BIJAPUR, Karnataka

Main Attraction: THE GOL GUMBAZ

The Gol Gumbaz or Mausoleum of Muhammad Adilshah (1627 – 1657A.D.) is the largest and most conspicuous building in Bijapur city and one of the most celebrated in India. Built in 1657 by Yaqut a master builder of Dabul, it is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Situated on a 183m square podium, the tomb resembles a giant cube crowned by a hemispherical dome with a seven storied octagonal tower at each of its four corners, capped by smaller domes. The great dome is the second largest in the world, 37.9m. in diameter, compared with 42.4m. at St Peter’s in Rome, and 32.9m. at St Paul’s, London. 

The space it encloses is the largest in the world covered by a single dome. Externally, it is faced in plaster. The facades have a large central arch, above which is a cornice of grey basalt and row of small arches carrying a second line of plain work crowned by a 1.8m. high balustrade. The corner towers are entered from winding staircases in the walls of the main building. Each stories has seven arched window. Whispering gallery at the sixth storey is a broad gallery around the dome, which has remarkable acoustic properties: a tenfold echo can be obtained. 

From the base of the dome there is a fine arial view of the city. Over the south doorway are three inscriptions giving the date of Muhamad Adilshah’s death on 1657A.D. below the dome, in the center of the chamber, is the tomb of Muhammad. To the east are the graves of his youngest son Ali Adilshah II; on the west are those of his favorite dancing girl called Rambha , his daughter and eldest wife.

Brief History

Bijapur is called in Kannada as Vijapur, shortened form of the Sanskrit term “Vijayapura” meaning “City of victory”. It is not known when exactly the place was named “Vijayapura” and which victory it was intended to perpetuate. The town might have got its name after the victory pillar installed during seventh century to commemorate a victory on the eastern side of Ark-Killa.

In an inscription found on the wall near Ibrahim Roza, Bijapur is called “Vidyapur”- “The city of learning”. In an Old Persian manuscript map, Bijapur is called Darul-Zafar meaning ‘abode of victory’. But the place has retained the original name of Bijapur or Vijapur in Kannada.

Bijapur district can be truly proud of a glorious part – a past which can be traced back to the very remote and pre-historic times, information that can be had from the treasure – home of legends – monuments, tradition and historic places like Kaladagi, Dhulkhed find a mention in Ramayana as being located in Dandakaranya. Archaeological discoveries reveal that certain tracks of the district were inhabited by early man.

Ptolemy, a Greek geographer in 150 A.D. mentions several places, including some places in Bagalkot district, where there are numerous inscriptions, which throw light on the early Chalukya rule. It appears that during 5th and 6th centuries, the Pallavas had a stronghold over the district. But in the early 6th century, the Chalukya king Pulekeshi -I took over the Badami from the Pallavas, presently part of newly created Bagalkot district. In 610 A.D. Pulekeshi –II ascented to the throne, the most powerful and illustrious ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. During his reign he had constant threat from the enemies on all the sides. But by virtue of his own powers and intelligence he defeated the enemies and united different parts of the territory of Karnataka for the first time in the history and extended his empire from river Cauvery in the South to Narmada in the North. His greatest victory over Harsha or Harshavardhana earned for himself the title of ‘Parameshwara’ or Supreme Lord.

After the end of the Chalukya rule, which lasted till 760 A.D., the Rashtrakutas ruled till 973 A.D. Again the Chalukyas captured the territory. Hoysala Ballalas too had sway over these parts from 1120 - 1180 A.D. However, between 1162 -1182 A.D., the Kalachuris rose to power. Bijjala of the Kalachuri dynasty, who was the commander-in- chief under Talia-III of the Chalukya king, rebelled against the authority of Chalukyas and assumed royal titles and established the Kalachur rule.

Bijjala was killed in an open insurrection and his eldest son Raya Murari Soyideva ascended the throne (1167 - 1175 A.D.). Bijjala’s Prime Minister, Basaveshwara, hailed from Bagevadi of this district. Basaveshwara’s association with this kingdom is of a special interest in that he was a saintly man and a great social reformer. From 1150 to 1310 A.D., a major portion of the district came under the rule of Devagiri Yadavas. At the close of 13th century, Muslim invasion of the Deccan took place and in 1327 A.D. the Mughal emperor Mohammed - Bin -Tughlak established his supremacy. From then onwards Bijapur came under the authority of the Delhi emperors. At the same time, the great Vijayanagara Empire was established in the south with Harihara Raya (1335 -1350 A.D.) as its first ruler.

Ala-ud-din , Hassan Gangu Bahamani , the chief of Bijapur, rebelled against the Mughal emperor in 1347 A.D. and founded the Bahamani kingdom in Gulbarga. This kingdom was divided into four provinces and Bijapur was included in Gulbarga province. The Bahamani prime minister Khwaja Mohammed Gavan introduced many reforms and constituted the territory into eight provinces. After the death of Mohammed Gavan, the faction fights and the struggle for supremacy lead the kingdom into 5 separate Sultanates. Though the Bahamani kings were supreme and ruled the kingdom upto 1526 A.D. , their actual supremacy over Bijapur ceased after 1489 A.D. Yusuf Adil Khan threw of his allegiance and established himself as an independant ruler of Bijapur. Thus the Adil Shahi rule started in Bijapur in 1489 A.D. and lasted for nearly two centuries.

During the period of Ali-Adil-Shah I (1557-1580 A.D.) the confideration of the kings of Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golkonda and Bidar attacked Vijayanagara and defeated the king Rama Raya in the famous battle of Talikota or Rakkasathangadi. In 1672 A.D. the five year old Sikander Adil Shah , the last king of the Bijapur dynasty succeeded to the throne. On the 15th October 1686, Aurangazeb who was leading the Moghul army conquered Bijapur and said to have remained there for two years. In 1689 plague broke out in a fierce form and the emperor returned to Akluj.

In 1703 A.D. Chinkilich Khan was appointed as the Governor of Bijapur. Later, he established the family of Nizams of Hyderabad. Peshwa Balaji and his cousin Sadashiv Bahu entered the Moghul territory and defeated the Nizam at Udgir in 1759 A.D. A greater part of the Bijapur district passed on into the hand of Marathas. In 1764 after the defeat of Marathas at the battle of Panipat, Hyder Ali of Mysore spread his kingdom north across the Malaprabha and Ghataprabha to the banks of river Krishna.

In 1824 A.D. the Marathas and the Nizams of Hyderabad entered into a secret treaty and fought against Tipu Sultan to recover the territory which was lost to Hyder Ali. In 1787 A.D. fearing that the English, who may also join hands against himself, Tipu Sultan agreed to give up all the claims to south Bijapur. The territory was thus ceded to the Marathas. In 1818 A.D. the whole of Bijapur was conquered by General Munro. The British era which started thus lasted till 15th August 1947.

After the defeat of Peshwas the areas comprising the undivided Bijapur district fell into the hands of British, under the proclamation of the 11th Feb 1818. Of these, Bijapur taluk was made over to the Raja of Satara. Indi and Muddebihal were placed under the sub-collectorate of Bagalkot. A new taluk with headquarters at Hippargi was formed in 1839 by transfer of some villages from Indi and Muddebihal. In 1842 there was another large addition as a consequence of an exchange of territory with the Raja of Satara and another taluk was formed with headquarters at Mangoli (Bagevadi). When the Raja of Satara died without heirs, Bijapur was taken over by the British. The five taluks namely,Indi, Muddebihal, Sindgi, Bagevadi and Bijapur which lie between the rivers Bhima on the north and Krishna on the south belonged to the Solapur collectorate till November 1864. The taluks of Bagalkot, Badami, Hungund formed a part of Dharwad collectorate from 1818 to 1847.

In pursuance of the recommendations by the Revenue Commissioner of the southern division of Bombay Province, for administrative convenience a new collectorate comprising of eight taluks and one sub taluk was formed in December 1864 with headquarters at Kaladgi. In 1868, Hippargi was named Sindgi and Mangoli as Bagevadi. The headquarters of the district shifted from Kaladgi to Bijapur in 1885 and from then onwards the district came to be known as Bijapur district. There were several exchanges from time to time from Bijapur and other adjoining districts.

