The Belgaum fort is the primary tourist attraction in Belgaum. A number of
dynasties ruled and governed Belgaum and as such
the Belgaum
fort has undergone many additions and renovations throughout its existence,
with each dynasty making changes according to their own sensibilities and style.
The Ratta Dynasty built the original mud and stone structure of the fort in
the 13th century, under the guidance of a Ratta officer named Bichiraja but it
was Yakub Ali Khan of the Bijapur Sultanate who took the initiative in
transforming the fort into an invincible fortress surrounded by a deep moat,
huge walls, bastions, battlements and parapets.
One of the oldest forts in Karnataka, the Belgaum
fort served as a fortification against the attacks of invading armies. It
steadfastly held fort as Belgaum
played host to a multitude of dynasties, from the Rattas, the Vijayanagar
emperors, the Bijapur Sultans, the Marathas and finally the British. Eventually,
during the freedom movement of India,
it was here that Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned.
Within
the walls of the Belgaum
fort is the Kamala Basti with
the Neminatha idol in black stone which is characteristic of the late Chalukya
style. The masterpiece here at the fort is the "Mukhamantapa" with a
well executed lotus on its ceiling.
The Belgaum fort is also an embodiment of the
legacy of religious tolerance in Belgaum.
Nestled within the ramparts of the fort are a number of sacred shrines
pertaining to different religions. The succession of rulers that held sway at
the fort took an indulgent view of the myriad of holy sites. At the entrance,
two shrines devoted to Ganapathi and Durga exist in harmony with the two
ancient mosques, the Safa Masjid and the Jamia Masjid.
For all
enthusiasts, there are several ways to get to Belgaum,
which is on the main Indian Railways grid and is well-connected by rail to
major destinations such as Bangalore, Mumbai and
Goa. It is also connected by road via the
National Highway 4 and 4A. Belgaum is also
connected by air with Bangalore, Goa, Mumbai,
Miraj and Kolahpur and the airport currently serving the city is the Belgaum Airport but the flight schedules are
infamous for being highly erratic.
|
.gif){kind=small}
