Kanakuppa Fort, Near Jagalur Karnataka

         This about lesser known place located in Jagalur Taluk of Davanagere District . This place is known  as "Kilah Kanakuppa" . This fort was built by Palegars of Chitradurga . Erstwhile town of  Jagalur was located inside the fort  .  Few decades back people moved out of the fort and three new villages were formed , namely Jagalur (current), Kilah Kanakuppa and Kanakuppa. Jagalur today is the Taluk Headquarter .  

        Kilah Kanakuppa is a largely fortified town . But it lacks the complexity of Chitradurga fort . The main fortification cover three small hillocks . The important aspect of the fort is  an area encompassed inside the fort walls .Another aspect is that, the fort has just one outer wall .The boundaries of  the fort by itself act as natural defense from enemies .

       Direction from Bangalore :  Bangalore- NH4- Chitradurga-NH13 till Jagalur Cross (30kms from Chitradurga) take left -SH45-Jagalur- SH45 Kanakuppa Cross (4kms from Jagalur)- take left -Kanakuppa. Total Distance from Bangalore - around 240 kms .

The Fort and the Hillocks

        Some time in April this year,  we were travelling from Hospet to Jagalur to meet our relatives . On  our way we saw this fort and wished to visit this next time whenever we get  an occasion  . After inquiring about the fort, we came to know the name of this fort as Kanakuppa Fort . It is believed that Sage Kanva did his penance here in a cave.It is also believed that there is also a secret passage from here that leads to Chitradurga fort .
       Villagers here are quite helpful and will eagerly show one the fort . But there are  a lot of Sloth bears in the area of fort according to them . But one can avoid such areas. Much of the fortification still remain . Most interesting point is that of  rain water harvesting system, which is so evident across the different regions of  the fort. Its just not here but many forts have developed or felt the necessity of rain water harvesting .

Direction to pond

The First of the many ponds

Second of the many ponds

The third one and so on!

       There are a few temples at the base of the hill and at the fort entrance . There are two entrances to the fort. The first is from the Kilah Kanakuppa side and other from Kanakuppa . Both entrances are huge .

Entrance from the Kilah Kanakuppa

Inside view of Entrance

The Kanakuppa entrance from inside

The Kanakuppa entrance from outside

Door Hinge

Viragals or Hero stones kept outside the temple 

Pair of Dusky Crag Martins

Ruined temple

        This temple was in a really bad shape whereas the temple besides it was in a fairly good shape and was also being used by locals for worshiping. Probably this temple was plundered during war or by local people in search of treasures. There are a lot of Viragals or Hero stones around and inside these temples .

Temple viewed from the top of the fort

Ruined structure

Top portion of fort on one hill

Top portion of the fort on another hill

Fort

Note the carvings on the right side pillar of the entrance

Highest point of the fort

Lord Hanuman

Final view of Fort

        This place is an ideal place for weekend outing  . Chitradurga is ideal place for accommodation . This  place is fairly  clean and tidy . Nice place for birdwatching too . But no sign of ASI ( Archeological survey of India ) .

Trip Date: 18 July 2010

Places near by : Chitradurga Fort , Chandravalli  gardens, Jogi matti , Uchchangipura fort , Uchchangidurga fort , Ujjini Temple , Ramdurga Fort , many more

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3. Madhugiri fort