Jamkhandi and Mudhol which were parts of princely states, were reconstituted as separate taluks, after their merger with Union of India in 1948.The district which formed a part of the Bombay Province came to be intergrated with Mysore state i.e. Karnataka as a result of reorganisation of states in November 1956.

BELLARY, Karnataka

Main Attraction: GROUP OF MONUMENTS AT HAMPI

Traditionally known as Pampakshetra of Kishkindha, Hampi is situated on the southern bank of the river Tungabhadra,in Hospet taluk . It is 13 km. away from Hospet. Once it was the seat of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire.

The monuments of Vijayanagara city, also known as Vidyanagara in honour of the sage Vidyaranya were built between 1336-1570 A.D., from the times of Harihara-I to Sadasiva Raya. A large number of royal buildings were raised by Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1530 A.D.), the greatest ruler of the Dynasty. 

The period witnessed resurgence of Hindu religion, art, architecture in an unprecedented scale. The contemporary chroniclers who came from far off countries such as Arabia, Italy, Portugal and Russia visited the empire, have left graphic and glowing accounts of the city. It covers an area of nearly 26 sq. km. and is stated to be enclosed by seven lines of fortifications.

Brief History

Bellary district takes its name from the word 'Balari', which refers to Goddess Durugamma as this Goddess had manifested herself in the town. Some of the events in the great epic Ramayana are related to this historical place. It is said that Rama while searching for Sita met Sugreeva and Hanuman at a place which is very near to Hampi, the celebrated capital of Vijayanagara kingdom. The history speaks volumes about significant role it acquired during Satavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas of Kalyana, Kalachuryas, Sevunas and Hoysalas period. 

Thereupon the Vijayanagara rulers built the 'City of Victory' on the bank of Tungabhadra river at Hampi in Hospet taluk. (This area which had witnessed the prosperity to its peak fell into political turmoil after the fall of Vijayanagara in 1565A.D.). This place grew up to be the capital of an empire of unsurpassed glory which held at bay the advancing forces of the Muslim invaders from the north for more than two centuries. The wealth and prosperity of the famous Hindu empire of South India assumed legendary proportions. The attack mounted by the confederate forces of the Deccan Sultans in 1565 A.D., which led to the battle at Rakkasa Tangadgi, known in historical records as the battle of Talikote, spelt the doom of this glorious empire and culminated in the complete ruin of the capital city of Vijayanagara. 

Following the collapse of the empire, for several decades, confusion reigned supreme in this region and several Palegars (local chieftains) established petty principalities under the overlordship of various Sultans. Later when Aurangzeb annexed the Deccan, Bellary district became part of the Moghul empire. Subsequently, these areas came under the sway of the Marathas who were in turn over-run by Hyder Ali of Mysore. In 1799, Tippu Sultan, the successor of Hyder Ali was defeated at the hands of the British and most parts of Tippu's kingdom were made over to the Wodeyars of Mysore. However, Bellary and its adjoining areas were given away to the Nizam of Hyderabad in consideration of the services rendered to the British. 

In 1800 A.D. Nizam ceded both Bellary and its adjoining areas to the British. Subsequently, Bellary collectorate became a part of the Madras Presidency and at first consisted of 15 taluks. In 1883 this area was bifurcated into the districts of Ananthapura and Bellary with 7 and 8 taluks respectively. All the while, however, the Palegars reigned supreme and laid waste the farm lands with their rapacious exaction from the riots. Sir Thomas Munro, then known as Major Munro, was the first Collector of Bellary district as well as of the other ceded districts of Cuddappah, Ananthapur and Kurnool. His first task was to do away with Palegars and their methods which had resulted in impoverishing the cultivating classes. The Ryotwari Settlement was brought in and a general reduction in assessment helped to bring in a measure of peace and contentment in the region.

During the British period, Bellary - the district headquarters town - was a cantonment and was held to be of considerable strategic importance. It was developed into a centre of trade and commerce despite the constraints posed by the lack of drinking water facility. Further, from about the year 1826, the area of about 400 Sq.kms around Sandur town enjoyed the status of an independent state under the suzerainty of the British. After the attainement of Independence in 1947, the ruler of Sandur signed the merger agreement on April 1, 1949, transferring the administration of Sandur state to the government of India.

GULBARGA, Karnataka

Main Attraction: The Gulbarga Fort

The Gulbarga Fort is located in Gulbarga City. The fort at Gulbarga, originally built by Raja Gulchand and afterwards strengthened by Ala-uddin Bahmani, is a fine work, containing 15 bastions and 26 guns, one of which is 25 ft. long. The walls 16 cm. thick are frequently punctuated by semi – circular bastions and surrounded by a 30m. wide moat. The Principal gateways on the East and the West sides consist of pointed arched openings flanked by bastions, approached by bridges across the moat. The western entrance, however, is much more strongly fortified. Here four gates and four well defended courts, turning several corners, are built within a hornwork of massive wall. Throughout the fortification walls are massive and unrelieved, yet there is a continuous parapet of merlons, raised over the gateways, provided with narrow openings from which to fire muskets. 

Within the centre of the fort, is situated a great mosque 216 ft. by 176 ft. large enough to accommodate about five thousand worshippers and is the only one of its kind in India built by Rafi, son of shams from Qazsvin in Iran in 1367 A.D., the mosque is entered from the north and has arched halls on all sides except the west. The roof measuring 40x50m. is formed by intersecting arches supporting small domes, which also divide the area into long bays in the east west orientation. The plan of this mosque is unique in India and is the sole example of a completely covered mosque devoid of any courtyard.

Brief History

Gulbarga district encompasses a vast geographical area and as may be expected, contains a few places of historical importance as well as a few which finds a mention in the Hindu mythology.

In former days, Gulbarga was known as Kalburgi which means a ‘stony land’ or ‘stone roofing’ or a ‘heap of stones’ in Kannada. Another version is that Gulbarga was so named to connote a leaf with flower, since ‘gul’ means ‘flower’ and ‘Burg’ means ‘leave’, in the Persian language. Nothing definite is known about the origin of the name, but this much is certain that it was known as Kalburgi in earlier days and was later on changed to Gulbarga. Even now it is not uncommon to hear people calling the place as Kalburgi.

During the rule of the Nizam there was practically no real administration in the modern sense of the term. Land was given in the form of grants to nobles and others and as security for the payment of debts to people who had advanced money or to leaders of mercenary bands. The lands given to the nobles were known as Paigah and that given to others were called Jagirs. Land taken over by the Nizam from the government for failure to pay his privy purse was known as Sarf-e-Khas and the land that remained under the government control was called Diwani land. Each had a separate administrative machinery of its own.

The areas directly under the government were divided into districts and each district was in turn divided into taluks. Zillabandi, the formation of district, was first attempted in 1863 and this constituted one of the most remarkable reforms brought about by Salar Jung, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad. The first district to be then formed in this area was the Shorapur district. This had only five taluks originally, within a decade on account of annexations the number of taluks increased to nine and the district comprised of Shorapur, Gulbarga, Andola, Dehgaon, Chincholi, Sedam, Kodangal, Gurmatkal and Mahagaon(Narona). Gulbarga district as such was formed in 1873 with six taluks of the above mentioned nine. 

The Shorapur district was again broken up in 1883 when Andola taluk came to be transferred to Gulbarga district. Thus in 1901 Gulbarga district had seven taluks besides as many as 509 Jagir villages. In 1905 there were several changes such as the transfer of Yadgir taluk from Raichur district to Gulbarga district. Gurmatkal and Mahagaon were divided among Sedam, Kodangal, Gulbarga and Yadgir taluks and 73 villages from Mahabubnagar district were included in Kodangal and Yadgir taluks. Thus, after these changes Gulbarga district consisted of eight taluks and the five paigahs of Aland, Firozabad, Afzalpur, Kalgi, and Chittapur and the Jagirs of Tandur and Kosgi. 

