Tipu Sultan's birth place: Devanahalli

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

- St. Augustine

Devanahalli port

Devanahalli is a small town on the outskirts of Bangalore. The town shot into fame the day it was chosen for the construction of International Airport. Devanahalli also is a potential tourist and heritage hotspot.

HISTORY:

• According to historical records Devanahalli, was earlier called Devanadoddi or Devanapura.
• The fort was built in 1501 by Mallabairegowda of Avati clan, with the consent of 'Devappa' a feudatory at Devanadoddi. Subsequently the name was changed to Devanahalli.
• The fort remained under the Avati rulers until 1747, when Mysore Dalawai, Nanjarajaiah, attacked the fort and captured it. Subsequently Devanahalli was usurped by the Marathas and reclaimed by the Mysore army under the leadership of Haider Ali.
• During the reign of Tipu Sultan Lord Cornwallis laid siege to the fort and took possession of it during the Mysore War of 1791.
• The original mud fort built by the Avati rulers was renovated and the present stone fort was built by Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan after they recaptured the place from the Marathas.
• When Tipu came to power, he renamed it as Yusufabad (the abode of Yousuf, the finest man), which however did not prove to be popular.

Tipu Sultan born place

ABOUT TIPU SULTAN:

• Tipu Sultan was born, probably on 20th November 1750 in Devanahalli.
• He was the second son of Haidar Ali and his second wife, Fatima or Fakr-un-nissa. Her father, Muin-ud-din, was Governor of the Fort of Cuddapah, and her uncle died fighting for Haidar Ali at the Battle of Porto Novo in 1781.
• The birthplace of Tipu Sultan, located very close to the Devanahalli Fort is just stands a small enclosed structure, with a sign announcing that this was where Tipu was born.
• The area around the enclosure is known as Khas Bagh and has a dried up stone pond, banana, tamarind and mango plantations.

VISITING PLACES:

• The town hosts several important monuments such as the birth place of Tipu Sultan, a fort and beautiful temples dedicated to Chandramauleshwara, Venugopalaswamy and Nageshwara among others.
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  The house in which Tipu and Hyder Ali lived also exists till date. According to residents of the town the authorities have made no attempt to either preserve or protect the monuments. The house of Dewan Purnaiah, a high ranking official in Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's court, is also located here but there is no board or sign to direct the visitor to the dwelling.

HOW TO REACH DEVANAHALLI:

By Road:

• If you travel from Bangalore you get the Yelahanka Satellite Town. Proceed straight ahead for another 29 km to reach the outskirts of Devanahalli.
• Then you have to turn left at the entrance of the town and half-a-km from the entrance is Tipu's birth place and fort.

By Rail:

• Devanahalli Railway Station, also spelt Devanhalli Railway Station, falls on the Yelahanka-Chikballapur railway line. It is under the administrative control of the South Western Railways.
• Avatihalli Railway Station is 7 km away. Yelhanka Junction Railway Station is about 24 km from Devanahalli.

By Air:

• Bangalore International Airport is a short distance from Devanahalli.

Suneel Gudipati in front of port

MY TRAVEL ITINERARY:

• On 3rd July 2009, I went to Ghati Subrahmanya. After visiting temple I plan to visit Tipu's palace, so I get down at Amruthahalli near Yelhanka to go Devenahalli.
• From Yelhanka I catch a bus at 2:45pm. It takes 1 hour to reach Devenahalli.
• When I get down at Devenahalli at 3:30 PM, I visit Tipu's palace, which is near by Bus stop.
• The ramparts and bastions of the fort are still preserved fairly well. But due to lack of awareness and proper maintenance the ramparts are currently being used as public urinals and toilet by the villagers.
• A walk on the ramparts of the fort would make one proud of the rich heritage of our land and simultaneously cringe at the filth and squalor that pervades the place.
• The only commercial use the Devanahalli fort is being put to be as venue of film shootings, primarily in ancient historical movies.
• The old buildings and structures within the fort are disintegrating gradually. The fort is also crumbling and is badly in need of restoration.
• Several houses have sprung up within the walls and buildings and other structures dating to the period of Tipu Sultan are being demolished.
• There are no information boards to tell visitors about Tipu Sultan, popularly revered as the Tiger of Mysore. Hardly anyone is aware that he was born in Devanahalli.
• If the tourism department or the Archeological Survey of India were to develop infrastructure around the area of Tipu's birthplace, it would encourage schools to conduct field trips and tourists to visit the place. This will ensure that our future generations will be aware, appreciative and protective of our rich heritage.