Beltangady: Tipu Sultan's Manjrabad Fort Lies in Shambles
 
Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (RD/CN)
 
Beltangady, Aug 20: There was a king who, when he was gravely ill, sought the blessings of Manjunatha Swamy of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala to recover form his ailment. He regained his health and was on his way to inaugurate a newly-built fort, near here, when he saw mist all over the area. He named the fort as Manjunath and also Manjrabad. The king is none other than Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan. The same fort is also known as Tipu’s Fort.
 
It lies at Donigal, six kilometres away from Sakleshpura on the Mangalore–Bangalore national highway. The fort is located on a hillock and can be accessed through 250 steps. The construction of the fort began in 1782 and completed in 1792. It was used to manufacture canons and supply to other locations across the erstwhile Mysore kingdom. It was used as a training ground for the soldiers.

The fort lies about 3240 mts above sea level and occupies nearly five hectares. It has the shape of a star, while the sentry points were located in nine places,. There is also a well with water.
 
During Tipu’s time, if one had to go to Mangalore, one had to pass by a village called Kyanalli. In order to monitor the movement of troops on horseback and foot soldiers, the fort was built on a hillock. Kyanalli is about 60 to 70 kms away from the fort and was significant in planning the assault on enemy troops.
 
The local people believe that there are two tunnels at the fort to reach Srirangapattana and Kyanalli. As per a study by the tourism department, the tunnels were built to safely store the cannons.
 
When one closely views the fort, one can marvel at the indigenous technology used to manufacture cannons, conduct war games, horse stables, barns to store food grains, assembly line of cannons, bathing points, secret exit points to recoup and fight afresh, sentry points, etc.
 
The fort is surrounded by a 4 x 3 ft trench which used to flow with water and had crocodiles designed to keep the enemy troops away.
 
Tipu Sultan had built three forts. The one that was built in this taluk is locally known as ‘Gadaikallu’ and he had named it Jamalabad fort, in memory of his dear mother. The other one was built in Kasargod district and is known as Bekal fort.
 
Tippu is believed to have lived in Manjrabad Fort for seven years. The fort came under attack for imperial forces on May 4, 1799, after Tipu died in the war on March 5 1799. The forces destroyed the living quarters of Tipu and nearly a quarter-portion of entire fort. The fort was built with granite stones and bricks, with plaster of lime. However, the roof of the fort is leaking in many places due to the passage of two centuries and is on the verge of collapse.
 
The tourism department and Archaeological Survey of India have the responsibility to maintain the fort to its original glory for posterity.