This position remained more or less unaltered till, in September 1949, the Jagirs were abolished and the Sarfe-Khas lands too were taken away from the Nizam after payment of compensation. In Gulbarga district four more taluks were created out of adjoining enclave Jagir areas. Thus, prior to the time of Reorganisation of States in 1956 the district comprised twelve taluks namely, Gulbarga, Chincholi, Sedam, Kodangal, Shorapur, Shahapur, Jevargi (Andola), Yadgir, Aland, Chitapur, Afzalpur and Tandur. Of these, in 1956 the taluks of Kodangal and Tandur were transferred to Andhra Pradesh and the rest to Karnataka. Thereafter there has not been any change either in the external boundaries of the district or in the boundaries of the taluks. The ten taluks of the district are grouped into three revenue sub-division with the respective head-quarters at Gulbarga, Sedam and Yadgir. After the formation of the new Mysore State in 1956, Gulbarga became the the headquarters of the Revenue Division having jurisdiction over the districts of Gulbarga, Bidar and Raichur. In 1966 for administrative convenience Bellary district was also transferred to Gulbarga Division.

Gulbarga was the capital of Alauddin Bahaman Shahim 1347 and continued as capital till about 1424, when the capital was shifted to Bidar. Even prior to 1347, Gulbarga formed a provincial seat of administration and before the Mohammedan conquest of this region, it was included in the territory ruled by the Kakatiyas of Warangal. The Gulbarga fort is said to have been originally built by Raja Gulchand of Warangal and subsequently strengthened by Alauddin Bahaman Shah, the Bahamani Sulthan. The fort contained 15 towers and 26 guns of which one was 8 m. long. Within the ramparts of the fort there is the imposing mosque which, spanning an area of 72 m. by 59 m., resembles the great mosque of Cordova in Spain, it incidentally happens to be the only mosque in India which is completely roofed. The architect of this mosque was Rafi from Quazia of Iran.

The celebrated Sufi Saint Khwaja Syed Mohammed Gewuderaz popularly called Khwaja Bande Nawaz who was the disciple of Nasiruddin Chirag of Delhi, came to Gulbarga in 1413. He was primarily a Persian writer and after residing in the Deccan he mastered Urdu language. During (1422-1436 A.D.) Ahmad Shah Bahamani conferred rich endownments on Khwaja Bande Nawaz and even to this day the tomb of this saint stands as an imposing structure with a good number of other tombs in the huge complex. The tomb of Khwaja Bande Nawaz is an object of veneration for Muslims as well as the Hindus. The tomb has fine wall of paintings. 

The Bahamani sultans encouraged the influx of learned men, poets and statesmen to their capital from abroad. It later fell into the hands of Adilshahi dynasty. Gulbarga continued its importance under the Mughals and the Nizams. Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, the first Nizam had it in his dominion and the Nizam made it a district headquarter in 1873. It was in 1956 it became part of the Karnataka State. To the north-west is the old Fort of Gulbarga, the outer walls and the gateway areas dilapidated condition. The other important monuments in Gulbarga are the shrine of Sharanbasaveshwara a Veerashiva saint of the 12th century. The saints successors run a chain of educational institution in the city so also the successors of Bande Nawaz also run a chain of educational institutions.

Besides this, the mosque of Khalandar Khan and the Hirapur mosque constructed during 1585 by Chandbibi are two more important building in the city. Shah Bazaar Masjid (mosque) is a notable monument of Bhamari period. There are seven monuments of Bahamari princes built between 1375 to 1422 A.D. and they are called as Haft Gumbaz. The monuments at Gulbarga are fine examples of Indo Sarasenic style. The Gulbarga city is subjected to the administration of a municipal corporation and university is also established.

TUMKUR, Karnataka

Main Attraction: FORT MADHUGIRI

Madhugiri Fort is in the small town of Madhugiri in Tumkur district. Madhugiri was part of the domain of the Gangas and later came under the rule of Ihe Nolambas. The erection of the original fort is ascribed to Raja Hera Gauda who hailed from a minor ruling family under the Vijayanagara kings in 15th Century. In 1678 A.D., the fort was captured by Devaraja, the Dalavayi of Mysore. Haider Ali extended and further strengthened it. The fort situated on the peak of a hill consisting of one huge mass of rock is considered to be one of the strongest in southern Karnataka.

Built of cyclopean granite set in lime mortar and enclosed by parapet, it accommodates a few secular buildings near the foot hills including a pillared Mantapa. There are several gates leading to the top of the hill such as Antarala-bagilu, Diddi-bagilu, the Mysore gate, etc. There are a number of springs within the fort. These reservoirs are provided with brick build steps. The fortification in the north had a series of bastions and battlements with musket holes.

Brief History

Tumkur district has also been named after its Head Quarters town as in the case of most of the other districts of the State. ‘Tumkur’ which itself is a derivative of ‘Tummeguru’ or ‘Tumbeluru’, the original name of the place. The Tumkur town has a history of only 2-3 centuries and is believed to owe its origin to `Kanthe Arasu’, a member of the Mysore royal family. The town does not have any historical relics to boast of, for even the traces of the fort, said to have been erected at the time of its founding, have already vanished completely. The area comprised in the district consists of a few places of great antiquarian interest and several places of historical importance. Sage Kadamba is believed to have had his hermitage near Kadamba in Gubbi taluk. On his way to Ayodhya after the conquest of Lanka, Shri Rama is said to have called on this sage at his hermitage for a brief sojourn during which at the request of his spouse Sita, he ordered the river Shimsha to be damned so as to form a large lake here. Sampige in Turuvekere taluk is identified with the ancient Champakanagar, the capital of Sudhanva of the Mahabharata period. The palaeolithic artifacts discovered near Biligere and Kibbanahalli reveal that certain places of the district were inhabited by the pre-historic man. The district has a megalithic site also and this is located on a crest of the low ride near Keralakatte village.

The district has not yielded any historical records belonging to the early dynasties of the South India such as the Satavahanas, Kadambas, Badami, Chalukya etc. The earliest record discovered here consisting of five copper plate grants ascribed to 400 A.D. belongs to the Gangas. The Gangas ruled over the Southern and Eastern districts of the State, from the early years of the Christian era up to 1025 A.D. and obviously has yielded numerous inscriptions belonging to the period of Shri Punsha (725-758 A.D.) and several hero stones testifying to the battles that were fought between the forces of the Gangas and Rashtrakutas. The last Ganga inscription found here is dated in 972 A.D., the period when Satyavakya Nolamba Kulantaka,i.e.,Marasimha III,was on throne.Of the Rashtrakutas there are three inscriptions and one of these refers to Vimaladitya as the Adhiraja of the entire Ganga/Mandala while another confirms the date and mode of death of Indira-Raja, the last of the Rashtrakutas who passed away on 20th March 982 A.D.,at Shravanabelagola. There are numerous inscriptions which apparently belong to the Chalukyas of Kalyan and these range from 1040 to 1200 A.D. However, these merely acknowledge the supremacy of the Chalukyas and are actually those of the Cholas and Hoyasalas. During this period it may be noted, the Nolambas were the principal local rulers and their kingdom was known as Nolambavadi 32000. They had their capital at Henjeru which is identified with the Hemavathi village on the northern border of Sira Taluk. Nidugal of Pavagada taluk was one of their strongholds. The district has yielded several records relating to the Nolambas rulers such as Mahendra who is stated to have uprooted the Cholas his son Nanniga and grandson Anniga or Bira Nolamba and Ahavamalla Nolamba. In about 974 AD the Nolambas were overrun by the Ganga king Marasimha-II who earned the title Nolamba-Kulantaka. The Cholas who appear to have wielded supreme power in this region from 1000 AD were overrun by the Hoyasalas.

The earliest Hoysala inscription found in the district is dated in 1078 A.D. Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana is stated to have been in possession of both Gangavadi 96000 and Nolambavadi 32000. During the Hoysala supremacy also different tracks of this district were being administered by different local chiefs, for instance, an inscription dated in 1151 A.D states that a chief named Guli Bachi was ruling Marugerenad in Kaidala near Tumkur. He built the temples of Gangeshwara, Narayana and Chalavarishwara at Kaidala. The Vijayanagar Empire gradually absorbed the Hoysala dominions including this district. The earliest of the Vijaya Nagar inscriptions found in Tumkur districts refers to the reign of Bukka Raya (1344-1377 A.D.).

