The most beautiful military monuments India

Built in 1505 by the Portuguese, this imposing fort is one of the monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. To access it, you have to go through a military zone. The fort is in good condition and very well maintained, with beautiful gardens and a beautiful view of the Arabian Sea. You can see a chapel, the soldiers' barracks, an old oil lamp lighthouse, and many cannons. Don't miss the stone engraved in Dutch with a pirate symbol. His visit is a pleasant walk.

The fort dates back to the 17th century and underwent major transformations in the 19th century thanks to the British. Located in the centre of Madikeri, it houses a palace renovated in 1814, which houses the municipality's offices, a chapel transformed into an archaeological museum (open from 10am to 5.30pm, closed on Mondays and the ^2nd Saturday of the month). It offers a beautiful view of Madikeri. It was built by a Kodagu ruler in the 17th century, then rebuilt in granite by Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, and finally occupied by the British from 1834 onwards.

Bellary Fort is located about 60 kilometres from Hampi. Perched atop Ballari Gudda Mountain, it is also known as Fort Hill. The date of its construction is not yet identified, Vijayanagar period, but in 1769, it was taken from the Nayaka by Hyder Ali and modified with the help of a French engineer, who did not meet the requirements and was hanged. The tomb of the latter is visible at the entrance to the fort.

Chitradurga Fort is a little-known site for foreign tourists and certainly deserves your interest. The old Chitrakaldurga is huge, with many challenging climbs and descents; allow at least two hours of visit. A small booklet (in English) with a map of the fort and a description of the points of interest is given to you when you purchase your entrance ticket. It may be advisable to take an approved guide for the visit.

The fort was built in stages between the 11th and 13th centuries by the various dynastics who ruled the region, including the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, and later the Nayakas of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Nayakas of Chitradurga participated in the expansion of the fort between the 15th and 18th centuries. The fort was briefly recaptured by Hyder Ali in Chitradurga in 1779 and captured by the British twenty years later, after the defeat of his son Tipu Sultan. The fort includes seven concentric fortifications, a citadel, a palace, warehouses, water tanks, temples and gunpowder millstones. There are 18 temples in the upper fort and a huge temple in the lower fort. The many basins were used to collect rainwater. The landscapes composed of huge rocks, similar to those of Hampi, give the site an undeniable charm. The most adventurous can go to one of the summits to enjoy a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

Locally known as Ayakotta, it is India's oldest existing strong European, built in 1503 by the Portuguese. One can still see its hexagonal structure, but the whole is unfortunately falling in ruins.

Daulatabad Fort, also known as Devgiri Fort, includes the walled city below, a palace and the defensive fort on a 200-metre high rocky plateau. It was built in 1187 by the Yavada dynasty, which then dominated the Deccan. The mosque built in 1318 has since become a Hindu temple, the Bharat Mata Mandir. The site was chosen by Muhammad bin Tughluq, Sultan of Delhi, upon his accession to the throne in 1325. Two years later, he had the capital emptied of its inhabitants and installed them in Daulatabad. The Sultan thought that by settling further south, he would occupy a more central position to lead his conquests to Bihar and Bengal and above all that he would escape the Mughal invasion attempts that focused on Delhi and the north.

The fortifications: The town of Daulatabad was protected by a triple enclosure, which would slow down access to the fort in the event of an attack. The outer perimeter wall has a 4.5 km loop

Chand Minar: this 30-metre minaret dates from 1445 and celebrates the capture of Ala-ud-din Bahmani which brought Daulatabad back into the feudal fold of Muhammad bin Tughluq. Largely inspired by the Qutab Minar of Delhi, the tower was built by a Persian architect. It was covered with glazed tiles painted with natural ochres and lapis lazuli powder. Unfortunately, the minaret is closed to the public following a suicide.

The fort: the fort of Daulatabad bears witness to a great deal of defensive thinking, and consequently, to the intense struggles that followed one another on the Deccan plateau. The base of the piton was cut to create a vertical wall about 50 metres high. Access to the fort is through a single entrance: a narrow bridge spans the moat and leads to a steeply sloping gallery carved into the rock. The gallery is now nicknamed "dark passage", a dark passage that shelters many bats. Halfway down the slope, the slope becomes a staircase, at the top of which is a grid covering a pit. In the event of an attack, the soldiers of the fort would start a fire there to slow down the enemy's progress.

The fort is full of lures and defensive tricks: false access doors, labyrinthine gallery, rounded walls breaking visibility, succession of access doors equipped with points against elephants...

Chini Mahal: this small ruined palace, which literally means "Chinese palace", was built by Aurangzeb and served as a prison for "distinguished guests". In particular, he had the last king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Hyderabad and Golconda imprisoned there. The latter died within the walls of the Chini Mahal, leaving no descendants.

Mughal Baradari: a steep climb leads to Mughal Baradari, a pavilion commissioned by Shah Jahan in the 17th century. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a splendid view of the Deccan Plains.

Opposite the entrance to the fort, there is still a 16th century hammam that is worth a look.