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Belagavi Fort

Belagavi Fort

heritage site · Karnataka

State
Karnataka
Type
Heritage Site

Belagavi Fort (Belgaum Fort) is a historic fort in Belagavi, northern Karnataka, notable for housing both mosques and temples side by side within its walls, including the Safa Masjid. It is currently used as the regional headquarters of the Indian Army.

Belagavi Fort is known for

Ratta dynasty foundationSafa MasjidHindu-Muslim architectural coexistencemulti-dynasty fortIndian Army headquarters today

A short history

The fort was begun in 1204 by Jaya Raya (Bichi Raja) of the Ratta dynasty, serving as the Ratta capital between 1210 and 1250. The Vijayanagara Empire became the established power by 1336. The Bahmani Sultanate captured the fort in 1474; after the Bahmani Sultanate split in 1518, Belgaum came under the Bijapur Adil Shahi dynasty. Following Aurangzeb's Mughal conquest in 1686, Maratha power expanded in the region and the fort eventually came under Peshwa control. British forces besieged the fort from 21 March to 12 April 1818, taking control and deposing the Peshwas. The fort's architecture reflects Indo-Saracenic and Deccan styles, with minars, domes and arches, and inscriptions in both Kannada and Persian. [Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgaum_Fort; Source: belagavi.nic.in/en/tourist-place/belagavi-fort-belagavi]

Why Belagavi Fort matters

Belagavi Fort is notable nationally as a rare example of continuous multi-dynastic control, reflected in its blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture and religious coexistence within a single fort complex.

When to go

October to March, best November-February

How to reach

Belagavi Airport (Sambra) is about 7 km from the city centre with flights to Bengaluru; Belagavi has a well-connected railway station and lies on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

Belagavi Fort guide & itineraries

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