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Vijayanagara Kings granted various tracts of lands to their Vassal Chiefs bearing different titles, in recognition of the services rendered. Some of the petty principalities already in existence were allowed to continue to administer their traditionally acquired territories. Among such feudatory principalities that arose in the district a mention may be made of those with their headquarters at Nidigal, Holavanahalli, Madhugiri and Hagalavadi.

The Nidugal chiefs were the descendants of Harati Tippa Nayaka whose possession was in the northeast of the Chitradurga district. One of the inscriptions found in Pavagada Taluk describes him as ruling from Nidugal hill fort. He divided his territory among his seven sons. But on invasion of their share of the country by the Bijapur army, the descendants of the family retired to Nidugal fort under the leadership of Thimmanna Nayaka who had lost Dodderi. This family remained at Niduyal for a long time paying tributes to the Subedar of Sira. In 1761 A.D. when Sira was captured by Haidar Ali, the Nidugal chief also submitted himself to the conqueror and agreed to abide by the conditions imposed on him. This chief,Thimmanna Nayaka, was later compelled by Tippu Sultan to relinquish his rights over the territory. His sons were taken prisoners and lodged at Srirangapatna where they were ultimately put to death by the British.

The Holavanahalli family was founded by Baire Gowda, said to be one of those that settled at Avati during the 15th century. This chiefdom was soon taken over by the chief of Magadi who gave it away to his own brother Ankana Gowda. The dispossessed chief joined the Sira court where he was well received and invested with an important command. His younger son however sought the help of the Chief of Doddaballapur who captured Holavanavalli and placed the administration in the hands of the Sanna Baiche Gowda. But within the next couple of years Sira army attacked and captured Doddaballapur the former chief Baire Gowda, who had gone over to Sira court fell in the Sage and his eldest son Dodda Baiche Gowda was invested with the Government of Holavanahalli with an increase of territory. Subsequent members of this family fortified Koratagere and extended their territories until they were finally disposed by Hydar Ali of Mysore. The Madhugiri family or the Maddagiri line of Chiefs arose in a similar manner and extended its territory over the northern parts of the district by fortifying Madhugiri Channarayadurga and such other strategic points. In 1678 A.D. Madhugiri was captured by Dalavai Devaraj and the joint rulers named Rama Gowda and Thimma Gowda were taken prisoners and conveyed to Shrirangapattana. However, they were later released and granted Midigeshi as an estate.

Founded by Erimada Nayaka, the Hagavaladi line of chiefs exercised power over a large portion of the present Tumkur district for nearly 300 years from 1478 A.D. The credit of expanding their territories goes to Sali Nayaka the second ruler who captured Kandikere, Shettikere, Honnavalli, Turuvekere and such other places of strategic importance and also founded Chiknayakanahalli. His grandson Mudiyappa Nayaka-I was also equally successful in extending his territories; The ninth ruler who later gave up his throne to pursue his spiritual pursuits. His son, Mudduveerappa Nayaka, earned the title Jung Bahadur for having successfully resisted the onslaughts of Salabat Jung and Dilawar Khan. The twelfth ruler Channabasappa Nayaka was captured and imprisoned by Haider Ali at Srirangapatana. Soon after his death in the prison the Hagalavadi chiefdom was totally annexed to Mysore.

In 1638 A.D. under the command of Rahamdulla Khan the Bijapur army invaded the northern portions of this district. Along with the southern principalities of the Doddaballapur, Bangalore, Kolar and Hoskote, Sira was placed under the charge of Shahji and for quite some time Malik Rihan was the Governor of Sira.With the capture of Bijapur in 1686 A.D.,Aurangzeb established the Mughal supremacy in this regin. Sira was made the capital of a new province consisting of the seven paraganas of Sira, Basavapattana, Budihal, Doddaballapur, Hoskote, Kolar and Penukonda and was placed under the charge of a Subedar or Faujdar. Kashim Khan was the first Subedar and Dilwar Khan (1724-1756 A.D.) the last. During the period Sira and its neighborhood assumed considerable importance as a seat of administration and received royal patronage. Sheikh Farid for instance built a big mosque. Rustumjung, who earned for himself the title of Bahadur built a fort and a petta.

During the same period, parts of this district came to be annexed by the Wodeyars and Mysore in a phased manner as it were. In 1650 A.D. Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar (1638-1659 A.D.) made a beginning by acquiring Hebbar in Tumkur taluk from Immadi Kempe Gowda. By 1673 A.D., the kingdom of Mysore had been extended as Chikkanayakanahalli in the North. This was followed by the conquest of Chikka-Devanadurga (which he named after himself as Chikkadevarayanadurga), Maddagiri, Midigeshi, Bijjawara, Chennarayanadurga and several other places. By the end of his reign, except for Sira and its immediate surroundings, rest of the Tumkur district formed part of Mysore. These areas for were taken during the period of Haidar Ali on his conquest of Sira in 1761 and the annexation of Haggalavadi in 1776, with the fall of Tippu Sultan in 1799, this territory to passed into the hands of British who restored it in the Wodeyars of Mysore from which date the history of district coincides with the history of the erstwhile Mysore State. During the reign of Krishnamaraja Wodeyar-III (1811-1831 A.D.) the State consisted of six Faujdaris and the present Tumkur district stood included in the Maddagiri, i.e., Madhugiri Faujdari, in 1834 these were reconstituted into four divisions and Tumkur became the headquarters of Chitradurga division which encompassed the areas now included in these two districts.

In 1863, Chitradurga division was broken up and while Chitradurga district was added on to Nagar division and Tumkur area attached to the newly formed Nandidurga Division. Sira taluk was transferred from Chitradurga district to Tumkur in 1866. In 1879 all the divisions were abolished and in 1882 Chitradurga district was reduced to a sub-division under Tumkur. However in 1886, Chitradurga district was restored but Pavagada taluk was made a part of Tumkur district. The district consisted of 8 taluks namely Sira, Madhugiri, Pavagada, Tumkur, Chikkanayakanahalli, Honnavalli, Kunigal and Kadaba. In 1886, Kadaba and Honnavalli taluks were named after Gubbi and Tiptur. In 1928 and 1938, the sub-taluks of Koratagere and Turuvekere were elevated to the status of full-fledged taluks. Since then, but for the transfer of two villages of Madhugiri taluk from Madakasira taluks of Ananthpur district, there have practically been no changes in the administrative divisions of the district. The taluks of the districts are grouped into three revenue sub-divisions with headquarters at Tumkur, Tiptur and Madhugiri respectively. The taluks of Tumkur, Gubbi and Kunigal constitute the Tumkur sub-division and the other four taluks of Madhugiri, Sira, Koratagere and Pavagada constitute the Madhugiri sub-division. Tumkur district itself stands included in Bangalore division which is one of the four divisions into which the State is organised at present.

MYSORE, Karnataka

Main Attraction: MAHARAJA'S PALACE

The Palace of Mysore (also known as the Amba Vilas Palace) is a historical palace in the city of Mysore in Karnataka. Designed by the English Architect, Henry Irwin, the Mysore Palace dominates the skyline of Mysore. A three storied structure in the Indo-Saracenic style built between 1897-1912, the palace has beautifully designed square towers at cardinal points, covered with domes. The Durbar Hall with its ornate ceiling and sculpted pillars and the Kalyanamantapa (marriage pavilion) with its glazed tiled flooring and stained glass, domed ceiling are worth noting. Intricately carved doors, the golden howdah (elephant seat), paintings as well as the fabulous, jewel encrusted golden throne (displayed during Dasara) are amongst the palace's other treasures. The walled palace complex houses the Residential Museum (incorporating some of the Palace's living quarters), temples and shrines including the Shwetha Varahaswamy temple. The palace is illuminated on Sundays, Public Holidays as well as during the Dasara Celebrations where 97,000 electric bulbs are used to illuminate it.

Brief History

Earlier to first November, 1975, Karnataka State was known as Mysore. Mysore city is now the headquarters of the district and the Revenue Division. The city is famous for the Dasara festival which is celebrated with pomp and gaiety annually during the Navaratri (September-October). The festival attracts tourists from all over the country and abroad in large numbers to witness Jambo Savari - the chief attraction. Besides, the city is also famous for its nearby Brindavan Gardens that are laid out at Krishnarajasagar Reservoir.

