Devanahalli
Devanadoddi | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Devanahalli Montage Clockwise from Top to Bottom: Tipu Sultan Birth place, Town view from the fort, Fort walls outside view, Inside fort view, Dmart Store | |
  Devanahalli Location in Karnataka, India  Devanahalli Devanahalli (India) | |
| Coordinates: 13°14′N 77°42′E / 13.23°N 77.7°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka |
| District | Bengaluru Rural |
| Government | |
| • Body | Town Municipal Council |
| Area | |
| • Town | 16 km2 (6 sq mi) |
| • Rural | 413 km2 (159 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Town | 28,051 [1] |
| • Rural | 146,705 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 562110 |
| Vehicle registration | KA-43 |
| Website | http://www.devanahallitown.mrc.gov.in |
Devanahalli, also called "Devandahalli", "Dyaavandalli", Devanadoddi, and Devanapura, is a town and Town Municipal Council in Bengaluru Rural district in the state of Karnataka in India.[2] The town is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the north-east of Bengaluru. Devanahalli is the site of Kempegowda International Airport. A multibillion-dollar Devanahalli Business Park with two IT Parks are coming up on nearly 400 acres (1.6 km2) adjoining the airport. An Aerospace Park, Science Park and a ₹10 billion (US$130 million) Financial City are also coming up.[3] A new satellite ring road will connect the city with Doddaballapur. Devanahalli is situated near the upcoming ₹1,500 billion (US$19 billion), 12,000-acre (49 km2) BIAL IT Investment Region, to be the largest IT region in India.[4]
Total infrastructure development in the area is estimated to be well over ₹20,450 billion (US$260 billion) over the next two years. With significant commercial and residential development in the area, real estate is in high demand in the region.[5] Devanahalli was the birthplace of Tipu Sultan, popularly known as the "Tiger of Mysore".[6]
Devanahalli is considered the de-facto capital of Bengaluru Rural district. Deputy Commissioner's Office is located on National Highway 648 (India), midway between Doddaballapura (11 km) and Devanahalli (12 km), in a village called Vishwanathapura.
Devanahalli was part of Gangawadi and later came under the rule of Rashatrakutas, Nolambas, Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara rulers.
The recent history of Devanahalli dates back to 15th-century, when a family of refugees fleeing from Conjeevaram (today Kanchipuram) camped near the foot of Ramaswami Hills, east of Nandi Hills. Their leader Rana Baire Gowda was apparently directed in a dream to set up a settlement in this region. His Morasu Wokkalu family and he subsequently settled in a small village, Ahuti, which was later known as Avati.[6] His son Malla Baire Gowda founded Devanahalli, Chikkaballapur and Doddaballapura. Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore, also belonged to the Morasu Wokkalu family. During the time of Vijayanagara rule, Malla Baire constructed the initial mud fort in 1501 with the consent of Devaraya, the headman of the village Devanadoddi that stood prior to their arrival, and named it Devanhalli or Devandhalli. A series of rulers from the same family ruled Devanahalli, the longest being Dodda Baire Gauda, for 54 years.[7]
In 1747, the fort passed onto the hands of Kingdom of Mysore under the command of Nanja Raja. Taken over soon after by Hyder Ali, it was here that his son Tipu Sultan was born. Ali rebuilt the fort, using stone in the form of an oval, flanked with circular bastions and two cavaliers on the eastern face. It was incomplete when it fell during the siege by Lord Cornwallis as part of the Third Anglo-Mysore War in 1791.[7]
As of 2001[update] India census,[8] Devanahalli had a population of 23,190. Males constituted 52% of the population and females 48%. Devanahalli had an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 73% and female literacy was 58%. In Devanahalli, 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Devanahalli is just an hour's drive from Bangalore. There has been a growth of tourist traffic recently due to the impetus provided by the Bangalore International Airport.
Devanahalli fort, spread over an area of 20 acres that includes twelve bastions is a magnificent reminder of the power that the ruling dynasties held since the 15th century.[9]
There are numerous temples within the fort with impeccable architecture. Of all the temples, the Venugopala Swami Temple is the most visited and the oldest. The courtyard is spacious. The walls of the temple depict various scenes from Ramayana and the pillars have beautiful statues carved on them. The temple is a protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India.
Nearby Siddhalingeshwara swami temple is equally popular. Chandramouleshwara temple, Nanjundeshwara temple, Veerabhadraswami temple, Ranganathaswamy temple, Kalamma temple, Raghavendraswamy matha, Mahantha Matha, Balagopala (old), Nagareshwara and Basaveshwara are other places of worship.[9][10]
There is a large pond known as Sarovara said to have been built by Deewan Purnaiah of Mysore kingdom and the Anjaneya in the Shrine near to it is called Sarovaranjaneya.[2]
Within the fort, there is the house in which Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan called home, where Tipu was born. There is a memorial now at the birthplace of Tipu Sultan little outside the fort.[11] It is about six feet tall with a pillared enclosure and square top and bears a stone tablet. It has an enclosure. The area called Khas Bagh, now contains many tamarind trees, a few mango trees, and a small dried pond. It was once an enchanting spot, being Tipu's private park.
![Details of Pillars of the Someshwara Temple, Gangavaram, Chowdappanahalli, Devanahalli, Bangalore Rural District[12]](/en/File:Pillar_in_Someshwara_Temple,_Gangavaram.jpg)
Kempegowda International Airport, which opened on 24 May 2008, is approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Devanahalli. The terminal was designed to serve up to 12 million passengers per year, but has been expanded to cater to 15 million passengers. It can be reached from Devanahalli by heading south on NH 44 and taking the left exit on the trumpet interchange.
AirAsia India has its head office in the Alpha 3 building on the airport grounds.[13]
