3,000-year-old site in Bangalore is history

An eerie silence greets the chance visitor to Chikkajala Fort. The overgrown weeds and dilapidated structures will probably remind you of a set put up by an art director for a horror flick. But then, even Kannada filmmakers would possibly not have heard of these ruins on the outskirts of Bangalore.

The current two-acre fort, believed to have been built more than 200 years ago, needs immediate attention of the authorities concerned. The fort consists of a dilapidated dwelling and a huge hall supported by number of stone pillars. One has to muster enough courage to enter the hall because it may come crashing any moment.

It would also, therefore, be no surprise that there is no one to look after the fort except a priest who performs pooja at the Hanuman temple situated in the middle of the fort. There is not much to write home about the temple either. Though its gopuram is intricately sculptured, the day is not far off when it too may become dust.
“There are many people, including the revenue department, who claim ownership of this fort. There was one woman who had locked the doors of the fort claiming that it was her ancestors’ property. The gates remained under lock and key for quite some time. Those were thrown open finally when the police and revenue authorities intervened,’’ narrates A Ramasanjeevaiah, the priest.

On paper, the Chikkajala fort is described as a pre-historic site by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It’s a different story that there are no ASI signages to be seen around. Burial grounds in the area had prompted historians and archaeologists to date the fort to 1000 BC. Even the remains of the pre-historic era are now gone.

The tourism department had promised to take over the Chikkajala fort a few years ago, but there hasn’t been any headway. Except for a token whitewashing of the Hanuman temple, there are no official efforts to be seen. There is no one around even to clear the weeds, forget about renovating or repairing the dilapidated hall and dwellings within the fort premises. The pushkharini (pond) looks like a garbage dump.

“We have requested the state government on many occasions to take measures for the development of the fort, but in vain. Recently, the villagers joined hands to renovate the Chennakeshava temple, situated a few hundred metres away from the fort  without government support. I think it is better for the villagers to join hands for the development of the fort instead of running from pillar to post for government aid,’’ says a resident of Chikkajala. Even this temple, built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana, is believed to be 950 years old.

If this is not bad news enough, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has acquired a portion of the fort land to facilitate widening of the National Highway 7. It is believed that NHAI authorities have deposited Rs 84 lakh with the taluk office as compensation for the land acquired. With the drain work and widening of the road still incomplete, the fort looks like an open ground. Yes, even the ruins are disappearing.

Though no one has the guts to enter the fort for carrying out any activity, nefarious or otherwise, residents want the revenue department to hasten the construction of the fort wall and put up a gate as early as possible. “As of now the fort has electricity, but water supply is yet to be provided. I have requested the gram panchayat officials to supply borewell water,’’ says
Ramasanjeevaiah.

There is no published literature on the fort, he says, adding that he knew that his grand-father and father too had worked as priests at the temple.

There are no records, no ruins. And in the end, not even history might remain.