Belgaum Fort

Belagavi Fort or Belgaum Fort, is located in the city of Belagavi, in the Belagavi district, in Karnataka. It was begun by Jaya Raya, also called Bichi Raja, an ally of the Ratta Dynasty, in the year 1204 AD.

It has undergone several renovations over the centuries under different dynastic rulers of the region. It is one of the oldest forts in the state of Karnataka.

The fort, built with fine ramparts and a large moat, has a rich history with several historical and religious monuments dated to the Adil Shahi dynasty. The fort has been captured in battles many times, as the possession of local rulers, until the region was stabilized by the British Raj.

It is also notable in modern history because Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned by the British in this fort during India’s freedom struggle. The fort is situated in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range of (Western Ghats) in the precincts of the Belagavi town (which was also known as Belgaum or ‘Venugrama’ meaning 'Bamboo' village), at an altitude of about 762 metres (2,500 ft), 100 km (62 mi) from the Arabian Sea. The Markandeya River flows nearby.

Located in an undulating plain land, the fort has an oval shape and is surrounded by a deep and wide moat excavated in soft red stone. The exterior of the gate is decorated with large motifs of animals and birds. The gateway is covered by massive doors made of iron designed for defense.

The fort has Hindu, Jain and Muslim architectural influence with temples and mosques located within its limits, indicating cultural syncretism. The architectural styles seen in the mosques are of the Indo-Saracenic and Deccan type. The fort has been built with stones and mud. A wide moat runs round the fort.

There are two Hindu shrines at the fort entrance, one devoted to Ganesha and another to goddess Durga. The fort has two mosques or masjids, namely the Safa Masjid and Jamia Masjid. There are also two Jain temples inside the fort, Kamal Basadi and Chikki Basadi.

Getting There

The fort is situated within the precincts of Belgaum city, which is located in the northwestern parts of Karnataka, and lies at the border of two states, Maharashtra and Goa.

Belgaum is connected by road via National Highways 4 and 4A. North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) run buses to all corners of Karnataka and to neighbouring states. There are many prominent private bus companies providing services to all major destinations in Karnataka and surrounding states.

Belgaum Railway Station is on the Indian Railways grid, being part of the South Western railways, and is well connected by rail to major destinations.

The city is served by Belgaum Airport at Sambra, which is the oldest airport in North Karnataka and lies 10 km (6.2 mi) from the city on State Highway 20. Currently, IndiGo and Star Air serve scheduled commercial flights to various cities in India.

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