Sonda Fort

Sonda Fort, also known as Sodhe Fort, is a historic ruined fort in Sonda village near Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. It served as the capital of the Sonda dynasty which ruled the region from the 16th to 18th century. The fort is noted for its stone walls, bastions and forested Western Ghats setting. Today it survives as a ruined archaeological site near the Sodhe Vadiraja Matha and Trivikrama Temple.

Visitors can expect a ruined hill fort with remains of stone fortification walls, bastions and gateways set in a forested area of the Western Ghats. The site is largely open and overgrown with vegetation, offering views of the surrounding countryside. There are no restored palaces inside; the main experience is exploring the ruins, walking along wall remnants and visiting the adjacent Sodhe Vadiraja Matha and Trivikrama Temple complex nearby.

Sonda Fort was the seat of the Sonda or Sodhe dynasty, which ruled parts of coastal and Malnad Karnataka from around 1555 to 1763. It served as their capital and administrative centre. The kingdom later came under the influence of the Keladi Nayakas and subsequently under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The fort reflects the regional military architecture of the period and marks the political history of Uttara Kannada before its integration into Mysore.

The fort is culturally associated with the Sodhe Vadiraja Matha, one of the Ashta Mathas established by Madhvacharya tradition, and the Trivikrama Temple located nearby. Sonda remains an important centre for Madhva followers and the fort area is part of the heritage landscape of Sirsi region.