Koppal

Koppal is overlooked by a hill fort rising above the plains near the Tungabhadra. Its walls, gates and Persian inscriptions preserve the work of successive rulers. In 1603 Sultan Ali, an officer of Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur, built the Bab-i Ali gate; another officer, Ghazi Khan, built a mosque in 1609. The stronghold commanded a route into the southern Deccan and was fought over by the powers of the region.

In 1677 Shivaji’s commanders defeated the Bijapur officers holding Koppal and secured the fort for the Marathas. A century later Hyder Ali of Mysore captured it, and his officer Muhammad Osman strengthened its defences and added gates and buildings. Tipu Sultan also worked on the fortifications. During the Third Anglo-Mysore War, forces of the Nizam of Hyderabad, assisted by British troops, besieged the stronghold. Its garrison held out until April 1791, when it passed to the Nizam.