mahidurga Earth fort 6.Nrdurga man fort

Architecturallly the fortification is composed of 5 components elements

as propounded by the Silpasastras :-

1. The Vapra the built up artificial mound.

2. Parikha a moat with glacis

3. The Prakara or sala the fortification wall which is encircled by a

parikha.

4. The Attalakas The bastions provided along the prakaras

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5. The Entrance gates the gopura or the pratoli2

Forts of Tipu Sultan are the replica of the then social, cultural and

artistry that were predominant. The forts of Tipu Sultan have been remaining

as the artistic and architectural heritage of India. The artistic creations in the

monuments are the representation of the adept artisanship of the then artisans.

The depth and the depiction of objects, especially in terms of detail and the

rendering of solidity are remarkable.

The forts under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan played two important roles.

Firstly they provided safety and security to the inhabitants and secondly they

formed a line of defence that protected the kingdom from foreign invasions.

Forts of Mysore Kingdom:

There were a number of forts in contemporary Mysore Kingdom. A

study of these reveals that there were various kinds of forts. They can be

broadly divided into two groups.

1 The Principal forts

2. The Lesser forts.3

The principal forts were situated at provincial head quarters and

strategically important places. The lesser forts were spread throughout the

kingdom.

The best example of these forts was the Bangalore fort, the Nandidurga

fort and the Srirangapatna fort respectively. But no specific references of forest

forts can be traced. For all practical purposes the fort like Savandurga was both

2 Sinha, N.K, Haider Ali(Calcutta, 1941,p.266. 3 Dirom A Narrative of the Campign in India which terminated with Tipu Sultan in 1792,

London, 1793, p. 265.

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a hill and forest fort. When both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were in zenith of

their power they possessed nearly 208 forts of all kinds. Tipu Sultan possessed

as many as 27 principal forts and 114 lesser forts in the year 1798. 4

He had lost 67 forts, in the third Anglo Mysore war to the British along

with a major portion of his territory. The only forts of consequence that

re

Seringapatam, Chittledroog, Bidenoor, Mangalore and few forts called

Jemaulghur, Kistnaghery and Sankeridurgam. 5

A survey was conducted in he year 1800 by the British government in

Mysore and it was assessed that Mysore contained thirty-one hill forts, ninety-

two common forts and also a few island forts,199 Srirangapatna capital being

an Island Fort.

The details of the forts in the divisions of Mysore were given as follows;

Bangalore 9 hill forts 20 common forts

Mahogiry 8 hill forts 12 common forts

Chitradurga 4 hill forts 9 common forts

Nagar(Bednur) and Shimoga 5 hill forts 21 common forts

Ashtagram (Srirangapatam) 2 hill forts 21 common forts

Munzerabad(Sakleshwar) 3 hill forts 9 common forts

Total 31 hill forts 92 common forts

4Ibid 5 Dr.Macleane-Madras Manual of Administration-pp-207

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List of Forts of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan:

While may forts were renovated and renamed in the region of mysore

when Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers of the region . some of them

are

NAME OF THE

FORT

YEAR RENAMED LOCATED STATE

Devanahalli Fort 1749 Devanahalli Karnataka

Dindigul Fort 1775 Dindigul Tamil

Nadu

Amburgarh Fort 1780 - Tamil

Nadu

Haidar Nagar Fort 1763 Nagar Bidnur Karnataka

Kundapur Fort 1779 Haidargarh Kundapur

Anaandapur

Hosanagai ghat

Karnataka

Chitradurga Fort 1763 - Karnataka

Mercara Fort 1763 Coorg Karnataka

Kabbardurga Fort 1774 Jagarabad - Karnataka

Madhugiri Fort 1763 Fathabad Tunkur

Karnataka

Mangalore

Karnataka

1761 Kodial Bunder Mangalore Karnataka

Bangalore Fort 1792 Delhi Gate Bangalore Karnataka

Channarayapattna

Fort

- Mysore Gate Channarayapattna Karnataka

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179

Nanadidurga Fort 1770 Chikballapur,

Bangalore

Karnataka

Belthangadi Fort 1785 Jamalabad Mangalore dist. Karnataka

Manzarabad Fort 1785 Manjarabad(deep

spot)

