Chitradurga F

ort, Chitradurga
Fort,
Chitradurga is situated at a
distance of 190 km from
Bangalore on Bangalore
Pune National Highway. The
place grew into an important
corridor of transit during the
late medieval period as
attested by many inscriptions
of Chalukyas, Hoyasalas and
Vijayanagara period. It is
locally known as Elu
Sutina Kote meaning seven
circled walled fort. The fort
gained prominence during the
Vijayanagara Empire. On the
fall of the Empire,
Chitradurga declared its
independence and ruled
effectively by local rulers
from AD 1568 to 1779. The
architectural rendering of the
fortification is known for its
massive walls encircling the
palace with majestic guarded
gateways, magazines, water
storage tanks, bastions at
regular intervals etc.

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Chitradurga

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 100-200
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Improvement to the area
around the fort by
clearing modern
structures.
2. A good approach
through well laid road
from the Highway to the
fort.
3. Revival of water bodies
and forestation at
Chitradurga.

41

Sravanabelgola, Hassan

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Hassan

This site is comprised of

three distinct units - namely,
a small town called
Sravanabelgola situated in
between two rocky hills viz.
Chandragiri (Chikkalbetta)
and Vindhyagiri
(Doddabetta). The place
was sanctified by the visit of
Bhadhrabahu, a Jaina
ascetic (Srutakebalin) along
with the Mauryan Emperor
Chandragupta and a large
entourage of ascetics and
pilgrims around the 3rd
century BC. After the 7th
century AD, the place came
under the patronage of
various ruling families and
gradually grew into a great
Digambara Jaina centre.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 100 - 150
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Restoring the base of
the hills i.e. both
Chandragiri and
Vindhyagiri by
rehabilitating all
modern occupants.
2. Reviving ancient tanks
and forests.

42

Sangeet Nari Mahal, Navraspur

,Bijapur
Navraspur,Bijapur

Karnataka

Navraspur (Bijapur)

BANGALORE

This is one of the most important

visible representations of
Adilshahi architecture in the
region. This 16th century
monument is located 3 km away
from Bijapur town. It comprises
of remains of a palace building
and a pond enclosed by a high
wall.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 25 - 100
Lakhs for following
activities:
1.
2.
3.
4.

43

Structural repairs.
Approach road.
Tourism amenities.
Landscaping.

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur

Karnataka

Bijapur

BANGALORE

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 25 - 100
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Structural repairs.
2. Tourist amenities.
3. Refurbishing of
gardens.

Gol Gumbaz was built in AD 1626 by

Mohammad Adil Shah. It is well known
for its whispering gallery. The dome of
the tomb is second largest in the world
and the monument is visited by a large
number of tourists. Built on a high
platform, the complex also accommodates
a mosque to the west of the tomb. The
eastern entrance has been converted into a
site museum. The tomb is situated amidst
a huge garden.

44

Temples at Halebidu, Hassan

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Hassan

The ascent of Vishnuvardhana (AD 1108 1152)

to the Hoysala throne formed a glorious phase in
the political and cultural history of the Hoysala
dynasty. During his regime and that of his
successors, different cults like Hinduism and
Jainism co-existed with utmost religious harmony
well attested by at least half a dozen religious
edifices in the form of temples and basadis built in
the capital city. They include the Hoysalesvara and
Kedaresvara temples and the basadis of Adinatha,
Parsvanatha and Shantinatha. The temples of
Halebidu are famous for their exquisite sculptures.
The intricate designs on the stone create an illusion
of lathe turned carvings.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 25 - 60
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Structural repairs.
2. Tourist amenities.
3. Refurbishing of
gardens.

45

Ali Rauza, Bijapur

Karnataka

Bijapur

BANGALORE

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 20 50
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

This modest edifice is the earliest royal Mausoleum in

Bijapur (AD 1557 1580). Ali I constructed his own
tomb in the fields of the southwest quarter of the city.
The tomb is a low, almost square structure. Each of its
four walls is being pierced by five arches. In the inner
chamber, there are four graves two of adults, a male
and a female and two of children. The exterior walls
of this chamber are painted. Over the northern
doorway, there are painted inscriptions pertaining to
the Shiah profession of the faith. The throne verse
contains the words Allah and Muhammad his
apostle.

46

Gulburga F
ort , Gulburga
Fort

Karnataka

Gulburga

BANGALORE

The fort at Gulburga was originally

built by Raja Gulchand and later
strengthened by Ala-ud-din Bahmani.
It contains 15 bastions and 26 guns,
one of which is 25 ft. long. The 16 m
thick walls of the fort are frequently
punctuated by semi-circular bastions
and surrounded by a 30 m 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. A mosque, inside the fort, was
built by Rafi, the son of Shams from
Iran in AD 1367 .

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 100 - 200
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

47

Bidar Fort, Bidar

Karnataka

Bidar

BANGALORE

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 1 - 2
Crores for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

Bidar Fort was

constructed in AD
1425-1432 by Sultan
Ahmad Shah. It was
considered one of the
most formidable forts
of India. Engineers and
architects of various
countries were
employed for its design
and construction. Built
of large blocks of black
stone, this impressive
fort stands out in
striking contrast to the
rich red terrain of the area. It is surrounded by a 5.5 km long
defense wall, some features of which were destroyed in the
invasion of AD 1452, and rebuilt during the period of
Shamsuddin Muhammad III. Following the introduction of
gun powder, extensive improvements including mounting of
guns, were made by Ali Barid Shah. One of the huge guns here
is 4.72 m. long and 63.5 cm. across the muzzle and has 48.26
cm bore. The Solah Khamba mosque, the Mahals (Palaces),
secular structures, baths, kitchens and pleasure pavilions are
notable structures inside the fort.

