Saundatti Fort, also known as "Savadatti Fort" is located in the western part of Savadatti town in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. It is an irregular shaped military structure built in the 18th century by Navalgund Sirasangi Desai with 8 bastions. The fort is a tourist destination in Saundatti and is visited by hundreds of locals and history lovers every year. The Kadasiddheshwara Temple, located in the centre of the fort, is a major attraction here. Recently, a new temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman has been built inside the fort.
Location of Saundatti Fort
Located in the Savadatti town, on its western part, the fort is constructed over a small hill. The hill is covered with a thick forest of prickly pear. It is in the Belgaum district of Karnataka and is 83 kms away from Belgaum.
History of Saundatti Fort
The Savadatti town in which the fort lies was ruled by the Ratta Dynasty from 9th to 13th centuries. In 1730, the Savanur Nawab gifted Savadatti along with Dharwar village to the Navalgund Sirasangi Desai who built the fort in 1734. When the fort came under the control of Hyder Ali of Mysuru, the Desai declared his allegiance to him.
Features of Saundatti Fort
Saundatti Fort, built on a rising ground, is in the shape of a nine-sided polygon. The fort is fortified with eight bastions and is surrounded by a moat. The entrance gate to this fort is well built and is accessed via a flight of steps. The ramparts of this fort are built with stone pillars that form a passage. There is a smaller fort within the main fort which houses the Kadasiddheshwara Temple, surrounded by 4 bastions. Around the Kadasiddheshwara temple in the inner chajja of the prakara there is a row of beautiful carvings of geometrical patterns with over 200 ornamental carvings in geometric designs, some of them are painted. Within the fort lies a large pond surrounded by high parapet walls.
Visiting Information of Saundatti Fort
The nearest airport is Belgaum Airport and the nearest railway station to Saundatti is located in Dharwad at a distance of about 45 km. One can either hire a cab or catch a bus to Saundatti. Since Saundatti is a developed town, it has good road connectivity. Therefore, you can easily access the fort by road.
