Sira Fort

A few years ago, we wanted to see Sira Fort while driving on the National Highway. However, the road leading to the fort was very dirty, and my family didn’t want to walk on it. The area around was not pleasant, and we felt uneasy. So, we gave up on the idea of visiting the fort.

Whenever I travelled on that highway afterwards, I would recall the time we decided not to go to the fort.

Recently, Chaya and I were on the same highway when we visited our native place. Despite still being concerned about the cleanliness, we chose to go and check out the place.

Fort entrance

This time, things seemed a bit better. Although the area around was the same, the road to the fort from the main road was in better condition. We could drive and park at the entrance, so that was good.

Inside the fort, we walked along the main path. The fort was rectangular, 320 meters wide and 290 meters long. A moat surrounded it, and the walls were strong. As we walked, we admired the fort’s beauty to reach the entrance.

The entrance pillars were well-carved, resembling a temple entrance. However, many sculptures were damaged, probably by invaders. Even though the fort was initially built by Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka, a local chieftain, it changed hands many times. Mughals, Bijapur sultans, Marathas, and Tipu Sultan had controlled it before the British took over.

Inside the fort

Climbing the fort wall gave us a nice view of the surroundings, making the fort’s size clear. Unfortunately, the fort was in poor condition, with the “Jaali tree” weed invading most parts. It was tough to explore the ruins inside, so we decided to walk on the walls.

Walking on the walls was also challenging due to bushes and plants making the path difficult. Nevertheless, we continued. On the other side, we saw Sira Lake, full and beautiful.

After walking the walls, we returned to the entrance, where we met a “pravasi mitra,” a home guard associated with the fort. He briefed us about the place. Despite the authorities neglecting the fort, the guard’s presence helped control unethical activities.

The fort had been renovated a few years ago, but the difference between the old and new structures was clear. The restoration work seemed poorly done.

We spent about an hour exploring the fort—a sad example of the neglect by the Karnataka Tourism Department and ASI. Despite its potential as a top tourist spot, it suffers from disinterest from locals and indifferent government authorities.

Information and Tips

• Sira is approximately 120 km away from Bengaluru and may take 2-3 hours, depending on traffic conditions.
• Avoid visiting the fort at night as the area may seem unsafe.
• Plan for 1-2 hours to explore and see the fort.
• Exercise caution while walking as the fort is not well-maintained.
• There are many good restaurants located on the highway in the outskirts of the town.