Sakaleshpur Karnataka

Nazarabad Fort Nazarabad Malavalli Karnataka

Chintamani Fort Rahmatgarh Chintamani Karnataka

Nizamgarh 1799 Sultan Garh Raichur Karnataka

Srirangapatna 1791 Mysore Karnataka

The aquatints of the forts depict an earthen fort of Tipu Sultan at Hosur,

Rayahotti fort, the Jagadevi Palaiyam fort, the Virbhadradu and the

Sankaridurg. The later three cornhills, and are built of dressed stone with

masonary work.

Map of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan Empire

Chapter - V

180

Location of forts:-

points of his kingdom.

Northern forts:- Bellary,Gutti, Bidanuru, Manjurabad, Rayadurga etc.

Coimbatore and west coast :- Palakkal, Bekal , Jamalabad,Madikeri,Mangalore

etc.

Mysore region:- Nandi, Sankaridurga fort, Srirangapatna, Rayatotti,

Savandurga, Madugiri, Chintamani , etc.

Eastern-region:-Amburu, Devanahalli, Gurramkonda, Jagadevipalaiyam,

Virbhadradurga fort, Hosur Earthen Fort etc. stand as good examples of the

military architecture.

Srirangapatanam:-

The Kaveri runs through the south of the taluq, from west to east,

forming several small islands near Belgola, and lower down the large one of

Srirangapatam. The Likapavani from the north, uniting with a stream from the

Moti Talab on the west, runs south into the Kaveri off the north-east of the

Srirangapatan island, under the Kaverighatta peak.(Rice., op. cit. p. 293.)

The River Cauvery provided a natural defence for Seringapatam in all

but the driest months of the year. Haidar had greatly strengthened the

fortifications of the island, inviting the advice and services of French military

officers for this purpose. It has long straight walls intercepted by the square

bastions and surrounded by deep moats of solid granite. To the north and east

rose a triple defence formidable ditches, while to the east and west, there lay a

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181

line of redoubts (since destroyed). Batteries were strategically situated on the

ramparts, and older magazines and an arsenal were constructed. 5 These

massive defenses endured for some forty years, and the names 'Lally's Bastion'

and 'French Rocks' survive today, as a reminder of Mysore's European allies.

Fort of Sriragapatna

Plan of Srirangapatna

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The Gateways: The walls of the Srirangapatna fort are provided with strong

bastions and gateways at regular intervals with provisions for garrisoning men

along the walls. The fort consist of Six gateways.

1.The Bangalore or the Ganjam Gate:

Ganjam Gate, Srirangapatna

It is connected the fort with the suburb of Srirangapatna that included the

Darya Daulat Palace as well as the Lal Bagh on the easternmost part of the

island, apart from the township. There were three fortification walls each

provided with a gateway. The gate of the outermost wall has not survived. The

only parts that remain are the ruined chambers that were originally on either

side of the entrance. The brick wall over the right chamber that originally

formed the upper part of this wall can still be seen. At a distance from here is

the gateway provided in the middle wall. Originally, it was flanked by the

projecting bastions which were meant to launch attack with canons. Now, only

the left bastion has survived. The gateway is very narrow. Scalloped arches

framed the inner and outer faces of the passage. These arches are topped by

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183

chajjas, above which rests the parapet, decorated with floral cresting. On either

side of the passage are chambers. The third gate way in the inner fortification

wall is not in alignment with the previous two.6

2. The Mysore Gate: It is situated on the southern side of the fort. During the

time of Tipu Sultan, the Mysore Gate was the main entrance on the southern

side.

3. The Elephant Gate:

Elephant Gate, Srirangapatna

It is also situated on the southern side of the fort. It is composed of five

barrel vaulted chambers with semi-circular arched entrances in which the

central chamber served as the passage whereas the others probably functioned

as the guard rooms.

