Savanur Fort

Savanur Fort, located in the town of Savanur in Haveri district, Karnataka, is a historical structure built by the Nawabs of Savanur in the 17th century. The fort was part of a fortified city and originally had four main entrances, which are now in a state of neglect.

The Nawabs, descendants of an Afghan chieftain serving the Mughal Empire, ruled the Savanur princely state that was strategically located between the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad, Hyder Ali, and Tipu Sultan. The fort and the town once flourished under Nawab Abdul Majid Khan II, who modernized the region with schools, roads, irrigation tanks, and palaces during his rule in the early 20th century. Savanur was a tolerant state known for trade in cotton, jowar, and its famous betel leaves (paan).

The fort today retains ruins of its five gates and reflects the Islamic architectural style of the period, with much of the heritage in need of preservation. The Nawabs' palace, Majid Castle, still stands and is used as the Taluk Panchayat office. After Indian independence, Savanur was integrated into the Indian Union in 1948. The fort and town carry significant historical and cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into the region’s past under the Nawabs and their legacy.