According to a legend, the name ‘Mysore’ is said to be derived from ‘MAHISHASURA’. In Sanskrit ‘Mahisha’ means a buffalo. There is a popular story to substantiate the assoication of a buffalo with the city’s name. In the ancient days, Mahishashura, a Rakshasa who could at his will assume any form including that of a buffalo, ruled the town. He was very cruel and took pleasure in torturing the devas and the Rishis living in the hermitages. To seek relief, the devas and the rishis went to Kailas, the abode of Lord Shiva and pleaded him to destroy the cruel Rakshasa and establish peace on earth.

When Lord Shiva expressed his inability to kill their tormenter, they approached Parvathi, his consort. Thereupon, Parvathi assumed the responsibility by waging a war and finally killed the Asura when he took on the form of a buffalo and attacked her. She came to be known as Mahishasura Mardini. Later, the ruling family of the Wodeyars of Mysore adopted Mahishasura Mardini, also called Chamundeshwari, as their family goddess. Another theory behind naming it as ‘MYSORE’ is the mention of ‘MYSOORU’ in the copper plate inscription dated 862 A.D. and later in 11th and 12th Centuries it was called as ‘MAISURNAD’ and later it took the Anglicised form of Mysore.

Mysore district is not only rich in antiquarian remains but also enjoys the distinction of yielding the largest number of inscriptions among the districts of the state. Activity of the pre-historic man is noticeable, particularly in the alluvial plains of the river valleys like those of the Cauvery and its tributaries. Artifacts of the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Megalithic phases have been unearthed at several sites located in the taluks of Mysore, Tirumakudal-Narsipur and Nanjangud. Recent excavations at a Megalithic site in Koppa village of Mysore taluk yielded iron implements such as huge axes, arrowheads and knives, paddy husk and a three legged jar.

The earliest mention of Mysore in recorded history may be traced to 245 B.C., i.e., to the period of Asoka when on the conclusion of the third Buddhist convocation, a team was despatched to ‘Mahisha-mandala’ for propogating Buddhism. An old Jaina work of 10th Century mentions that when Bhadrabahu came to the south with Chandragupta in the 3rd Century B.C., he was on his way to the Punnata country. This ‘Punnata’ corresponds to ‘Puonnata’ mentioned by Ptolemy and the ‘Punnadu Ten Thousand’ which the Gangas were ruling during the 5th Century A.D.

Ganga dynasty which appears to have been established in the second century A.D., ruled over the greater part of Mysore district till 1004 A.D., and the tract under their region was known as ‘Gangavadi Ninety Six Thousand’. During the third century, the Gangas established their capital at Talakad on the banks of the river Cauvery in Tirumakudalu-Narisipur taluk. During this period, the South of the Mysore District formed part of the ‘Punnadu Ten Thousand’ kingdom with its capital at Kittipura - identified with Kittur on the banks of the river Kabini in Heggadadevanakote taluk. In the 5th Century, Ganga king Avinita married the daughter of Skandavarma the Punnada king and later, his son Durvinita absorbed Punnadu Ten Thousand into the Ganga dominions. During the earlier 9th century, the Rashtrakutas whose capital was at Manyakheta seiged and imprisoned the reigning Ganga king and appointed their own Viceroy to administer the erstwhile Ganga territory. However, later the Ganga king was again restored to power. In the 10th Century, there were matrimonial alliances between the Gangas and the Rashtrakutas resulting in the two powers becoming allies.

In about 1004 A.D., Rajendra Chola invaded the Ganga kingdom, captured Talakad and renamed the place as Rajarajapura. The Cholas captured all the tracts south of the Cauvery along with the areas east to Srirangapatana, Bangalore and Kolar districts. They held these territories for about a century and imposed their own names on the conquered provinces. Accoridngly, the south of Mysore district was renamed as ‘Mudikonda Chola Mandala’ and the Talakad came to be known as ‘Rajendra Chola Valanad’. Towards the west, the Cholas subdued Changalva king of Nanjarajapatna and Piriyapatna, who in consequence received the name ‘Kulottunga Chola Changalva’.

In 1104 A.D., the Hoyasala king Bittideva, who later assumed the name ‘Vishnuvardhana’, captured Talakad, conquered the former Ganga strongholds and drove the Cholas out of Mysore. He earned the title ‘Viraganga’. The Hoysalas continued their control over the Ganga territory till 14th Century whereafter the Vijayanagara Kings established their supremacy throughout the South. In 1495 A.D., Srirangapatana was captured by Narasanayaka and later on Srirangaraya was appointed as the Viceroy and he ruled over these territories with Srirangapatana as his capital.

The subsequent history of Mysore is closely associated with the rise of Wodeyars of Mysore. The origin of this family is traced to two brothers, Yaduraya and Krishnaraya of Yadava dynasty, who induced by circumstances had moved south from Gujarat to carve out their careers and happened to encamp at Hadinadu on the outskirts of Mysore in about 1399 A.D. Their help was sought for by the ruling family at Hadinadu to vanquish a tormenter. Later the heiress of Hadinadu was offered in marriage to Yeduraya and thenceforth he became the chief of Hadinadu and the founder of the Wodayar family. These Rajas established themselves as feudatory chiefs under the renovated suzerainty of the Vijayanagara empire. During the reign of Chamaraja Wodeyar III (1513-1533 A.D.) who divided his estate among his three sons, Puragere or Mysore was assigned to Chamaraja Wodeyar, the ‘bald’.

In about 1524 A.D., a fort was either built or rennovated at Mysore. With the decline of Vijayanagar, the Wodeyars of Mysore gradually rose to a position of independence. In 1610 A.D., Raja Wodeyar (1578-1617 A.D.) gained possession of Srirangapatana. The quite retirement of Tirumalaraya, the Viceroy of Vijayanagara, to Talakad, enabled peaceful occupation of the capital. Raja Wodeyar soon shifted the seat of his government from Mysore to Srirangapatana from where he and his decendents continued to rule the country without any interruption till 1761A.D. Kantirava Narasaraja (1638-1662 A.D.) and Chikkadevaraya (1672-1704 A.D.) are amongst the most illustrious rulers of this dynasty. The kingdom extended from the mountain ranges of Chikmagalur to Tumkur districts in the north to Annamalai and Palani hills in the south; from Selam in the east to Belur and Kodagu in the west by 1704 A.D. After the demise of Chikkadevaraya, the royal power began to decline and the administration of the State fell into the hands of the Dalavayis.

In 1761 A.D., Hyder Ali usurped power and became the de facto ruler of the kingdom for the next twenty years during which the territories of the kingdom were greatly extended. In 1780 A.D. Hyder Ali joined the confederacy formed against the British by the Marathas and the Nizam. In the Second Anglo-Mysore War, Hyder Ali died of sickness in December 1782 A.D. He was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan who continued the war and defeated the British at Wandiwash in 1783 A.D. However, at the Third Anglo-Mysore War, Tipu Sultan suffered defeat and humiliation. Ultimately, during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, when Srirangapatana was besieged in 1799 A.D., Tipu Sultan fought heroically and was slain in the battle field.

With the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799 A.D., the kingdom was restored to the Wodeyars of Mysore by the British. In 1800 A.D., the seat of the Government was shifted to Mysore which paved the way for a flourished Mysore. Under the suzerainty of the British empire, the Wodeyars of Mysore ruled over Mysore kingdom till the independence of the nation in 1947. However, for 50 years starting from 1831 A.D. to 1881A.D., the British ruled the State directly through their Commissioners and reinstated the Wodeyar dynasty on the throne in March 1881 A.D. After Rendition when Chamaraja Wodeyar I was crowned as the king, many administrative changes were introduced. The post of the Commissioner was abolished. A British Resident was appointed at the Mysore Court to head the administration of the state. A post of Deewan along with that of two advisors was also created. 

A Representative Assembly constituting of 144 members was formed and this institution was the first of its kind in the country under the British rule. Subsequent rulers of the State like Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and Jayachamaraja Wodeyar endeared themselves with the masses by their exemplary actions. The administration of the State was manned by many able and illustrious Deewans including Sir M.Visweswaraya who is hailed as the “Maker of Modern Mysore” and Mysore state greatly developed into a model state in the country. The state of Mysore and its surroundings enjoyed an aura of royal splendor and had their share of development.