6 Anupa Pandey and Savita Kumari, The Heritage of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, pp.72-74.

Chapter - V

184

4.The Water Gate:

Water Gate, Srirangapatna

It is situated on the northern side of the fort. It leads to the northern ghat

of the river Kaveri. The gateway is rectangular in plan and modest in scale. It

leads to a narrow covered passage that opens to the river front. Primarily, brick

is used in its construction. The lower part of the outer walls of the fort along

this gate way is of stone while the upper part of brick. The passage of this

gateways is of stone while the upper part is of brick. The passage of this

gateway is flanked by chambers meant for security guards. The gate way is

painted with white lime. Other gateways on the northern side, for example, the

Jibi Gate and the Delhi Gate, are smaller and simpler as compared to the Water

gate.7

7 Ibid.pp.74-81.

Chapter - V

185

5.The Jibi Gate:

It is at a short distance from the main Palace of the Tipu Sultan and is now in

ruins. This gate predates Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan and is constructed in post

and lintel system. The inhabitants of the place use the gate frequently even

today.

Jibi Gate, Srirangapatna

6. The Delhi Gate:

It is near the war memorial. The Delhi gate is composed of a semi-

demolished the bridge just before the fall of Srirangapatna in 1799.

Constructed in brick, it was from this gate that the English entered the fort with

the assistance of Mir Sadiq, the Prime Minister of Tipu.8

8 Swamy L.N., History of Srirangapatna, New Delhi, 1996.p.35.

Chapter - V

186

Delhi Gate, Srirangapatna

Within the fort, some of the important surviving defense structures are

Bastions in middle fortification wall, batteries, Rocke

in the northern rampart and Thomas Dungeon located at the northeast corner of

the fort. Tipus fort originally had 18 watch towers for surveillance. A deep

moat around the wall with crocodiles left free inside, made it almost impossible

for breach by the enemies. On the other hand, the double moats on the south

and east side were built as part of the military architecture. Though the moats

are dry now, during its functional days it was filled with water diverted from

Kaveri and also was crocodile infested, as means of defense.

. Moats of Srirangapatna fort

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187

The Bangalore Fort :

A district in the South east; situated between 12o 0

alatitude, 770 0

south, the distance between the extreme points being 85 miles. From east to

west it measures 60 miles.

Hyder Ali secured Bangalore as jagir in 1758 and he further strengthen

the fort by reconstructing with granite stones and enlarge it in 1761. Under

Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan the fort was reconstructed largely. The French

Engineers were engaged for the rebuilding the fort.

Plan of Bangalore Fort

At present, only a part of the Bangalore fort has survived. It consists of

three gateways. This surviving part of the fort can be approached through gate

one. Immediately before the gateway, on the left side, are a flight of stairs that

lead to the to of the rampart. This has batteries at two ends meant for placing

cannons. Steps from the rampart lead to the dungeons of the Bangalore fort.

This area is rectangular in plan and had three cells on its northern side. The

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188

third cells separated from the others by a portion wall on the western side that

has an arched opening. Above the door of the cell is an inscription, which says

that Sir David Baird and others were kept here prior to their release in March

1785.

This cell is below the ground level and is entered by a stair way forming

an L shape. The cell is rectangular in plan with a barrel-vaulted roof. Its walls

are sloping.

There is only one opening in the southern wall probably meant to supply

food to the prisoners. This cell is dark and suffocating as compared to the other

two. The first two cells adjacent to each other, are also rectangular in plan with

barrel vaulted roofs and iron gates on the south .

Gate 1, is rectangular in plan and has an outer and inner arched opening.

The gateway leads to an inner courtyard housing a Ganesha temple, probably

constructed at later stage. Flanking the passage of gate one are inter connected

rooms for the security guards. The interior of the left room is entered through a

secret door, very small in size. Particular mention should be made of the stucco

work that adorns the spandrels of the arched gateways. The original wooden

door with iron spikes has s survived. Gate 2 also has an arched opening. The

decoration is modest. It also has chambers located in the thickness of its wall.

