Basavakalyana Fort Historical Facts and Pictures

Basavakalyana Fort, also known as Kalyana Fort is an integral part of Basavakalyana town and is situated in Bidar district of Karnataka, India. During the Chalukya dynasty, Tailapa II defeated the Rashtrakutas and occupied the fort, which was later established as the capital.

Basavakalyana Fort Images

Entrance to the Basavakalyana Fort

There are seven gates with the main gate to the centrally located citadel being known as the Akhand Darwaza.

Basavakalyana Fort Photos

Basavakalyana Fort Entrance

According to the inscriptions at the fort, Nalaraja constructed it in 973 AD, which went on to become the strategic headquarters of the Basavakalyana town. Subsequently, the Chalukya dynasty went into decline and the fort passed on to a number of rulers including the Sultan of Ahmadnagar, the Bijapur Sultans, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Kalachuri dynasty, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Nizams and the Yadavas among others.

Basavakalyana Fort Pictures

The fort shows traces of being refurbished by different rulers in their own unique style. Bijjala Deva of the Kalachuri dynasty had overthrown Tailapa III and killed his whole family to capture the fort. He patronized Jainism and later renounced the fort in favor of his son Sovideva. In the 16th century, the Chalukya dynasty ruler Rama Raya, also known as the “Chalukyan Emperor” or the ‘Lord of Kalyana’, allied with different Muslim rulers to gain control of the fort, but never occupied it.

Basavakalyana Fort

Strategically, the fort is a masterpiece. It is enveloped with natural camouflage which makes it indiscernible to the enemy until they are too close. The complexity of the guard rooms, the barbicans and the irregular and strong walls are a unique feature of this fort. It has a deep moat encircling it and the gateways have openings which were used to hinder the enemy with boiling oil.