Bengaluru Fort

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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Bengaluru Fort, originally built as a mud fort in 1537 by Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore, was transformed into a stone fort in 1761 by Hyder Ali and further enhanced by his son Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century.

The fort played a crucial role during the Anglo-Mysore Wars and was captured by the British East India Company in 1791 during the Third Mysore War. Architecturally, the fort is a blend of Dravidian and Islamic styles, featuring strong granite walls, bastions, and the prominent Delhi Gate with intricate carvings and motifs.

Inside the fort complex is Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, noted for its teak wood pillars, ornate arches, painted ceilings, and Indo-Islamic artistic influences. Despite damage sustained in battles, parts of the fort remain well-preserved, including a Ganesha temple reflecting Tipu Sultan’s religious tolerance.