Gate 2 leads to gate three which is now closed. It was the original gate that

allowed entrance to the interior of the court. The old wooden gate has survived.

It is pierced with many gates such as water- gate leading to the liver for

the palace people near the Gangadha reshwar temple within , Jibi or

Krishnagate near the Krishna temple within , three Bangalore gates in the

eastern wall, Delhigate. The fort was one of the most formidable in India.

Chapter - V

189

Hosur Earthen Fort:

-east of

Bangalore. The fort has now totally disappeared, and the glory of this fortified

place can be experienced by only through Danie

Bangalore, entirely rebuilt with strong masonry by Hyder and Tipu , is nearly

of oval form, with round towers at proper intervals and fine powerful cavaliers;

a faussebraye, a good ditch and covered way without palisades, and some well

finished place of arms, but the glacis imperfect in several places. There were

two gateways, one named the Mysore, the other the Delhi gate; the latter

opposite the town, overbuilt with the projection of traverses common to Indian

forts, the town of great extent to the north of the fort, was surrounded by an

indifferent herm, of near one hundred yards wide, planted with impenetrable

and well grown thorns; and this defense was only intermitted exactly opposite

fort, where there was a alight barrier and an esplanade.

The town had several gates protected by a sort of fleche at the end sortie

outside the ditch. The renovated Southern fort , which gave new dimensions to

Bangalore skyline, if accentuated

service of its designers, Ibrahim Khan, the Khilledar of Bangalore.

Palakkad fort:-

so as Pallakkad fort, stands in the center of

was constructed in 1766 AD and is today a protected monument under the

Archaeological Survey of India. The sober majesty of the laterite walls of the

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190

fort reminds one of the old tales of courage. The fort was built by Hyder Ali,

in his province supposedly to facilitate communication between both sides of

the Western Ghats (Coimbatore and the West Coast).

Palakkad fort

Jagadevi Palaiyam Fort:

forces on their military campaigns. The fort was built on a granite rock and

consisted of two forts connected by a rampart; one at the fort of the rock; and

the other on top of the rock. Rayakottai fort was indeed a massive structure. It

Chapter - V

191

is important to note that the rampart with strong bastions encircling the granite

rock, clearly shown in the Daniells work is now hardly traceable.9

Rayakottai Fort

Shankaridurga Fort

9 Singh.A.P - Forts and Fortification in India, Agam Kala Prakashan,Delhi , 1993.pp

20-72

Chapter - V

192

Devanahalli fort :

Bangalore, on the old Bangalore-Bellary road,( Rice., op.cit. p.65)

In the 1749 Mysore army under the leadership of Nanjaraj captured

Devanahalli fort. Hyder Ali took control of Devanahalli fort. Tippu Sultan was

born at Devanahalli. Hyder started to reconstruct and strengthen the fort.10

Devanahalli fort

Architecture of Devanahalli fort :-

The Devenehalli fort was built of stone by Haidar Ali and Tippu Sultan ,

is spread over an area of 20 acres (8ha). The roughly oval east oriented

fortification veneered with dressed masonary has as many as 12 semi-circular

bastions at regular intervals. A spacious battlement is provided towards the

inner side of the fortification. The fort has entrances decorated with cut plaster

work at the east and west. The entrances are quite small, comfortable enough

10

Sheikh Ali, Karnataka Charitre,Vol 5, Hampi, pp.509-512.

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for the horses of yore. The bastions are provided with gun points built with

lime and brick.11

Nandi durga fort

View of Nandi hill from Nandi town at the base.

Dindigal Fort

Dindigal Fort

11

Krishna. M.G., A Guide to Nandi,1940.p.5

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Etymology

Dindigul city derives its name from a portmanteau

of Thindu meaning pillow and kal meaning rock and referring to the rock.

