PLACES

TALAGAD

Talagad [Mr.E.H.Moscardi, C. S.] or Tala Fort (T. Mangahv) is a fortified hill about 400 feet over Tala town and about 1,000 above the sea. It is the extreme eastern summit of the Devaca Dongar or Bhura hills, which run east and west along the southern bank of the Malati creek. From the rest of these hills it is nearly separated by a deep gorge on the west. Near its base the ascent on all sides is easy, but after the first 100 or 200 feet the slope on the east, south, and north sides is steep and difficult. At the top of this steeper slope is a high wall or long narrow ridge of rock, the eastern half of which is about 150 feet high and about 500 yards long. The western half is of about the same length but is not nearly so high. Only the eastern half of this rocky ridge and the part of the hill immediately below its eastern end are fortified. The hillsides are treeless and bare, but, along the north, east and south close to the bottom, is a richly wooded belt within which stands the little town of Tala. From Ghosala on the north-west, Tala fort is very conspicuous. From the east, whence only one end of the hill is visible, its size and height are less striking. The fortifica-tions include two parapet walls, which run along the northern and southern sides of the top of the eastern or highest half of the rocky ridge that forms the upper course of the mountain. There is also a third parapet wall of similar construction which starts from the gate of the fortress near the north-east corner of the upper course of the mountain, and passes obliquely up its eastern and southern faces, until it reaches the inner gate, in the southern of the two walls at the top of the ridge. A fourth parapet wall forms about three sides of a square, starting from the base of the upper course near the north-east and enclosing the part of the eastern slope of the hill immediately under the third parapet. All of these fortifications are in a state of ruins.

Finally, there is a small ruined redoubt commanding the ascent of the hill, built about half-way up at the north-cast corner. The way up the hill starts from the east side, and, after climbing the gently sloping and well-wooded ground within which Tala town is built. There are sixteen old cannon which arc said to have belonged to the fort. One or two are of primitive workmanship, and hardly any of them is fit for use. There is a small mosque of some age but of no architectural interest. To this point there is a made path, but above it there is only a narrow beaten track climbing a steep bare slope.

The first object of interest in the ascent is the outwork or redoubt mentioned above. It is of very crude construction and seems to have been only a temporary work of defence. Behind it is a platform for a gun. From this point a flight of steps, very much out of repair, leads to the outer line of fortifications which encloses the eastern end of the fort. These steps run up the northern slope obliquely to the eastward, and outside of them there are two or three rudely constructed platforms for guns.

The flight of steps reaches the outside fortifications at its north-eastern corner. It is rude but pretty solid, being formed of large unhewn stones piled irregularly one above the other, their crevices filled with mortar and small stones. It is provided with platforms for cannon. The entrance is guarded by two small ruined bastions. This wall formerly had a parapet about eight feet high, but all of it has fallen. The twenty-five remaining feet show that it was provided with loopholes for musketry, and with larger openings close to the ground, through which small cannon might be fired. From this point the ascent is by steps cut in the northern face of the rocky ridge on which the main fort is built. These steps start from the north-east corner and first run to the west. Near the bottom of these steps, and, about twelve or fifteen feet above them, is a small cistern cut in the rock, and beyond the cistern, on the outer or right side of the steps, is a solidly built semi-elliptical parapet or watch tower. The structure has been pulled down and lies uncared for at present. Its para-pet wall is about three feet thick, and it is provided with loop-holes which command a view of the country beneath. On a stone, lying on the ground near this, is a somewhat damaged rudely-cut figure of a tiger, like those at the gate of Ghosala, but smaller. A few yards beyond this the steps turn sharp round, and begin to climb the northern slope in an easterly direction From this point the outer or left side of the steps is defended by a parapet wall with small solidly built towers arranged at intervals. At the top of these steps was a gate of the fort, known as the Hanuman gate from an image of the God Maruti engraved on the rock outside. The gateway, which seems to have been a small narrow arch, has fallen. A square hole is shown, deeply cut into the rock through which ran the bolt that fastened the gate. On the inside, within the gate, is a fine rock-cut cistern entered by a low doorway. The two knee-high ends of pillars standing opposite each other indicate existence of the gate here. This cistern is divided into three compartments and yields an abundant supply of good water.

From a point near the gate starts the second line of fortifications. It is very solidly built of rough-hewn stones made to fit one another. It consists of wall about 8½ feet thick, with a parapet about 1½ feet thick, pierced with loopholes for musketry. The greater part of this wall and its parapet is entire. At the north-east and south-east corner of the hill are semicircular bastions each about eighteen feet across. The bastion at the north-east corner has a large round stone in the middle with a round hole pierced in it. It seems that this stone was the base of a wooden pillar that supported a thatched roof covering the bastion. From the south-east bastion this wall runs up the southern face of the hill obliquely west, meeting the southern wall of the defences at the top of the fort near the inner gateway. Between the south-east bastion and the inner gateway is a platform for artillery, and another semicircular bastion. A flight of steps, running just with-in this wall, leads the visitor to the entrance of the line of fortifications that encloses the top or the fort proper. The top of this ridge is from 300 to 400 yards long, never more than about thirty yards broad, and at the western end much narrower. Its de-fences consist of two walls along its northern and southern edges, similar in make and size to the north-east parapet wall, and having a tower or bastion at the eastern and western ends where they meet in a point. There is also a semicircular bastion in the southern wall.

