Jamalabad Fort

Jamalabad Fort is a historic hilltop fort located on a granite hill near Jamalabad village, about 8 km from Belthangady in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. Built in 1794 by Tipu Sultan on the site of an older fort called Narasimhagada and named after his mother Jamalabee, it is also known as Gadaikallu. Perched at about 1,700 feet elevation, the ruined fort is notable for its steep stone steps, panoramic views of the Western Ghats, and popular trekking route.

Visitors can expect a moderately difficult trek of approximately 1,876 uneven stone steps to the hilltop ruins. The fort itself is largely in ruins with remnants of walls, bastions and water cisterns. The hill offers panoramic views of the surrounding Western Ghats, forests and Belthangady town. There are no shops or facilities at the top; the experience is primarily trekking, sightseeing and photography in a natural, forested setting.

The fort was built in 1794 by Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore, on the site of an older fort known as Narasimhagada. It was named Jamalabad after his mother Jamalabee. Constructed as a hill fort and watchtower, it was captured by the British in 1799 after the fall of Tipu Sultan. The structure reflects late 18th-century military architecture with granite walls and bastions.