History

In 1736 Chanda Sahib, the lieutenant of Arcot Nawab Seized power

from Vangaru Nayak, with the help of British. In 1742, the Mysore army under

the leadership of Venkatarayer conquered Dindigul. He governed Dindigul as a

representative of Maharaja of Mysore. There were Eighteen Palayams (a small

region consists of few villages) during his reign and all these palayams were

under Dindigul Semai with Dindiguls capital. These palayams wanted to be

independent and refused to pay taxes to venkatarayer.[1] In 1748, Venkatappa

was made governor of the region in place of Venkatarayer, who also failed. In

1755, Mysore Maharaja sent Haider Ali to Dindigul to handle the situation.

Later Haider Ali became the Maharaja of Mysore and in 1777, he appointed

Purshana Mirsaheb as governor of Dindigul. He strengthened the fort. His wife

Ameer-um-Nisha-Begam died during her delivery and her tomb is now called

Begambur. In 1783 British army, lead by captain long invaded Dindigul. In

1784, after an agreement between the Mysore province and British army,

Dindigul was restored by Mysore province. In 1788, Tipu Sultan, the Son of

Haider Ali, was crowned as King of Dindigul. 12

Hyder Ali, after taking over the Mysore throne in 1755, made several

additions and repairs. The fort played an important role in their campaigns. The

rock fort is 900 feet high and its circumference is around 2.75 km. Cannon and

gunfire artillery made its entry during the 17th century; hence the fort has

double walls to withstand heavy artillery. Cannons were installed at vantage

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points around the fort (still there) with an arms and ammunition godown built

with modern safety measures. The double-walled room was fully protected

against external threat and was well ventilated. A thin brick wall in one corner

of the godown helped guards escape in case of emergency. The sloping ceiling

of the godown prevented seepage of rainwater. It has 48 rooms that were once

used as cells to lodge war prisoners and slaves, a spacious kitchen, a horse

stable and a meeting hall of the army commanders of Hyder Ali and Tipu

Sultan. The fort also has its own rainwater reservoirs constructed by taking

advantage of the steep gradient. The construction highlights the ingenuity of

Indian kings in their military architecture. Hyder Ali's family lived here in

1755 along with his wife and then five-year-old son Tipu. From 1784 to 1790,

the fort was under the rule of Tipu Sultan. His chief Commandant, Syed

Ibrahim, under whose care the fort was entrusted, constructed several

additional rooms, fortified the walls and repaired many parts. Hyder Ali had

also constructed a mosque beneath the fort for his soldiers. After Tipu Sultan

was defeated in the II Mysore War in 1790, the British took control of the fort.

In 1790, James Stewart of the British army gained control over Dindigul

by invading it in the second war of Mysore. In a pact made on 1792, Tipu

ceded Dindigul along with the fort to the English. Dindigul is the first region to

come under English rule in the Madurai District. In 1798, the British army

strengthened the hill fort with cannons and built sentinel rooms in every corner.

The British army, under statten stayed at Dindigul fort from 1798 to 1859.

After that Madurai was made headquarters of the British army and Dindigul

was attached to it as a taluk. Dindigul was under the rule of the British Until

India got our Independence on 15 August 1947.

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The fort played a major role during the Polygar wars, between

the Palayakarars, Tipu Sultan duo aided by the French against the British,

during the last decades of the 18th century. The polygar of Virupachi, Gopal

Nayak commanded the Dindugal division of Polygars, and during the wars

aided the Sivaganga queen QueenVelu Nachiyar and her commanders Maruthu

Pandiyar Brothers to stay the fort after permission from Hyder Ali.

Architecture

The rock fort is 900 ft (270 m) tall and has a circumference of 2.75 km

(1.71 mi). Cannon and gunfire artillery were included in the fort during the

17th century. The fort was cemented with double walls to withstand heavy

artillery. Cannons were installed at vantage points around the fort with an arms

and ammunition godown built with safety measures. The double-walled room

was fully protected against external threat and was well ventilated. A thin brick

wall in one corner of the godown helped soldiers escape in case of emergency.

The sloping ceiling of the godown prevented seepage of rainwater. The fort has

48 rooms that were once used as cells to lodge war prisoners and slaves, a

spacious kitchen, a horse stable and a meeting hall for the army commanders.

The fort also has its own rainwater reservoirs constructed by taking advantage

of the steep gradient. The construction highlights the ingenuity of Indian kings

in their military architecture.

