Savadatti fort

The Savadatti fort, also known as Saundatti fort located in the western part of Savadatti town (which is also known as Saundatti or Sughandavarti, Savandavatti, Savadavatti, meaning fragrant city) in the Indian state of Karnataka is an irregular shaped military structure built in the 18th century over a small hill. There is a smaller fort within the main fort with four bastions which houses the Kadasiddheshwara temple.

Geography
The fort located in the Savadatti town, 600 ft away on its western part, is built over a small hill of standalone formation, which has flanks of exposed rocks. The hill is covered with thick forest of prickly pear. It is approachable by road from Savadatti right up to the main gate. It is in the Belgaum district of Karnataka and is 83 km away from Belgaum.

History
The town where the fort exists was ruled by Ratta dynasty from 9th to 13th centuries, prior to shifting the capital to Belgaum. In 1730, the Savanur Nawab gifted Savadatti along with Dharwar village to the Naralgund Desai who built the fort in 1734. It is also said that the fort was built by Jayappa Desai of the Navalgund Sirasangi Sansthan during 1743-51. When the fort came under the control of Hyder Ali of Mysore, the Desai declared his allegiance to him.

Features
The fort, built on a rising ground, is in the shape of nine sided polygon. The east facing main entry gate to the fort is approachable by road. From the road, access to the main gate is steep. From this gate, further inwards to another gate, is also a steep climb over a stairway of about 30 steps. The fort walls 120 ft in length in each segment with height varying from 24 to 60 ft are built with big hewn stones. It is fortified with eight bastions. The fort measures 325 ft in the north- south direction and 450 ft in the east- west direction. The fort is surrounded by a moat. The main gate of the fort is further fortified on its flanks with two posterns or sally ports, on its northern and southern flanks. The ramparts of the fort are narrow parapets of stone with loop holes; these are well protected with revetments. In the interior part of the fort, at the higher end, there is a new temple dedicated to Hanuman, and below this temple a beacon light has been provided.

Within the fort, there is a smaller fort, square in shape, fortified with corner towers or bastions. The entrance gate to this fort is well built and is accessed through a flight of steps. The ramparts of this fort built with stone pillars form a passage. There is a moat surrounding this fort also which needs repairs. A large pond surrounded by high parapet walls with a well protected gate within this fort was the source of water of good quality. This fort, in its central part, has the Kadisiddeshwara Temple. The eaves of the roof inside the prakara (the walls that surround the temple) have a row of more than 200 ornamental sculptures in geometric designs, some of which are painted.