Basavakalyana Fort — Attraction in Karnataka

Basavakalyana fort, earlier known as Kalyana fort is located in Bidar district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Its historic importance is dated to the 10th century. The capital of Chalukyas was also shifted from Manyakheta to Kalyana in the 10th century. The fort, integral to the Basavakalyana town, is also famous as Karmabhoomi of Basavanna (founder of Lingayatha community) and hundreds of other Sharanas (saints of Lingayatha community)

Basavakalyana (known in the history as Kalyana) with its fort was the centre of a great social and religious movement, in the 12th century, because of Basaveshwara, the social reformer. It became a seat of learning. Basaveshwara, Akka Mahadevi, Channabasavanna, Siddarama and many more Sharanas are associated with Basavakalyana. Basaveshwara, in particular, fought against casteism and orthodoxy in Hinduism.

[History] The later Chalukyas, under Tailapa II (973–997 CE), defeated the Rashtrakutas. They established their capital at Kalyana, now renamed officially after Indian independence in 1947, as Basavakalyana in Bidar district. During the Kalyana Chalukya's reign of Taila II itself, the fort was constructed in 973 by Nalaraja. Inscriptions at the fort ascribe to this fact.

Basavakalyana, with its fort as its headquarters, was the royal capital of the Western Chalukya (Kalyani Chalukya) dynasty from 1050 to 1195. Someshvara I (1041–1068) made Kalyana as his capital, recognised as Kalyani Chalukyas to differentiate with Badami Chalukyas. Later it was ruled by Someshvara II, Vikramaditya VI, Someshvara III, Jagadeka Malla III and Tailapa III. During 10th-12th centuries, this dynasty controlled nearly half of India.[citation needed] Subsequent rulers such as Kalachuri dynasty, Yadavas, Gayasuddin Khilji, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Sultan of Bidar, Bijapur Sultans, Sultan of Ahmadnagar, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Mughals, and the Nizams controlled the fort and refurbished it.

In fact, the Bijjala Deva (1130–1167) of the Kalachuri dynasty who was feudatory Chief of the Chalukyas from 1156 to 1168, overthrew the Tailapa III of the Chalukya Kingdom, killed the ruler and his entire Chalukya family,[citation needed] and ruled for a short spell of 5 years, from 1163–1167, over the entire Deccan and Kalinga. He shifted his capital from Mangaliveda (Mangalavada) to Kalyani and made it his new capital. He abdicated in 1167 in favour of his son Sovideva, but was murdered later in 1168. Bijjala was a Jain but is said to have patronized and favored spread of Virashaivism - a new religious belief started by Basaveshwara. Basaveshwara also became the powerful Prime Minister under Bijjala and used his authority to spread his religious philosophy. Kalachuri's rule was short-lived and Chalukays regained their kingdom, though for a short time.

In 1310, the fort was attacked by Mallil Kafur during his southern invasion. In the 16th century, Vijayanagar Emperor Rama Raya (1484–1565) traced his ancestry with the past Chalukyan Kingdom (974–1190) and also with this dynasty's capital, Kalyana. He was also called the ‘Lord of Kalyana’, apart from being known as the "Chalukyan Emperor". He had aligned with different Muslim rulers of the Deccan during his reign to have a symbolic control of the Kalyan fort. In 1543, he defeated the Sultan of Bidar and gave control of the fort to Sultan of Bijapur. In 1549, when equations changed, he allied with Sultan of Ahmadnagar and attacked the Kalyana fort and gave its control to his ally. However, in 1558, after the death of Bijapur Sultan, his son Adil Shah I forged friendship with Rama Raya and defeated the Sultan of Ahmadnagar. Raya had set three conditions of surrender to the defeated Sultan of Ahmadnagar, one was that the Sultan would meet him in his tent and accept paan (combination of betel not and betel leaf), the second was that the Sultan's general would be executed and the third was to hand over the key of Kalyana fort to him personally. All three conditions were met. The key to the Kalyana fort was handed over by the Hussain of Ahmadnagar formally to...

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At a distance of 1.6 km from Basavakalyan Bus Stand, 80 km from Bidar and 78 km from Gulbarga, Basavakalyan Fort, earlier known as Kalyani Fort is located in the town of Basavakalyan.

Basavakalyan Fort is considered to be one of the oldest and most imposing forts in South India. It was built by King Nalaraja in the 10th century. Basavakalyan, earlier known as Kalyani, was the royal capital of the Western Chalukyan Dynasty from 1050 to 1189. The name was changed to Basavakalyan in 1956. It is named after Basaveshwara, a spiritual scholar from 12th century. During the rule of Chalukyas, Jainism flourished and a large number of Jain images were carved on the walls of the forts by Chalukya kings.

This fort was ruled by Yadavas of Devagiri, Kalachuris, Western Chalukyas, Bijapur Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bahamani Sultanate and Hyderabad Nizams. After the fall of Western Chalukyas in 12th century the fort lost its important though small additions to the fort were continued further. The fort still shows signs of different dynasties ruled this region.

The fort is strategically built as a defensive structure, with inter-connecting boulders scattered on the hills with strong fort walls. The fort has seven gates, five of them are in perfect condition. At the entrance there is a solid arch with balconies which can be accessed by steps on both sides. The main gate to the citadel is known as the Akhand Darwaza and has been built with four red stone slabs. There is a temple adjoining the Rajmahal palace and a square pond in front of the temple, towards the west side of the temple is the Rani Mahal.

The majority of the places in the fort are now in ruins, the only maintained structure that can be found here is the mosque as an Urdu school is running here. The museum adjoining the fort has a number of Jain idols which belong to the 10th and 11th centuries. There is a large cannon placed at one of the bastions...

Basavakalyan fort, also known by as the Kalayana fort is one of the most important forts of India as per the historical strata. The fort is located in Bidar district of Karnataka and can be traced back to the 10th century. The Basavakalyan fort was the capital of Chalukyas who shifted to Kalyana from Manyakheta in the 10th century. The Basavakalyan fort remained vital to the Chalukyas for years and was also known by as the Karmabhoomi of Basavanna and also as a founding place of hundreds of other Sharanas.

The Basavakalyan fort was part of the social and religious epitome and was renowned for the works laid by Basaveshwara, the social reformer who lived during the 12th century. The place was a sea of learning bed with Basaveshwara, Channabasvanna, Akka Mahadevi, Siddarama all having an in-depth contribution towards the Basvakalyan. In fact, Basaveshwara, the social reformer, is credited with fighting against the casteism and orthodoxy from Hinduism.

The Basavakalyan fort is a strategically built one and harbors great defense structure set up in a camouflage technique. The Basavakalyan fort gives the residents therein a great plus point as the fort cannot be seen from far and the enemies travel to the fort without knowing that battle is lurking on. The fort is built on the line of Deccan strategy. The fort was built along by connecting the large boulders that remain scattered around and is further made complex along with barbicans and guard rooms. There are three concentric irregular fort walls.

The fort’s architectural design has seven gates setup with solid arch set on the balconies on the flanks along with steps on each side. There are also bastions and cannons alongside in the Basavakalyan fort. There are further openings or gateway in the fort that was used in dousing the enemies with the...