Tag: belgaum

Forts around Belgaum

Forts in Belgaum
Original map courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.(Click to enlarge)
  1. Belgaum – 15.8582227,74.5244586
  2. Rajhansgad also known as Yellurgarh – 15.7573404,74.5260626
  3. Kalanidhgarh – 15.860153,74.252086
  4. Mahipalgarh – 15.9020078,74.3833423
  5. Gandharvagarh – 15.9543662,74.2411745
  6. Unknown near Vannur – 15.9898203,74.8747846
  7. Subapur/Somapur – 15.902565,74.9809921
  8. Anandgarh – 15.5596271, 74.5268726
  9. Pargarh/Pargad – 15.8169261,74.0453196
  10. Hanumangarh – 15.8504048,73.9707595
  11. Bhimgad – 15.5971214, 74.2971468
  12. Haliyal – 15.3347149,74.7540879
  13. Kittur – 15.6006349,74.791671

Belgaum’s Natural Fortifications

The fortified defenses around Belgaum are helped by the natural fortification surrounding them. In all directions there is a range or a ridge that blocks direct access into the flat area in which Belgaum is situated.

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Gajendragarh

Todays map of fort’une is of Gajendragarh. Once belonging to Shivaji, it lies pretty much in ruins today.

Easiest way to locate the town of Gajendragarh is look right of the center of the Bijapur-Dharwad-Hospet triangle.

The fort is on the hill north of the town. The hill is actually the southern end of a ridge that starts around Gajendragarh and extends north-westwards towards Belur.

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The detail shows atleast one fortification that forms an enclosure and another that seems to extend to the west of the hill. Google doesn’t have very good imagery of this area.

I was a bit surprised that the AMS map, which I generally take as definitive when it comes to forts, did not show the fort at Gajendragarh. That is a lesson learned. On the other hand, it does show a smaller fort at the extreme end of the ridge. The green patch in the image is the ridge, with Gajendragarh at the SE corner and the smaller fort at the NW corner. Almost as if the ridge was to be protected or the towns East of the ridge were to be observed from these.

Gajendragarh and fortification in vicinity
Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.

Zoom out and switch to terrain mode to see the ridge spanning the area between the two forts. Information on travel to Gajendragarh is