Saundatti Fort

Karnataka > Belgaum > Saundatti Fort

Saundatti in Belgaum district is a taluk headquarters (74 km. from Belgaum) and the town proper has a fort on the hill built during the 18th Century, by the Sirasangi Desai with eight bastions. Earlier it was also the capital of the Rattas who later shifted their headquarters to Belgaum. There are two small Jaina basadis of Ratta times and the temples of Ankeshwara, Puradeshwara, Mallikarjuna, Venkateshwara and the Veerabhadra. The Puradeshwara is of the Kalyana Chalukyas, dilapidated now. The Ankeshwar was built by the Rattas in 1048, also in Chalukyan style. The Renukasagar waters (from the Naviluteertha dam across the Malaprabha) touch the outskirts of Saundatti. Yellmmmanagudda, 12 km. away from Saundatti is on a hill. This original Rashtrakuta basadi is now used to worship Yellamma or Renuka and the devotees visit it in hundreds daily. Two km. away is Parasgad, a wonderful hill fort, expanded by Shivaji, now getting dilapidated.