Jamalabad Fort

History

The fort was built by Tipu Sultan in 1794 and named after his mother,

Jamalabee. He decided to build a fort there, as he was impressed by the

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massive granitic rock which was suitable for the construction of a strong fort.13

The fort was built over the ruins of an older structure.

The fort is inaccessible other than via a narrow path, with around 1876

steps to the fort that are cut out of the granite hill and lead all the way to the

top. This would mean that a small but well-armed group could indefinitely

block a much larger force from entering the fort.

Jamalabad Fort.

Inside the fort, there is only one tank to store water. Remains of a single

cannon lie at the top. Nothing much of the fortifications remain but hints of the

fort wall with parapets are visible. The fort was captured by the British in 1799

during the 4th Mysore war.

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Manjarabad fort

Manjarabad fort

The Manjarabad fort is located just outside of Sakleshpur on National

Highway 48. The fort is reputed to have been constructed by Tippu Sultan, the

ruler of Mysoreas a strategic defensive location as it commands the approach to

the plateau beyond Sakleshpur from the coast.

Madhugiri Fort

Madhugiri is a Taluk headquarters in Tumkur district in Karnataka. The

town derives its name from a hillock, Madhu-giri (honey-hill) which is to the

north of the place.

At 3,930 ft (1,200 m) elevation, Madhugiri is a single hill. It is the

second largest monolith in Asia.[1] Nestled on its steep slopes is a fort.

Antaralada Bagilu, Diddibagilu, and Mysore Gate are the three gateways of the

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fort. A series of doorways leads to the hill. The ruined temple of Gopalakrishna

is located at the top

Madhugiri Fort

Chitradurga Fort

North view of the hill of Chitradurga.

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Chitradurga Fort or as the British called it Chitaldoorg, straddles several

hills and a peak overlooking a flat valley in the Chitradurga

District, Karnataka, India. The fort's name Chitrakaldurga, which means

'picturesque fort' in Kannada, is the namesake of the town Chitradurga and its

administrative district.

The Fort was built in stages between the 17th and 18th centuries by the

dynastic rulers of the region, including the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas and

Hoysalas as well as the Nayakas of Chitradurga, feudal lords in the

Vijayanagar Empire. The Nayakas of Chitradurga, or Palegar Nayakas, were

most responsible for the expansion of the fort between the 15th and 18th

centuries. They were defeated by Hyder Ali at Chitradurga in 1779. Later the

fort was expanded and strengthened by Hyder Ali and his son Tippu

Sultan,who succeeded Madakari Nayaka V, the last ruler of the Nayaka clan.

The fort is built in a series of seven concentric fortification walls with various

passages, a citadel, masjid, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and

ancient temples. There are 18 temples in the upper fort and one huge temple in

the lower fort. Among these temples the oldest and most interesting is the

It was during the reign of Madakari Nayaka V (1758 to 1779) that the

city of Chitradurga and the Fort were besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali.

Madakari Nayaka used the fort effectively for defense during three battles that

were fought against Hyder Ali.[1] At times he had allied himself with Hyder Ali

of Mysore Kingdomand at other times with the Marathas. Hyder Ali attacked

the Chitradurga Fort first time in 1760, the second time in 1770 and the third

time successfully in 1779 when he defeated Madakari Nayaka. Madakari

Nayaka was taken a prisoner and killed. Nayaka's gamble of playing with both

Chapter - V

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Hyder Ali and the Marathas did not work out. Subsequent to his death the

treasury at the fort is said to have yielded a rich bounty.

The dynastic reign of the Nayakas lasted for over 200 years and the

Chitradurga fort was their stronghold and the very heart of their province.

In the Fourth Mysore War, Tippu Sultan was killed by the British in

1799, and the Mysore Kingdom was reordered under the Wodeyars.

Chitradurga became a part of Mysore province. The British considered

Chitradurga Fort a potentially useful base for providing a strong line of defense

to Mysore's northern border. Between 1799 and 1809, the British garrisoned

their troops in the fort. Later, the control of the fort was restored to

the Government of Mysore.

