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| Sultan battery, Boloor, (Mangalore) Karnatakawikimapia.org/ |
In the state of Karnataka Tipu Sultan left behind many monuments which still today stand as his legacy. A sworn enemy of the English company and its misrule, he had built a mini fort like structure in Boloor to prevent the entry of the British warships into the interior parts off Mangalore coast.
Located in Boloor, 4 km from Mangalore city of Karnataka the Sultan Battery (also spelled Bathery) watch tower is an important archaeological site. Constructed in 1784 on the banks of the Phalguni (Gurupura) in Boloor by Tipu Sultan of Mysore to watch the enemy movements in the sea, Mangalore was the main seaport in his kingdom. It served as a naval outpost to prevent enemy ships from moving upstream the river. The watch tower came up 15 years before his death. But, now the surrounding area of the site is not well-kept. The top of the monument shows signs of wear and tear.
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| Sultan Battery, Boloor, KA.asibengalurucircle.in/ |
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| Sultan Battery, Boloor, KA asibengalurucircle.in/ |
This place came under the Portuguese and later Nayaks. In 1763, Haider Ali captured Mangalore and built a dockyard, to expand his naval power but it was seized by the British in 1768. In 1794 Tipu Sultan took control of this place and made certain improvements. Upon the death of Tipu in 1799 at Srirangapatna in the final Angelo- Mysore war again the British recaptured this part..
Used to be known as Sultan's Battery, it was constructed with black stones and the purpose of this watch tower was to prevent the entry of English war ships into the river. The English traders under the East India company used this particular place to invade deep into the country via Mangalore with better fire power. Tipu Sultan being shrewd did not want to take any risk with the English so had a structure - a sort of mini fort built to mount his powerful cannons to retaliate the attack from the English side. Now, a protected protected by central government of India, it is being managed by the Archaeological survey of India Bangalore Circle.
Tipu also built underground storage facilities to store gunpowder, arms ,ammunition, etc. Some historians claim that there is a secret underground tunnel/ route linking this place with Mysore. For various reasons the State tourism department closed the underground area.
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| .Location map, Boloor (Mangalore), Karnataka. researchgate.net |
Tipu Sultan had a major dockyard and weaponry for the ruler. Tipu Sultan had special war ships made with brass bottom to avoid rust formation, etc., and he used the naval facilities near Mangalore to intercept enemy warships and prevent them from docking.
His historical place has become a deserted araa now and only recently it is gaining the attention of tourists to this part of Karnataka. Boating is slowly gaining popular here. There is an ample scope for introducing various water sports in this area. Atop the tower, one can have a beautiful view of the blush Arabian sea which appears like a vast sheet of water. An ideal getaway for people who enjoy nature, soothing sea breeze and tranquility.
Baloor happens to be a popular fishing area and lots of fishermen live in the areas around this place close to Mangalore city. Surrounded by thick forests and tea/cardamom plantations, Baloor is also the base point to approach Edakkal caves.
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| 8 foot tall barricade, Sultan Battery, Boloor, KA.mangalorean.com |
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| 8foot tall barricade, Sultan Battery, Boloor, KA.mangalorean.com |
Considering its secluded location lots of anti-social and vandals visit the site and damage the monument. To prevent it the ASI put up an 8 foot tall metal barricade around it. It was put up on a stone masonry foundation post-Monsoon this year. The local people are of the view that the metal fence mar the look of the battery. Protecting the monuments is more important at present. Conservationists feel that barricades or enclosures should ''appropriately be designed in sync with landscape''.
http://wikimapia.org/13243768/Sultan-Battery-Boloor
