Chikkajala Fort to get a new lease of life after a decade under CSR funds

The ruins of the Chikkajala Fort, 25 km away from Bengaluru city. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A decade after a part of it was demolished to make way for road works, the Chikkajala Fort, which is 25 km away from Bengaluru city and on the way to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), will soon be restored using Corporate Social Responsbility (CSR) funds from a private organisation.A ceremony was recently held at the fort to mark the beginning of the project, with Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda in attendance, along with members of Intach and Kashi Ra, the organisation funding the project.The fort includes a small Anjaneya Swamy Temple, where a daily puja is performed by a local priest, and kalyani and stone mantapas on two acres under survey number 116, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Revenue Department. These were built in the 19th century, inspired by the Vijayanagara style, and used as a ‘chatra’ or rest stops for soldiers, businesspersons, and others professions who travelled long distances. The stones in the kalyani and mantapa feature carvings of nagabhanda, elephant, shivalinga, purnakumba and anjaneya, fishes, birds and a few others, said a senior official from the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage.When The Hindu visited Chikkajala Fort, huge trees and bushes had grown inside the mantapa. The branches and roots had spread across the roof and flooring of the mantapa while the stones of the kalyani and Anjaneya Temple are intact. However, there is no water in the kalyani, which has remained dry for a long time. The branches and roots are spread across the roof and flooring of the mantapa. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement In 2016, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which implemented the road widening project of NH 44, demolished the northern side (entrance) of the fort, which The Hindu had reported about then. The fort, which was circular in shape before the demolition, is now semi-circular and opens to the road.Restoration plansMeera Iyer, convener of the Bengaluru Chapter, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said, “The villagers informed us that the bottom of the kalyani was cemented during a film shoot by the film team. Hence, there is no water in it. However, many trees have grown around and spread their roots in the mantapa. INTACH is yet to start its documentation and study on how to retain these trees and restore the stones of the mantapa. In our earlier projects, the trees were retained and walls were restored with the help of experts. After documentation, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared, along with the calculation of the total cost it will incur.”She added that once the fort is restored, it will be a tourist place for those visiting Bengaluru, and cultural activities are likely to be organised so that more people know the history and importance of the monument. “We are also planning to involve college students studying architecture and provide them with a first-hand experience working on live restoration projects like this fort,” she said. Published - November 04, 2026 09:07 pm IST