In September 1947 Mysore became a part of the Union of India and erstwhile Maharaja was appointed as the Rajapramukh of the State. As a result of the reorganisation of the states in 1956, the taluk of Kollegal belonging to the erstwhile Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu was included in the Mysore district.

In 1997 a new district namely Chamarajnagar was carved out of the Mysore district. Presently Mysore district consists of seven taluks namely Heggadadevanakote, Hunsur, Krishnarajanagar, Mysore, Nanjangud, Tirumakkudal Narsipur and Piriyapatna and the remaining four taluks namely, Kollegal, Yelandur, Chamarajnagar and Gundlupet formed Chamarajnagar district.

BELGAUM, Karnataka

Main Attraction: YELLAMMA TEMPLE AT SAUNDATTI

Saundatti reminds us of the beautiful and ancient temple of Goddesss Renuka (also known as the Yellamma). It is at a distance of 70 km. from Belgaum and the place can be reached from all the other places by road. At a distance of 5 km. from the Soundatti town, there is a big hill on which the temple is situated. The hill was earlier known as Siddhachal Parvat. The temple is built in the Chalukya and Rashtrakuta style and the Carvings reflect the Jain architecture. The temple was constructed by Bomappa Naik of Raybag in the year 1514. There are temples of Lord Ganesh, Mallikarjun, Parshuram, Eknath, Siddeshwar etc., in the temple premises. Devotees from Maharastra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh also come here, apart from Karnataka, especially during the time of Jatras which are held twice in a year. The management of the temple has been handed over to the Government in 1975 and the government has made provisions such as Dharmashalas, Health centres and other facilities to make the devotees feel at home.

Brief History

Belgaum district has several places of historical importance and a few which are identified with places mentioned in Hindu mythological accounts. Saundatti-Yellamma, for example, is identified as the place where Parashurama, the VI incarnation of Lord Vishnu, beheaded his own mother at the behest of his father, sage Jamadagni. The narrative further states that, when his immensely pleased father granted him with a boon, Parashurama asked for and got his mother restored to life at this place. Legends associate Yadur and Godchi villages with the events mentioned in the Daksha Yagya and the exploits of Veerabhadra. About the early historical period, it may be mentioned that Halashi (located in Khanapur taluk) was the capital of the early Kadambas. Saundatti was the capital of the Rattas and some historians identify Kakati near Belgaum as the original abode of the famous Kakatiyas of Warangal.

There are as many as five Ramateerthas in the district, viz., (1) in the Parasgad fort (2) at Mullur in Ramdurg taluk (3) near Kanabargi in Belgaum taluk (4) at Ramateertha in Athni taluk and (5) near Halasi in Khanapur taluk, which are described as visited by Rama who installed Ramalingas at these places. Ramdurg fort is ascribed to Rama and Shabarikalla near Sureban is described as the place where Shabari had lived and met Rama. Sogal in Saundatti taluk is described as the place where one Sugalamuni performed penance and where the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi is described to have taken place. Jamboti in Khanapur taluk is associated with Jambavati, Lord Krishna’s consort and Jambavanta’s daughter. Samptasagar, a pre-historic site is claimed to be the place where the SaptaRshis had lived and the ashmond there is ascribed to the sacrifices they had performed. The Mugutkhan Hubli, Narasimha temple is claimed to be place where Sage Chavan had performed a sacrifice.

Belgaum district is believed to have formed part of the ancient Kuntala Desha. During the early historical period, from 327 BC to 229 A.D., the Satavahanas had established their supremacy over parts of the present Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka including the Kuntala Desha. Evidence discovered in the adjacent districts of Bijapur and Dharwad clearly indicate that this part of the country formed part of the early Chalukya kingdom (550-610 A.D.) and then of the western Chalukya kingdom. In 760 A.D., when Rastrakutas over threw the western Chalukyas, along with the rest of the Chalukya domains, Belgaum district, then known as Kundi-three thousand, also came under the control of the Rashtrakutas. For about four centuries from 850 A.D., the Ratta Mahamandaleshwars or Ratta for short, administered large portions of Belgaum district at first as the chief feudatories of the Rashtrakutas, then as the subordinates of the Goa Kadambas and finally, from 1170 A.D., as independent monarchs. Merada and his son Prathivarma, who were originally priests, founded the Ratta dynasty. 

Rashtrakuta king Krishna II formally invested Prathivarma with the rank and title of Mahamandaleshwara and entrusted him with the administration of a large territory. The capital of the Rattas was located at Sungandavarti which corresponds to the modern Saundatti-Yellamma town, till it was moved to Velugrama i.e. Belgaum, in about 1208 A.D. An inscription found at Hannikeri near Sampgaon refers to this shifting of the capital and mentions that the Rattas acquired Velugrama Seventy from the Kadambas by conquest. The over-throw of the Rattas by the Yadavas of Devagiri is mentioned in a grant of VII Yadava King Krishna, which is dated in 1253 A.D., and is found at Byahatti in Dharwad district. By 1250 A.D., the Yadavas had established their sway over entire Belgaum district and their supremacy in this region lasted till they were finally over-thrown by Allauddin Khilji in 1320 A.D. In 1327 A.D., emperor Muhammed-bin-Tughlak subdued Karnataka and appointed two of his noblemen to administer these territories from their respective headquarters at Hukeri and Raybag. However, this position did not last long. Within a few years of its founding, the Vijayanagara empire extended its sway over Belgaum district as well. 

However, from this period till 1472 A.D., there was constant rivalry between the Vijayanagara kings and the Bahamani sultans for possession of the territories around Belgaum. In 1357 A.D., the Bahamani kingdom was organised into four divisions and that which stretched from Gulbarga to Dabhol in Ratnagiri in the west and to Raichur and Mudgal in the south was placed under Malik-Serif-Uddin Ghore. Southern parts of Belgaum including the Belgaum fort, and Goa however acknowledged the suzerainty of the Vijayanagara kings. This position changed in 1470 A.D., when Muhammad Gilani, a Governor under the Bahamani Sultan, captured Goa. On this occasion, the Bankapur chief tried to recapture Goa with the reinforcements from Vijayanagara kings whereupon the Bahamani’s mounted an attack on Belgaum Fort. Karna Raja, who stoutly defended the fort, was finally vanquished and with this, the whole of Belgaum district came under Bahamani rule.

In 1478 A.D., the Bahamani kingdom was reorganised into eight tarafs, each with a governor. The western parts, including the fort at Belgaum, came under the governorship of Fakru-ul-Mulk. About a decade later, the governor of Junnar and Bijapur provinces virtually threw off their allegiance to the Bahamani sultans. About this time, Bahadur Gilani, the governor of Konkan rebelled against his master and with his headquarters at Sankeshwar, seized Goa and Belgaum. Yusuf Adil Shah, the Bijapur governor sent an army against Gilani and re-established his supremacy. Gilani himself was killed during this campaign and his estate became a part of the possessions of the Bijapur kingdom, which soon emerged as an independent power. In 1510 A.D., the Portuguese wrested Goa from the control of Bijapur. In 1511 A.D., the Bijapur king, Ismail Adil Shah appointed Khursu Turk as the Governor of Belgaum, administered Belgaum for about 38 years and came to be regarded as a saint. His son Mohmed Kishwar Khan succeeded him.

The success of the confederate forces of the Bijapur, Bidar, Golkonda and Ahmednagar Sultanates against the Vijayanagara at the battle of Talikote in 1565 A.D., (which took place at Rakkasa Tangadgi), was followed by a period of general disorder and disruption of authority because of the jealousies that arose amongst the conquerors in sharing the spoils. Taking advantage of the chaotic situation, Vitta Gowda seized a few strategic forts in Belgaum district and its neighbourhood, established himself at Torgal as a semi-independent ruler and refused to accept the suzerainty of Bijapur kings. In 1953 A.D., Ali Adil Shah began his campaign and subdued the rulers at Dharwad and Bankapur who too had assumed independence, captured Vitta Gowda and put him to death, thereby establishing the supremacy of the Bijapur kingdom in the entire Belgaum district. From this period, till the entire Bijapur kingdom was conquered by Aurangzeb in 1686 A.D., Belgaum district, by and large, remained under Bijapur rule. However, the Maratha inroads into the district began by about 1659 A.D., when Shivaji followed up his success near Pratapagad by seizing the fort of Panpala and with it, the Kolhapur district including the Sankeshwar region of Belgaum district. Indu Rao Gharpade held Hukeri and Raybag from 1668 A.D. Shivaji plundered Hukeri and Raybag and took large territories in Belgaum district into his possession. After the fall of Bijapur in 1686 A.D., the Marathas were practically driven out of Belgaum district by the Moghuls.

