Basavanna’s Land of Action

The Basavakalyana Fort, through both its history and architecture, represents a supreme example of the amalgamation of various cultures in India. Ruled by every dynasty that came to power after the Chalukyas, the Fort is a unique example of unity in diversity.

The Fort by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

In the 10th century, the Chalukyas planned to make a comeback in the political scene of Karnataka. After winning a vicious war with the Rashtrakutas, they shifted their capital to Kalyana and decided to build a fort. Controlled by every dynasty that came to power after the Chalukyas, the fort reflects a unique amalgamation of their varied architectural contributions. The fort tells an epic tale of kings and queens, trust and betrayal, great people, and even greater social transformation.

With the fort as their seat of power, the Chalukyas controlled nearly half of India for two centuries. One of their most trusted individuals was the feudatory chief Bijjala Deva. However, this trust was misplaced, as Bijjala Deva killed the ruling king and his entire family, establishing the Kalachuri Dynasty. This betrayal, however, spelt good for the kingdom. With Bijjala Deva entered Basavanna, the saint who led significant social reforms in Southern India.

Another shocking twist in the story of the fort occurred in the 16th century when the Vijayanagara Emperor Rama Raya traced his ancestry to the Chalukyas, giving him the legitimate right to rule the city! This led to a long trail of alliances and broken promises. Rama Raya partnered with the Sultan of Bijapur and attacked the Bidari King. Later, he allied with the Sultan of Ahmednagar to attack the Bijapuri King. After some time, he formed another alliance with the Bijapuri Sultan to defeat the Sultan of Ahmednagar. All these broken alliances eventually led to Rama Raya's downfall when all three kingdoms joined forces to defeat him.

The most intriguing part of the fort, the Rangeen Mahal, earns its name due to its colourful paintings and sculptures. With beautiful motifs of vases, urns, and flowers adorning the walls and pillars, the Rangeen Mahal provides evidence of the fort's bright and rich past. The pond and mountain in the middle of the palace indicate that it was a place of relaxation for the kings.

Basavanna strongly criticized the casteism and orthodoxy of Hinduism and promoted Virashaivism. He rejected social and gender discrimination, superstitions, rituals, and sacrifices, expressing his messages through poems called Vaachanas. Bijjala Deva appointed Basavanna as his chief minister and patronized and promoted his teachings. Other important saints, such as Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna, and Siddarama, joined this revolution. Basavanna was so instrumental in this city that the Government of India changed the name of Kalyana to Basavakalyana.

Various other attractions dot the fort complex - a Talim Khana, used as a gymnasium; a dance courtyard; secret passages to underground chambers used as emergency escapes; and two beautifully carved cannons called the Khodak Bijli Thopu (Lightning Cannon) and the 694 cm long Navgaz.

Ruled by the Chalukyas, Kalachuris, Yadavas, Tughlaq, Bahamanis, Bidri Sultans, Bijapur Sultans, Ahmednagar Sultans, Vijayanagara Empire, Mughals, and ultimately the Nizams, the fort exhibits architectural elements belonging to all of them. Many important decisions that influenced the surrounding areas were made within this fort. This fort bears witness to numerous pasts and tales, forming a chapter in history that should never be forgotten.

The fort itself is strategically built. Set in a camouflaged location, the fort remains hidden until the attacker is within range of the numerous cannons lining the bastions of the fort's outer boundary. A deep moat is followed by three defensive boundaries, featuring guard rooms, barbicans, and openings for pouring boiling oil and water on approaching enemies. The fort walls are engraved with yallis which are fearless guardian figures. The fort has seven gates, each offset from the causeway to prevent a large number of enemies from gathering at the gate.

The path leads to a mosque, a records room, and the Durbar hall. The Durbar Hall is a huge, imposing structure with a row of fountains in the middle. It was originally lined with wooden pillars, most of which have decayed. An eastern path leads to a deep well with high steps for drawing water, continuing to the Haider Mahal and the Rangeen Mahal.

The main door, called the Akhand Darwaza, leads to an open courtyard with a fountain in the centre. The platform, once used for Muharram prayers, now serves as a school. A flight of steps leads to the Rajmahal Palace, whose ceiling displays colorful patterns. The central wall exhibits a beautiful pattern of vases and urns. The adjoining temple, though without a deity, showcases gorgeous sculptures. A square pond is located in front of the temple, while the Rani Mahal stands towards the west.

The Temple in the Fort by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Halls of the Rajmahal by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Navgaz by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Rang Mahal by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Blasthead of the Cannon by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The courtyard with a platform for Muharram Prayers by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Rajmahal by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

Cannon balls line the pathways of the fort by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Khadak Bijli Thopu by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The fort mosque by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Ceilings of the Palace by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

A statue of Basavanna

The Main Door of the Fort by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html

The Dance Courtyard by https://karnatakatravel.blogspot.com/2012/08/kalyana-fort-jan-2011.html