Bellary Fort, Bellary, Karnataka.
The Bellary Fort was built on top of a hill called the “Ballari Gudda” or the Fort Hill. It is situated in the historic city of Bellary, in the Bellary district, in Karnataka state, India.
The fort is located towards north-east of the town over a mass of granatoid hills at a height of 1976 feet, above the mean sea level. It is around 3.5 miles in circumference. The fort roughly triangular in shape is built of cyclopean masonry in granite and set in lime mortar has a coping of brick and lime with musket holes. It has circular and semi circular bastions at regular intervals. The lower fort has a moat about 18 feet deep and 30 to 40 feet wide. The main arched entrance leads to open courtyard, having a couple of secular structures and temples. On the peak of the hillock are a few ponds. A huge natural pond of irregular shape is at the foot of the hillock known as Naalacheruvu.
Another legend states that the city is named after Indra who slew a demon named Balla who lived nearby. Ballari means the enemy of Balla in Sanskrit. The third legend has it that the city’s name originated from the old Kannada word Vallari and Vallapuri. The temple dedicated to Shiva can still be found in the Fort area and an annual festival dedicated to Shiva is conducted in the premises every year.
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