The Moghul rule in this part of the country was purely of a military nature and it did not last long. The emperor appointed Abdul Rahuf Khan as Mansabdar and granted him administrative powers over 22 mahals including Belgaum and Torgal. Abdul Rahuf Khan, who had his headquarters first at Bankapur and then at Savanur, was content to entrust the revenue management of his territories to the hereditary officers such as the Desais. The death of emperor Aurangazeb in 1707 A..D, led to the establishment of two Maratha principalities under two of Shivaji’s grandsons, Satara under Sahu and Kolhapur under Sambhaji. In 1719 A.D., Sahu received imperial grants from the emperor, which conferred on him the right to collect chaut or onefourth and Sardeshmukhi or one-tenth of the revenues of the six Deccan provinces including Belgaum. In 1723 A.D., Nizam-ul-Mulk, the viceroy of Deccan interfered to suppress the disturbances in the Bijapur province, took Athni and the fort of Belgaum and then appointed the Nawab of Savanur as the Governor of Subedar of this region. Though Sahu had received the imperial grant to levy one-fourth and one-tenth of the revenues of all lands formerly held by the Moghuls, the power of the local chiefs of Kolhapur and Savanur was so great that the Maratha forces scarcely ventured to cross the Krishna River. In 1726 A.D., on the pretext of collecting these revenues Peshva Baji Rao marched into Karnataka and plundered places as far south as Shrirangapattana. In 1730 A.D., under a treaty between the chiefs of Satara and Kolhapur the country between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra was assigned to Kolhapur. In 1746 A.D., the Savanur Nawab ventured to resist the authority of the Marathas to collect their due share of the revenue of this region. 

This resistance led to a Maratha invasion in 1747 A.D, when the Nawab was forced to yield large tracts of lands to the Peshwa. Belgaum Fort passed to Peshva’s in 1756 A.D. and in 1763 A.D.; Peshva Madhav Rao subdued the Desai of Hukeri. Later in 1790, during the reign of Tipu Sultan, the Marathas formed an offensive alliance with the British and mounted an attack under Parashuram Bhau and a detachment of the British troops under Captain Little. On this occasion, the whole of Bombay Karnataka region passed to Marathas and remained in their possession till 1818 when General Munro captured Belgaum and ushered in the British era. For a couple of decades that followed, the hereditary chiefs’ estate holders were allowed to administer their respective territories under the suzerainty of the British. In 1824 A.D., the Desai of Kittur, who did not have a son, adopted a boy and named him as his successor. The British masters however refused to accept the right of the adopted child to the Chieftaincy and in accordance with ‘doctrine of lapse’ demanded the surrender of Kittur. This was resented by the widowed queen, Rani Chennamma, who raised the banner of revolt against the British Raj. She put up a valiant fight against the mighty British who finally succeeded in annexing Kittur. In 1829 A.D., there was a second rebellion in Kittur under the leadership of Sangolli Rayanna. This was also put down and Rayanna was captured and put to death at Nandagad of Khanapur Taluk. 

In 1830, the then Governor of Bombay Province brought under the Regulations, the territories of Bombay-Karnataka region which had been acquired either by conquest from the Marathas or by treaty and agreement from other States. These territories were formed into a district (and named after Dharwad), which was divided into two collectorates in 1836. The headquarters of the northern Collectorates was actually shifted to Belgaum in 1830. In 1840, following the death of the local chief, Nipani lapsed to the British and in 1842, another estate belonging to a representative of the divided family of the Miraj Peshva’s also lapsed to the British. There were unsuccessful rebellions in Kolhapur and Savantawadi in 1844 and then again in 1857. Babasaheb of Nargund who was arrested on the charge of murdering Manson, the political agent, was tried at Belgaum in 1858, sentenced to death on the Haystack Hills at the outskirts of Belgaum city. The British rule came to an end in August 1947 and with the merger of the princely states in 1948 and the consequent integration of areas, the boundaries of Belgaum district were redefined. In 1956, as a consequence of the reorganisation of States, the then Belgaum district excluding Chandgad taluk came to be included in the erstwhile Mysore State. This enlarged Mysore State has since been renamed as Karnataka and Belgaum city happens to be headquarters of Revenue Division, the jurisdiction of which extends over the districts of Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttar Kannada i.e. the territories which formerly belonged to the Bombay Province.

BANGALORE, Karnataka

Main Attraction: TIPU SULTAN'S PALACE

Tipu Sultan's Palace is situated in Bangalore city. The construction of the palace of Tipu Sultan was begun by Haider Ali in 1781 A.D. and completed by Tipu Sultan in 1791 A.D. This is a splendid structure now extant within the old fort. It is of two storeys with a large open courtyard in front originally with a fountain and small, ornamental garden with choicest blossoms. The facade is adorned with stately fluted wooden pillars in the north and south. The pillars are connected by cusped arches.

The walls and ceiling of the entire palace were originally painted and gilded, traces of which are found even now. The projecting tiles at the eastern and western sides of the upper floor contained royal seat from where the Sultan conducted affairs of the state. The Zanana chambers on the sides had low ceiling, which were richly painted. An inscription on the wooden beam describes the palace as an "Abode of Happiness" and "Envy of Heaven".

Brief History:

The name 'Bangalore' is the anglicised form of Bengaluru, which, according to popular belief, is derived from Bangalu - itself a corrupt form of the word Benda Kalu (cooked beans) and Ooru, meaning a town. Tradition associates the Hoysala king Vira Ballala with the origin of this name and recounts how he got separated from his attendants during one of his hunting expeditions in this region, lost his way and after hours of wandering, reached the hut of an old woman at night and sought for the much needed food and shelter. This humble woman, it is said, offered cooked beans, which the king gladly ate, and made up a bed for him also. This episode, in a way, brought glory to the place and, the settlement began to develop further in view of the royal patronage.

However, the founding of modern Bangalore is attributed to Kempe Gauda, a section of the Yelahanka line of chiefs, who finally established himself at Magadi. He founded the town of Bangalore in 1537 A.D. and he got elected four watchtowers at the four cardinal points predicting that in course of time the town would extend up to those points.

Historically, the earliest dynasty, which established its sway over this part of the country including Bangalore district, is that of the Gangas. In about the second century A.D., the Gangas established themselves at Kolar (a place which is hardly at a distance of 75 km from Bangalore City) from which they took the title Kuvalalapuravaradhishvara. The territory comprised in Bangalore district formed part of Gangavadi ninety-six-thousand and Honganur of Channapatna taluk was the chief town of a sub-division, called Chikkagangavadi, which occupied the Shimsha valley. During the seventh century, Makunda was a place of great importance and was the royal residence of Bhuvikrama and also of Sivamara. The earliest Ganga grant found in this district is dated in 430 A.D., and relates to king Avinita. In the eighth century, Shripurusha made Manyapura (Manne of Nelamangala taluk) his royal residence. During the reign of Satyavakya II, in about 870 A.D., a Nagattara chief is said to have fixed sluices to two tanks at Agara (near Bangalore East) and in about 890 A.D., Ereyappa who killed Nolamba king Mahendra and earned the title Mahendrantaka, is referred to as ruling over the country. Obviously, though the Gangas were reigning supreme, the Pallavas and the Nolambas for varying periods of time held certain parts of this district, especially in the east.

Inscriptions belonging to the reign of Rajendra Chola and Kulottunga Chola II discovered in different parts of this district amply testify to the fact that Bangalore district too was annexed by the Cholas who overran the Gangas and established their unquestioned supremacy in this part of the country by early eleventh century. After their conquests, among other things, the Cholas renamed Malurpatna of Channapatna taluk as Nikarili-Cholapuram and the area around Manne of Nelamangala taluk as Vikrama Chola-mandalam. Magadi town is said to have been founded by one of the Chola kings and the renowned king Cholaganga was born in Hejjaji-Twelve of Dodballapur taluk. 

