Madikeri Fort

Madikeri Fort also called Mercara Fort is a fort in Madikeri, in the Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka, first built by Mudduraja in the second half of the 17th century. Mudduraja also built the palace within the fort. It was rebuilt and restructured in granite by Tipu Sultan, and the site was then renamed Jaffarabad. Madikeri Fort is one of the many forts built or rebuilt by Tipu Sultan during his reign in the second half of the 18th century. In 1790, Dodda Vira Rajendra took control of the fort. The British made additions to the fort in 1834. The palace underwent renovations by Linga Rajendra II from 1812-1814. Notable structures in the fort include two stone statues of elephants at the northeast entry and a church in the southeast corner. British also renovated the fort twice. In the year of 1933, a clock tower and a portico to park the commissioner's car were added in the  complex. And now it serves as the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The museum is not maintained by the state archaeology department. There are other buildings as well inside the fort. These are Mahatma Gandhi Public Library, the Kote Maha Ganapathi temple and the district prison. Kote Maha Ganapathi temple is one of the temples which compete for Madikeri dasara festival.

The colossal Fort built against the backdrop of verdant mountains and an open sky reminisces one of an era bygone. The Fort, constructed in granite has been built in European style with elaborate pillars and checkered floor patterns. The two life-size statues of elephants at the entrance must have stod testimony to several rivalry and wars.
St. Mark’s Church, in glass stained Gothic style replaced the old Vidarbha temple inside the fort also under the British rule. A grand clock tower was strategically placed to the exuberance of the fort in 1933. A sculpture of tortoise, with the name of King Vijayendra, engraved on it sits adorned upon to welcome the history aficionados.
 The beautiful glass stained windows of the St. Mark’s Church are still intact; however the church has been converted into a museum housing several weapons, historical artifacts and a wealth of knowledge about the history and culture of Madikeri and Coorg.
The granite stone structure of the Madikeri Fort gives it a very European look, and being situated at the backdrop of vast green slopes and amid coffee plantations, one feels as if they were at Scotland.
The grand architecture of the fort is not only the pride of the Kodagu region but has also attracted visitors from several parts of the world. The secret labyrinth of alleys and passes inside the fort gives way to mysterious stories associated with them which too must have seen gory and secret stories hidden within the walls.