India

Chikkajala Fort Near Bengaluru to Be Restored with CSR Funding

By Rashmi Patil

A decade after part of the Chikkajala Fort was demolished for road works, the 25‑km‑from‑Bengaluru fort on the route to Kempegowda International Airport will soon be restored using Corporate Social Responsibility funds from a private organisation. A ceremony marked the start of the project, attended by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, members of INTACH and Kashi Ra, the funding organisation. The fort houses a small Anjaneya Swamy Temple where a local priest performs daily puja, and a kalyani and stone mantapas on two acres under survey number 116, which fall under the Revenue Department’s jurisdiction. Built in the 19th century in the Vijayanagara style, the structures served as rest stops for soldiers, businesspeople and others travelling long distances. A senior official from the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage noted carvings of nagabhanda, elephant, shivalinga, purnakumba, anjaneya, fishes, birds and others on the stones. When The Hindu visited, large trees and bushes had grown inside the mantapa, with branches and roots covering the roof and flooring, while the stones of the kalyani and Anjaneya Temple remained intact. The kalyani has been dry for a long time. In 2016, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) demolished the northern entrance of the fort during a NH 44 widening project, turning the once circular fort into a semi‑circular shape that opens onto the road. Meera Iyer, convener of the Bengaluru Chapter of INTACH, said villagers reported that the kalyani’s bottom was cemented during a film shoot, explaining the lack of water. She added that INTACH has yet to begin documentation and study on how to preserve the trees and restore the mantapa stones. In previous projects, INTACH retained trees and restored walls with expert help. After documentation, a Detailed Project Report and cost calculation will be prepared. Iyer added that once restored, the fort will become a tourist attraction for visitors to Bengaluru, and cultural activities are likely to be organised to raise awareness of its history and importance. She also plans to involve architecture students to give them hands‑on experience with live restoration projects.