A fortress of tales
The fort's origins trace back to 1501, when a chieftain named Malla Byre Gowda, a vassal of the Vijayanagara Empire, constructed a mud structure on this very ground. According to local lore, Malla Byre Gowda's family were fleeing refugees from Kanchipuram who settled in the region after the clan leader, Rana Byre Gowda, was instructed in a dream to build a settlement here. The fort remained under the control of Malla Byre Gowda's descendants until the mid-18th century, when the Dalwai of Mysore, Nanjarajaiah, captured it. The fort's story took a dramatic turn when it passed into the hands of the legendary Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan. Tipu even renamed the town Yousafabad, though the new moniker never gained widespread use. During the Anglo-Mysore War in 1791, the fort was eventually conquered by Lord Cornwallis, thus ending the reign of the last Indian ruler.
A glorious history told in stone
The fort's architectural grandeur truly shines through in the detailed masonry. Its arched entryway is like a portal that transports you to a bygone era. As you wander the fort's roughly 20-acre oval expanse, you can almost feel the echoes of the past reverberating through the air. The granite walls, punctuated by 12 semi-circular bastions, stand as silent sentinels, each equipped with a gunpoint to guard against invaders. The elaborate cut-plasterwork adorning the east and west entrances draws the eye, hinting at the regal ambitions of its former occupants. Within the walls, the remnants of Hyder Ali's residence and the Hindu temples that dot the complex symbolise the fort's diverse cultural heritage. Yet, for all its historical significance, Devanahalli Fort has a certain air of melancholy, making it a unique visit that will stay in your mind for a long time.