48

Group of Monuments, Badami

Karnataka

Badami

BANGALORE

The group of eight temples at Badami is situated on the eastern margin of a

lake. The main temple is a composite work of different periods. Its closed hall
and the shrine are of the earliest period, while its outer open hall was
constructed much later. Within the shrine is placed a linga of a later period.
The temple has been left unfinished. The older parts of the temple date from the
ninth century AD.
Besides this temple there are seven other shrines having regional architectural
beauties. On the northern side, a later shrine abuts the temple wall which has
images of Ganesa and Mahishasurmardini. Gajalakshmi is seen on the door
lintel and there are dvarpalas on either side of the shrine door.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 50 - 100
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

49

Pancha Basadi, Govindanahalli

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Govindanahalli

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 20 - 30
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

Govindanahalli once
formed a part of
Gangavadi under the
Gangas of Talkad.
Later it came under
the Chola rule. The
Hoysalas annexed the
Chola territory and
ruled Govindanahalli
between the 12th and
13th centuries AD. The
Panchalingesvara
temple is a good
specimen of the
Hoysala style. The
temple has five
garbha-grihas in north-south orientation and faces east. It is the only extant
specimen of Hoysala temple having quintuple plan. They have a separate
sukanasi and navaranga in the same orientation. All are connected to a long
pillared hall at the eastern side of the structure. There are two entrance
doorways opposite the second and third garbha-grihas respectively with a
porch for each. The wall is modestly decorated with pilaster turrets, each having
sculptural representations of the Bhagavata and epics.
The navaranga has seventeen niches, some of them having beautiful sculptures
of the Hoysala art. The famous Hoysala sculptor, Mallitamma is said to have
carved two dvarapala figures here. On stylistic grounds, the temple can be
dated around AD 1237-1238.

50

Laxmi Narasimha T
emple, Marehalli
Temple,

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Marehalli

Marehalli was an old agrahara during the time of Gangas. It

was known as Rajasraya Vinnagaram during the time of
Rajaraja I (AD 985-1012) of the Chola dynasty. With the
victory of the Hoysalas over Cholas at Talkad, this area passed
on to them and was subsequently ruled by Vijayanagara rulers,
Wodeyars of Mysore, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. The temple,
built during the reign of Rajaraja Chola has a garbha-griha,
antarala and a mukha-mandapa, all enclosed by a pillared
prakara. In the sanctum, an image of Lakshminarasimha is
enshrined.
The temple was renovated and restored during the Hoysala and
Vijayanagara periods. The shrine has an imposing mahadvara
of typical Vijayanagara style. Another small Siva shrine is
located to the northeast of the complex.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 10 - 40
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

51

Group of Monuments, Srirangapatna

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna or the abode of Sri Ranganatha has

a chequered history. During the time of Hoysalas,
a small town flourished here. A fort was built here
in AD 1454 by the local Nagamangala chief
Timmana Dandanayaka. During the Vijayanagara
rule, it was directly ruled by Vijayanagara
viceroys. Mysore Wodeyars took possession of
this place during the reign of Raja Wodeyar,
which ultimately became the capital of Haider Ali
and Tipu Sultan till it was captured by the British
in AD 1799.

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 75 - 100
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

The Summer Palace of Tipu Sultan is

constructed mostly of teak wood in Indo Islamic
style. This building was built outside the
Srirangapatna fort, on the bank of Kaveri River in
AD 1784 .
Wooden pillared corridors run along its four
sides. The eastern and western wings have walls,
while the other two wings have recessed bays
with pillars supporting the roof of the upper
storey. The most striking feature of the building is
the artistically painted walls, ceilings, pillars,
canopies and arches. The outer walls depict battle
scenes and portrait paintings, while the interior
walls are decorated with scrolls of thin foliage
and floral patterns.

52

Nambinarayana T
emple, T
onnur
Temple,
Tonnur

Located on the southern slopes of a small hillock

locally called Yadugiri, Tonnur was a provincial
capital of the Hoysalas. According to the tradition,
the Vaishnava saint Sri Ramanuja stayed here for
several years. The Nambinarayana temple
belongs to the 12th century AD. The temple has a
garbha-griha, a sukanasi, a navaranga and a
mukha-mandapa. The temple has simple
adhisthana mouldings with austere walls having
single pilasters. Devakoshthas are found at the
cardinal directions of garbha-griha .
The superstructure is a dvitala dravida vimana
with kuta, sala and panjara in the hara. The short
griva is surmounted by a stupi and finial. The
prastara is conspicuous by its absence. The 1.82
m high image of Narayana, standing on a Garuda
pedestal under a padma ceiling is a fine specimen
of Hoysala workmanship. The navaranga has
well polished soapstone pillars with exquisite
floral designs.

Karnataka

BANGALORE
Tonnur

Contributions solicited in
the range of Rs. 10 - 20
Lakhs for following
activities:
1. Conservation of
monuments.
2. Environmental
development.
3. Providing tourist
facilities.

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