Bellary Fort

It 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. The Lower fort, located at the eastern base of the rock, is

about 0.5 miles (0.80 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 fort in Kannada). A French engineer was the

architect and builder of the Lower Fort. He refurbished the Upper Fort also.

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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'.

Nandi durga , a famous fortified hill in the Chikaballapur Taluq of the

Kolar District , 31 miles north of Bangalore. There is an extensive plateau at

the top sloping to the west. The fortifications whose ruins now surrounded the

summit were erected by Hyder Ali and Tippu sultan. 9There is a precipitous

cliff at thesouth west angle. The hill rises 1800 feet above the plain, and is

4,851 feet above the level of the sea. The present houses on the summit of the

hill were built about 1848; the hill was used until lately as a resort in the hot

season for European officials from Bangalore.12

5.3 Armory:

12

Hasan, Mohibbul, History of Tipu Sultan. Aakar Books. 2005. pp. 68 69

Chapter - V

203

The second half of the eighteenth century was a period of great

confusion in Indian history which witnessed the rise of a colonial power. The

only state which offered stiff resistance to their expansion was Mysore, which

fought not one but four wars. Tipu participated in all those four Mysore wars,

starts in the midst of a war against the English and ends in the midst of war

against them. His short but stormy rule was eventful for his several

engagements with his neighbours, the Marathas and the Nizam, as well, whose

shortsighted policy prompted them to join the colonials against Mysore. Tipu

remained fully involved in warfare from his youth until his fall in the fourth

Mysore war. From 1760 when Haidar Ali allied himself with the French

against the English to 1799 when Wellesly destroyed Tipu, Mysore had

Company. These forty years of Tipu both as a prince and a ruler witnessed

continuous warfare

Chapter - V

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World famous Armoury in utter state of neglect, in Bangalore and is

out of public sight.In these Armoury, were stocked huge quantities

of amunition, gun powder, muskets, rockets and 6-12 pound missiles that

inflicted heavy losses on the British Army.

5.4 Dungeons:

This used to be a hidden prison inside the Srirangapatna fort. This secret

cellar was discovered by an engineer called Thomas Inman in 1895, that is

about 100 years after the fall of the fort. That shows of the cleaver and discreet

design of the dungeon. Even today you will find it difficult located this till you

reach the signpost and the entrance to this sub-terrain dungeon.

Chapter - V

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ures about

45 feet in length and 32 feet in width with many arches built in brick and

mortar.

According to some accounts, these were used to hold war prisoners.

Most likely these were dualed as ammunition depots also. Its design and

proximity to the strategic bastions confirms this.

stands a large rectangular bastion the overlooks the river and the Bangalore-

Mysore highway.

Chapter - V

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Interior of Dungeon, Srirangapatna

5.5 Battery:

Sultan Battery (Mangalore)

The Sultan Battery watch tower, constructed in 1784 by Tipu Sultan, is

situated in Boloor, 4 km from Mangalore city, the Chief port city in the state of

Karnataka, India.

History

This place is known for the watch tower constructed in the era of the

emperor Tipu Sultan. The watch tower was constructed 15 years before his

death in 1784 A.D. The place was previously known as Sultan's Battery, the

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word Battery meaning firing of canons. It was constructed from stones of

churches destroyed by Tipu Sultan, during his 15-year imprisonment of the

Mangalorean Catholics and the other Christians.

Sultan Battery

The place built of black stones was constructed to obstruct war ships

from entering the river which was the major route for English invasion but was

then retrieved from English by Tipu Sultan. Though the place holds the watch

tower, it looks much like a fort with mounting places for canyons. There is an

underground storage area under the tower which was used to store gunpowder.

This reminds us of the significance the place held as it was the major dockyard

and arsenal of the ruler. It was also a naval station and this place was of great

importance to the ruler as he used it to intercept enemy warships from docking.

