Belgaum Fort of Belagavi (formerly Belgaum), Karnataka: A well preserved 13th century Fort!!

Belgaum Fort, Bekgaum,tourismofkarnataka.com

Belgaum Fort, located in the heart of Belagavi (formerly Belgaum) in Karnataka, India, is one of the oldest and most historically significant forts in the state. Built in 1204 CE by Bichiraja, a Ratta dynasty officer, the fort served as the capital of the Rattas from 1210 to 1250. Strategically positioned at the foothills of the Western Ghats and about 100 km from the Arabian Sea, it lies near the Markandeya River and is fronted by the scenic Killa Lake. The fort has witnessed a series of occupations by major South Indian and Deccan powers, including the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Delhi Khaljis, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Bahmani Sultanate, the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, the Mughals, the Marathas, Hyder Ali of Mysore, and finally the British.

Belgaum Fort, Bekgaum, en.wikipedia.org

Above  image: The fort is part of the Western Ghatsatan end. Enclosed with in the fort  are  many ancient Hindu, Jain and Muslim shrines. Surprisingly,  there's a Ramakrishna Ashram which was visited  by Swami Vivekananda in the year 1892. There is a prison inside  the fort and once Mahatma Gandhiji  had spent  his  time in the  jail for his  freedom activities against the  British  Raj..........

Its most prominent development occurred under the Adil Shahi dynasty, particularly during the reign of Ismail Adil Shah, with Persian noble Asad Khan Lari playing a significant role in reinforcing the fort in 1519. The Safa Masjid, completed by Asad Khan in the same year within the fort, remains a key example of Indo-Islamic architecture. The fort later fell into the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1686, and after his death, the Marathas and eventually the British took over. In 1818, the British laid siege to the fort, defeating the Peshwas and awarding administrative rights to Shivalinga Raju, the Desai of Kittur.

Architecturally, the fort is oval in shape and surrounded by a wide moat carved into soft red stone. Its massive bastions, 32 feet high, and strong walls made of stone and mud showcase impressive medieval defense techniques. The main gate, constructed in 1631 and attributed to Jakub Ali Khan, features Persian inscriptions and detailed carvings of birds and animals. Within the fort are religious structures representing Hindu, Jain, and Muslim faiths, including temples and mosques, reflecting centuries of cultural coexistence. The fort’s combination of Indo-Saracenic and Deccan architectural styles adds to its uniqueness. Today, it serves as a regional headquarters for the Indian Army, continuing its legacy of strategic importance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgaum_Fort

https://tourismofkarnataka.com/the-belgaum-fort/

https://karnatakaforts.blogspot.com/2013/12/belgaum-fort.html