Some 400 years ago, Mysore was a small town within the ramparts of the fort which was established beside a huge water tank — Devaraya Sagara (Doddakere) — which was the main water source for the inhabitants of the fort. The fort had winding alleys and streets snaking between houses, mansions, shops, stores and temples. A little off centre, towards the western wall of the fort was the Palace where the reigning king lived. The lives of the people revolved around the Palace and the tank.
There were a few temples outside the fort as well. One important temple outside the fort is the Kodi Bhairaveshwara temple. This temple is steeped in history as it is inextricably woven with the origins of the Wadiyar dynasty and the birth of the kingdom of Mysore. It was at this temple in the year 1399 C.E., that two Princes from Kathiawar, Gujarat, Yaduraya (Vijaya) and Krishna took shelter during their pilgrimage to worship their family deity, Cheluva Narayana at Melukote.
Still waters of the Devaraya Sagara (Doddakere) reflecting the image of Palace. This tank was completely drained in 1937-38 to avoid water seepage into the foundations of the fort and Palace. In an official memo (listed in the Divisional Archives publication) of 1934 when the eastern gateway of the fort was being built, specific mention and instruction have been given regarding the proper graveling of the foundation due to the unstable nature of the soil. The sanctioned budget of Rs. 5,000 was later enhanced to Rs. 8,000 since ‘T’ shaped corridors had to be added which radiated from the sides of the gateway. The road on the tank bund on the south-eastern side led towards the temple town of Nanjangud.
The brothers rescue a royal damsel in distress. One of them marries her and thus is laid the foundation of the Mysore kingdom. The temple stands today, outside the fort walls, where some centuries ago, the Doddakere overflowed its banks and the excess water breached the weir or Kodi thus giving the temple its name.
The seasonal overflowing of Doddakere naturally filled the moat surrounding the fort and provided strategic security. The fort gates then, as now, are situated on the north, south and west and are projected by outworks with flanking towers at frequent intervals with a casement at one angle and a parapeted cavalier at the other. Today these entryways have ornate arched gateways.
The once crowded city within the fort now no longer exists due to complete demolition and clearance, except the Palace and temples, which began in the year 1906 C.E. The offices, stables, shops, hospitals, residences and houses were transferred to newly constructed buildings, petes, markets, agraharas and purams outside the fort which were laid out with wide roads and boulevards radiating out in all directions. Just like the common residents were drained out of the fort, the waters of Doddakere were drained out by cutting off its feeder canals and the kere (tank) became maidana (empty ground).
This post was published on October 26, 2026 7:30 pm