Manjarabad fort is located on NH47, enroute to Mangalore from Bangalore. Once we cross Hassan, we reach Sakleshpur ghat road, which is known as Shiradi ghats. The road is winding through the coffee estates with roadside vendors selling coffee stumps. They can be used as centre tables, showcase stands and telephone stands. At a small junction which is approximately 6 kms from Sakleshpur, Manjarabad fort is located on the hillock. One has park their vehicle on the roadside and walk up the steep well laid staircase to Manjarabad fort.
The history of this fort remains a mystery. There is an ASI sign board to indicate that the fort is a protected monument, but there is no description. Probably the fort was built by the feudal lords of the Vijaynagar empire. Later the fort was occupied by Tipu Sultan. There are signs of Islamic architecture on the enterance façade. Inside the fort one finds a huge desolate tank which was storing the natural rain water. The tank is built with stairs from all four sides which is a unique formation probably to accommodate soldiers. There are 6 watch towers spread across the fort for viewing the enemy movement. The scenary from the fort and watch tower is beautiful. It gives a panaromic view of the landscape. There are two small bunkers which may have been used to store gun powder for firing the cannons. The cannons are missing from the Fort.
Only source of water in the fort are cross-shaped pits with steps leading into them. Work on the fort commenced in 1785, and ended in 1792. The star shaped fort was also used to store the ammunitions, during the reign of Tipu Sultan. Its strategic location enables soldiers in the fort to see the British army coming from Mangalore. From the fort, tourists can get an aerial view of the Western Ghats. Out of the many chambers in the fort, some were used to house the horses. Certain chambers served the soldiers as kitchen and bathroom. A tunnel in the fort leads to Srirangapatna. Later, the tunnel was used to dump dead bodies. The fort has Islamic style of architecture and arched entrance-ways. The forts sits at an elevation of 3,240 ft above sea level.
The history of this fort remains a mystery. There is an ASI sign board to indicate that the fort is a protected monument, but there is no description. Probably the fort was built by the feudal lords of the Vijaynagar empire. Later the fort was occupied by Tipu Sultan. There are signs of Islamic architecture on the enterance façade. Inside the fort one finds a huge desolate tank which was storing the natural rain water. The tank is built with stairs from all four sides which is a unique formation probably to accommodate soldiers. There are 6 watch towers spread across the fort for viewing the enemy movement. The scenary from the fort and watch tower is beautiful. It gives a panaromic view of the landscape. There are two small bunkers which may have been used to store gun powder for firing the cannons. The cannons are missing from the Fort. 
Only source of water in the fort are cross-shaped pits with steps leading into them. Work on the fort commenced in 1785, and ended in 1792. The star shaped fort was also used to store the ammunitions, during the reign of Tipu Sultan. Its strategic location enables soldiers in the fort to see the British army coming from Mangalore. From the fort, tourists can get an aerial view of the Western Ghats. Out of the many chambers in the fort, some were used to house the horses. Certain chambers served the soldiers as kitchen and bathroom. A tunnel in the fort leads to Srirangapatna. Later, the tunnel was used to dump dead bodies. The fort has Islamic style of architecture and arched entrance-ways. The forts sits at an elevation of 3,240 ft above sea level.
A secret tunnel seems to have connected both Mysore and Chennarayapatna for the escape of royalties from enemy capture. Tipu Sultan seems to have been under constant threat from the British and his subjects, no wonder he had so many secret getaways. There are number of arched gateways which seems to be resting place for the horses. The fort seems to have all round water channel to protect from the enemy invasion. Crocodiles used to infest these water channels to gobble up the enemies. The entire water channel and walls of the fort is being renovated by ASI. The boundary walls have been plastered with limestone and cement with ivory shade. After the rainy season further work will be taken up to deck up the ruined fort. A visit to the fort through the water channels will give us a good indication of the strategic value of the monument.
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