India is a country with a large number of forts. Some of the forts were built as plain structures, some were complex constructions, and some were beautified with ornamental elements while some others were built to represent architectural grandeur. However, there is another category of forts that have always generated keen interest among the people. They are the island forts or fortified islands. The fort islands are much less in number as compared to the mainland forts in India. Among the fort islands in India the Jaladurga Fort in Karnataka is a well-known one.

Location of Jaladurga Fort
Jaladurga Fort is located in the Lingsugur taluk under the Raichur district in Karnataka. It is situated picturesquely on a hill that stands at the edge of an island in the Krishna River at a distance of around 8 miles from the Lingsugur town. One portion of the fort overlooks the river gorge of Krishna. A bridge connects the island to the mainland.

History of Jaladurga Fort
The Jaladurga Fort was constructed by the rulers of the Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur. The fort served as an important structure during the regime of the Adil Shahi Dynasty. It is believed that there is a particular spot inside the fort from where the enemies and culprits were thrown off to the river or to the boulders lying at the base of the hill. Even imagining about the steep drop can be a scary thought for anyone. The centuries old fort was under the control of many rulers from time to time.

Architectural Importance of Jaladurga Fort
The fort had been tactically constructed to exploit the locational benefits. The river along with the mountain, make it challenging for every person to reach the fort without being detected. Only ramshackle walls, ruined supports and dilapidated structures can be observed in the fort.

Jaladurga fort possessed seven entrances, which is quite common in any typical forts. It also had an attractive palace and a basement among many other constructions inside the premises. There were robust tall walls and battlements which surrounded the fort. Nowadays, few tombs of the rulers of the fort can be observed. However, no specific identification labels exist in order to determine their identities. On the other hand, no specific record of the fort exist which can prove that it was once a throttlehold of Bijapur. On the way to the entrance of Jaladurga Fort, there is a structure named "Sangameshwara Matha" and a temple of Yalamma. The temple is a simple memorial with a statue of god in scorching red colour. It is said that there was an underground tunnel in Jaladurga Fort which was used for the purpose of emergency escape. However, the channel, at present, has been covered with stones and wild habitation.

Historical Importance of Jaladurga Fort
Jaladurga Fort was created by the family of Adil Shah in Bijapur. According to the historical records, the fort acted as a vital monument throughout the command of Adil Shah dynasty. It is alleged that there is a specific location in the fort from where intruders and criminals were thrown off to the Krishna river or to the rocks which are lying at the base of the mountain. Meadows Taylor had described the Jaladurga Fort as "the Noble Queen".

Present Condition of Jaladurga Fort
The fort site still offers amazing view of the surroundings. The Narayanpur dam on the far west side, the blue river dividing into two down below the hill and the lush green slopes to the east of the fort all make for scenic views from the historic spot where the fort stood once with pride. The fort site is under the possession of Government of Karnataka.

Tourist Attractions in Jaladurga Fort
The amazing site of the fort, along with the beauty of its adjacent areas, has remained the same till date even though the fort is in ruins. Such features make it an important tourist destination. There is a barrage in the western side of the fort, below is the Krishna river and on the Eastern side there is lush green gradients which makes this fort a proper place for enjoying scenic views.

Visiting Information to Jaladurga Fort
Jaladurga Fort can be reached from Bangalore and other parts of the state through various means of transport. The road to the fort from Lingsugur has quite a few potholes and gives bumps to travellers. However, the splendid view from the fort makes up for more than the effort.

Lingsugur has no airport of its own. The nearest airport to reach Lingsugur is the Hubli Airport that stands at a distance of 174 km from the town of Lingsugur. Hubli has a domestic airport that connects to a few chosen places within the state. There is no railway station in Lingsugur. The nearest railway station is located in Almatti and is situated at a distance of 69 km from Lingsugur.

Lingsugur has a bus stand that connects it to many towns and cities of Karnataka. There are regular bus services available from Bangalore, Bijapur, Belgaum and various other places to reach Lingsugur. Taxis, cabs and private vehicles can also be hired to reach the town of Lingsugur. The fort can be reached by even an auto rickshaw from Lingsugur.