Chapter - V

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If one climbs to the top of the watch tower by stairs, he can get a

panoramic view of Arabian Sea which leaves the nature lovers in boundless

joy. This place is a blend of natural and manmade beauty. It is now a deserted

place but is gathering popularity among tourists because of the invading eternal

bliss of the nature.

5.6 Secret Passages

Sankagiri Fort is a historical fort is located 22 km from the city

of Erodeand 38 km from Salem.

Sankagiri Fort was built in the 15th century by the Vijayanagar empire.

It has 14 fort walls built on and around a hill and the last phase these walls

were built by the British. The fort served as a British tax storage facility

for Kongu Nadu, a region comprising the districts

of Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Karur and Dindigul.

It was an important military base for Tippu Sultan and later for the

British army. This is because only one side of the hill is climbable, as all the

others are too steep to climb. In Sankagiri, the king Tipu Sultan has constructed

a secret underground passage to Mysore city in the 18th century This has a

death well, granary, two oil godowns, one explosives godown, two masjids, 2

Chenna Kesava Perumal temples, former British Army administrative

buildings, and cemeteries formerly used by armies that were stationed at the

fort.13

13

Bhat, N. Shyam (1998). South Kanara, 1799 1860: a study in colonial administration and regional response. Mittal Publications. p. 81.

Chapter - V

209

Encampment

The introduction lays special stress on the proper selection on the proper

selection of that site for encampment of the lashkar-i-

It stipulates that advantage should be taken, whenever possible, of rivers,

streams, shrubs, rice-fields, hills ,and thickest, which should be kept on the

side, and, after leaving an open space in the centre, soldiers should be

encamped on the other side. In between the soldiers and the central court

should be located the camp followers, goods and chattle. The tents were to be

pitched in such a manner as to avoid the wind so that the army might not be

troubled with wind and dust. One should take into consideration the direction

of the wind in the course of fighting, the best plan being to fight in the

direction of the wind and not to oppose it.

1. This table contains a rectangular plan of encampment with an entrance in

front only. Guns are located at all four corners and at the entrance. Two

tents in front and one on each of the three sides seem to be meant for

officers. The central position is occupied by the bargah-i-mualla,

elsewhere mentioned as bargah-i-

is surrounded on three sides by two rows tents, one of the inner guard

and other of the outer guard. In front of the bargah-i- mualla is the

secretarial office and a little further are two rows of tents for the advance

guard at the foot of which are the stables. Still further and exacty

opposite the bargah-i- -khana or the place where the

drums were beaten at stated intervals, and there are two rows of shops.

To the right of the naqqar-kahnah is thw place for the chief standard.

Finaly all these are surroundedby the tents of the soldiery.

Chapter - V

210

Plate - 1

Chapter - V

211

2. The second table has a river bends as the base on one asde and the

semi-circular bend.

Plate - 2

Chapter - V

212

3. The third table has many features in common with the first table, with

the difference that there are four entrances instead of one, and guns are

placed close to one another and not only on corners. Moreover, there are

shops not only in front but at the back of the bargah-i-mualla. Stables for

camels and elephants are located at the back of the bargah-i-mu;alla.

Plate - 3

Chapter - V

213

4. The fourth table the bargah-i-mualla is protected by only one row of

guards which is locae at a distance of forty yards. The tents of the

bargah-i-mualla , the two sides on the right and left of it are not utilized

for the purpose.

Plate - 4

Chapter - V

214

5. The fifth table follows the pattern of the fourth, except that the tents

both in front and the back are arranged in perpendicular rows and not

horizontally.

Plate - 5

Chapter - V

215

6. The sixth table visualizes encampmen by the side of a river and the camp

is arranged parallel to it, there being a single row of tents in front and

another at the back of the bargah-i-mualla. The main feature of the

seventh and the last table is that the tents are arranged mainly in two

rows on the right and leftof the bargah-i- khass.

Plate - 6

Chapter - V

216

7. The seven tables throw interesting aspect of organization of Tipu

14

Plate - 7

14

1rfan Habib --Resistence and Modernization under Ali And Tipu Sultan--- Tulika pub, Indian History congress 1999.pp-185-186.