Information on Kittur Chennamma Fort (Belgaum, Karnataka) - History & Architecture

The Kittur Chennamma Fort is considered to be a historical monument of great significance in Karnataka. Kittur is a small town in Belgaum District of Karnataka which enjoys a global reputation owing to the presence of the Kittur Chennamma Fort. The fort is located at a distance of about 50 kilometres from Belgaum and 32 kilometres away from Dharwad. Kittur is quite a small town along with being a fascinating tourist destination owing to the presence of old monuments, statues and palaces.

Kittur Chennamma Fort Architecture

The Kittur Fort was constructed by the fifth monarch hailing from the Kittur dynasty, Allppa Gowda SarDesai during the period of his rule that is 1660 to 1691 A.D. The mentioned fort was possessed by Rani Chennamma along with the Desai Marathas of Kittur. Rani Chennamma was a woman warrior of Lingayat religion who took violent action and resisted the British in the year 1824. A majestic palace was also erected within the fort where he resided. The construction of the fort was made with the usage of Black coloured basalt rock which was found in abundant quantity in the adjoining regions of Kittur. The Kittur Fort occupies an area of more than 23 acres and is encircled with a trench which used to be formerly filled with water sourced from a certain lake which was situated near to the wall on the eastern side of the fort. The fort walls on both the sides are not much tall in height. The fort complex chiefly consists of a watch tower, Kittur palace, archaeological museum and water reservoir. It needs to be mentioned in this regard that the museum was an additional which was made much later in order to conserve the historical objects of the palace and the fort. The fort as well as the palace inside it was constructed according to the Peshwa-Islamic architectural pattern. The palace inside the Kittur Fort is a structure with three different floors which comprised several rooms.

Kittur Chennamma Fort History

Increased degree of historical importance is associated with the Kittur Chennamma Fort as this was the venue from where the fight for freedom against the British was carried out by Rani Chennamma. It is learnt that Rani Chennamma ordered the launch of a fully armed insurgence in opposition to the British rulers as a result of their unwanted intervention regarding the matter of tax collection in Rani Chennamma's state. The historical exceptionality lies in the noteworthy actuality that the war for freedom was fought by her in the year 1824 which was thirty three years earlier to the mutiny of 1857 which is believed and recorded to be the initial battle for India's independence in history. The armed forces of Kittur made its advancement on 3rd of December in the year 1824. The British captured the fort on 5th of December in the same year after defeating and capturing Rani Chennamma. After the fort fell into the hands of the British force, it was robbed off its valuables and prized ornaments. The Kittur Chennamma Fort is believed to stand as a substantiation of the great fight back for freedom which was initiated by Rani Chennamma. Therefore, to sum it up it can be well stated that the Kittur Chennamma Fort is regarded as a representation of valour as well as women's pride.

Kittur Chennamma Fort Tourism Importance

The town of Kittur is a popular tourist destination because of the numerous historical monuments present there. The Kittur Chennamma Fort is indeed another imperative attraction in Kittur which draws the attention of tourists to a great extent globally.