The next important dynasty to hold sway over the district is that of the Hoysalas. Inscriptions of the Hoysala kings, including those belonging to Vira Ballala (1172 - 1219 A.D.) are found all over the district. Shantala Devi, the queen of king Vishnuvardhana, it is said, breathed her last at Shivaganga of Nelamangala Taluk. When the Hoysala Kingdom was divided between the brothers Narasimha III and Ramanatha, the northern parts of Bangalore district came to be included in the possessions of Ramanatha who used to hold his court in Kundana of Devanhalli taluk. Honganur of Channapatna taluk was the provincial capital and the residence of a Hoysala governor. Yelahanka and its neighbourhood have yielded several inscriptions relating to the last days of the Hoysala rule and the reign of Ballala III. 

Shortly after the fall of Hoysala rule, Bangalore district too became a part and parcel of the great Vijayanagara Empire. An inscription discovered in Magadi taluk is dated in 1368 A.D. and belongs to the reign of Bukka I. It records the reconciliation effected by Bukka between the Jainas and Vaishnavas of his kingdom and thus indicates that Bangalore district too formed part of his empire. Under the patronage of the Vijayanagara sovereigns, as in other parts of the empire, in Bangalore district too, many local rulers flourished and attained glorious positions. Avati Nad Prabhus have an unique place in the modern annals of Bangalore district.

Jaya Gauda, who ruled for 15 years, acquired the title Yelahanka Nadu Prabhu (Lord of Yelahanka-nad) and was succeeded by his son Gidde Gauda. It is only after the goddess, Kempamma, the consort of Baire Deva, was appeased by prayers and austerities that this Gidde Gauda was rewarded with a son whom he named Kempa Nanje Gauda. This chief governed the territory with benevolence for about 70 years (1443-1513 A.D.). His son Kempe Gauda distinguished himself as the most illustrious ruler of the family. In 1537, he founded Bangalore at its present location, duly fortified it and made it his capital. In appreciation of his good deeds, zeal and devotion to the Vijayanagara throne, king Achuta Raya granted him the right to administer a territory of twelve hoblis around Bangalore, which together yielded a revenue of 30,000 pagodas. Kempe Gauda cherished a greater ambition. Not being content with the feudal honours, which he had achieved, Kempe Gauda established a mint, issued Baire Deva coins tried to appropriate the prerogatives of royalty for himself. It was at this juncture that his patron Achuta Raya died and Sadashiva Raya ascended the throne under the guardianship of Rama Raya. Sensing the danger posed by Kempe Gauda, Rama Raya summoned him to Vijayanagara court in a routine manner. On reaching the court, Kempe Gauda was seized and cast into a prison to suffer for his misdemeanours. Kempe Gauda secured his release and reinstatement after he suffered imprisonment for five years and also paid a heavy fine. 

Five years later, he was succeeded by Immadi Kempe Gauda - the chief who is known to have built a large number of tanks in various parts of the district and also the temple of Someshwara at Ulsoor and at Magadi. He extended his territory westwards and took over Sawandurga as well as Magadi. While the chiefs belonging to the main line of the Avati family flourished in the immediate neighbourhood of Bangalore, the chiefs of Devanhalli and Dodballapur branches too administered the territories assigned to them from time to time, in what may be termed in a mediocre manner. The Sugatur Chiefs usually had the name Tamme Gauda and their possessions included part of the present Kolar district. One of these chiefs founded the town of Hoskote and extended his territory from Anekal to Punganur. He earned the title Chikka Raya from the Vijayanagara king in recognition of the able manner in which he repelled the aggressors. The western parts of the district were, during this period, under the control of Jagadeva Raya who had his capital at Channapatna and administered a large territory. Chamaraja Wodeyar annexed Channapatna and its neighbourhood in about 1630 A.D.

In 1638 A.D. Randulla Khan, the Bijapur general captured Bangalore, forced Kempe Gauda to retire to Sawandurga and made Bangalore his chief residence for a brief period. After his return to Bijapur, Shahji was appointed governor of the southern Carnatic districts subdued by the Bijapur forces. Bangalore, Hoskote, Dodballapur, Kolar and Sira were granted as a Jagir to Shahji and he too stayed at Bangalore for some time and then shifted his residence to Dodballapur and Kolar. On the death of Shahji in 1664 A.D. the administration of the Jagir devolved on his eldest son Venkoji. Later, with a view to establish his claims over his parental estate, Shivaji overran these territories in about 1677. Thereupon the brothers came to an amicable settlement according to which Bangalore and its neighbourhood remained in the possession of Venkoji. In the meantime, with their capital at Srirangapatana, the Wodeyars of Mysore had established themselves as an important and rising power in the south. In 1654 A.D. Kantirava Narasa Raja Wodeyar attacked and defeated Kempe Gauda of Magadi and forced the latter to pay a heavy contribution. A couple of decades later, Bangalore itself was annexed to Mysore under the following circumstances. Shivaji died in 1680 A.D. and by 1687 Venkoji, who had established himself on the throne of Tanjore, found his distant dominion of Bangalore to be an expensive possession. Therefore he wanted to sell it away to the highest bidder, namely Chikka Deva Raja Wodeyar of Mysore for Rupee three lakhs. The latter sent a detachment to occupy the estate and pay the money. But, at this stage the negotations became protracted and became a matter of notoriety. Hari Raja, the Maratha Commander-in -chief at Ginjee, and Aurangzeb who had just raised the siege of Golconda simultaneously turned this attention to the transactions pertaining to Bangalore and both of them sent a detachment each.

Khasim Khan, the general of Aurangzeb, arrived first and occupied the place with relative ease. The detachment of Hari Raja, finding itself forestalled, marched back to the base. Then, Khasim Khan accepted the large sum of money and handed over the possession of Bangalore, which thenceforth became a part of Mysore Kingdom.

According to an inscription it was in the year 1695 that the Venkateshwara temple near the fort of Bangalore was erected by Chikka Deva Raja Wodeyar and endowed by his son, Kantirava Narasa Raja. In 1689, Khasim Khan captured Dodballapur. Two years later, in 1691, Dodballapur came to be bestowed upon Sheik Abdullah Faruk - a descendant of one of the courtiers at Delhi. In 1728, Deva Raja, the Dalavayi of Dodda Krishna Raja Wodeyar, attacked Magadi and forced Kempe Gauda to surrender his territories, which included the then impregnable Sawandurga hill-fort, and the wealth accumulated therein over a period of nearly two hundred years. Kempe Gauda was taken to Shrirangapattana as a State prisoner. In 1749, Devanhalli was annexed to Mysore Kingdom. It was during the siege of Devanhalli that Haidar Ali distinguished himself as a volunteer horseman. In 1758, the fort and the neighbourhood of Bangalore were conferred on Haidar Ali as a Jagir in recognition of his services to the State. In 1761, Haidar Ali secured Hoskote and Dodballapur, the Jagir of Abbas Kuli Khan, from Basalat Jang. It was during this year that Haidar Ali virtually took over the administration of the entire Mysore kingdom of which his own personal estate in and around Bangalore was only a small part. 

In 1791, Lord Cornwallis captured Bangalore from Tipu Sultan on behalf of the British. Soon Devanhalli and other places were also annexed and the hill-forts like Sawandurga, Ramagiri, Sivanagiri etc., too were captured. On the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799, Bangalore district came to be included in the treaty of Srirangapatana as the territory of the Wodeyars of Mysore. Under the restored government, which followed, the districts of Bangalore and Kolar constituted the Bangalore Faujdari, which was afterwards called the Bangalore Division. This position continued until the formation of Nandidurg Division in 1863 whereafter the name Bangalore Division came to be confined to the area included in Bangalore district only. During the past hundred years and more the boundaries of the district have remained almost unchanged, though along with the other parts of the State, this district too has witnessed several administrative and political changes. The district now consists of four taluks, which has one revenue sub-divisions for administrative purposes. The erstwhile composite Bangalore taluk was constituted into two separate units named Bangalore North and Bangalore South for the administrative convenience and again after 2001 Census Bangalore East taluk was created by bifurcating Bangalore South taluk.