Beginning with the eastern tower, which is at the end nearest the inner gate, under its parapet, is a room which was probably used as a guard-room. The holes remain in which the beams that supported its flat roof were fastened. There are arched alcoves, deeply cut in its wall, with small loopholes at the further or outer end, commanding a view of the surrounding country. Immediately to the west of this tower is a small mosque built of stone and mortar. It contains no feature of interest. In a line, about thirty paces west of the mosque, are three rock-cut cisterns for rain-water, each about fifteen feet square; the water is deep but unfit for drinking. In the north wall is the entrance to a secret staircase that used to run inside the wall to the foot of the escarpment; all but the first four or five feet of this staircase is choked with rubbish.

About sixty yards further are the remains of the commandant's Office or kaceri, a well-built oblong structure. It seems to have been open in the east side where a broad flight of steps stretches in front of it from end to end. From the north end of the office, far to the west, are a number of rock-cut chambers, open at the top, said to have been used for storing grain. The rock all round is pierced with small circular holes said to have been the sockets of the pillars which upheld the roof of the granaries. Beyond these are six other rock-cut cisterns, most of them without water and two almost filled with rubbish. There is a small temple nearly entire, but apparently not much frequented, as some of the villagers say that it belongs to Ratnakar Mahadev and others that it belongs to Bhavani. On the ground outside the temple is fragment of a lamp-pillar or dipmal. To the west a roofless building nearly ruined is known as Laksmi Kothi, the treasury or armoury. In appearance it closely resembles the treasure-house or store-house on Surgad. Here, as before remark-ed, the fort narrows to ten or twelve yards and presently ends in the western tower. The tower commands an interesting view. To the west are the hills of the Devaca range, with the Malati creek running along their northern bases. About seven miles beyond the creek is the fortress of Ghosala with the Roha hills in the background. South of the Devaca Dongar a land of low hills stretches to the Janjira frontier, a break in the hills opening a glimpse of Janjira harbour. Eastwards the view has no special interest. The low tame hills of Manganv look almost level, but, in the distance, about twenty miles off, are the magnificient peaks and precipices of the Sahyadris, with the clearly marked forts of Visramgad or Kurdu and Mangad.

In 1648 Talagad was taken by Sivaji from Bijapur. [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. I,111.] In 1659 the Sidi laid siege to it; but immediately after, on hearing of the death of Afzal Khan and the destruction of the Bijapur army, he hastily retired. [Grant Duff, Vol. I, 138.] In 1735 Talagad was reduced by Bajirav Pesva, and in the treaty made with the Sidi in the same year, the fort was ceded to the Marathas. [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. I, 388-89.] In 1818 it was taken, by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Prother. While encamped at Indapur (17th April 1818) six miles east of Tala, Lieutenant-Colonel Prother heard that to defend the approaches to Tala, three stockades had been built about a mile and a half west of Indapur. Colonel Prother immediately detached the light company of the 18th Regiment, the flank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 5th Regiment under Captain Rose, and the whole of the Auxiliary Horse under Brigade-Major Moore. The three stockades were on a range of hills, in shape somewhat like a half-crescent, the right and left stockades being at the two flanks and the main stockade in the centre. Captain Rose divided his detachment into three parts, one under Captain Hutchinson and Lieutenant Crossby; another under Lieutenant Bellasis and Lieutenant Dowdall; the third under Captain Rose's personal command with Lieutenant Phelan. The detachment of Poona Auxiliary Horse supported the infantry. The enemy, numbering about 500, under the command of the Subhedar of Tala, were armed with rocket batteries and two small guns. The attack on the flank stockades began nearly at the same time, under a heavy fire of rockets and musketry, and both were carried by Captain Hutchinson and Lieutenant Bella-sis, the enemy immediately abandoning the post. Seeing the enemy retire, Captain Rose, who had maintained the centre to support the parties, pushed on and carried the main stockade, capturing two guns. The Poona Auxiliary Horse, when they saw the enemy in retreat, struggled up the hill, and finding a road, overtook a party of the fugitives, killed many of them, and took several prisoners, including the Subhedar. [Bombay Courier, 25th April 1818; Pendhari and Maratha Wars, 264.] From the way in which the approach had been defended, an obstinate resistance was expected at Tala fort. But on the evening of the 17th a villager came into the British camp and reported that the fort was abandoned. Early on the following morning, Colonel Prother taking with him the party that had carried the stockades, advanced on Tala, and found that the villager's report was true. A small party of about forty rank and file with twenty Auxiliary Horses were then detached under the command of Lieutenants Bellasis and Decluzeau to gain possession of the neighbouring fort of Ghosala which also, the villager had said, was evacuated. On the small British party approaching the fort, the enemy opened on them a well directed fire which was kept up until the party was close under the walls. Soon after this the garrison abandoned the fort and the detachment took possession of it. [ Bombay Courier, 2nd May 1818. See Ghosalgad Fort]

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