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Showing posts from 2015

A day of extra-ordinary rains around Tumakuru

169 years ago - A day of extra-ordinary rains around Tumakuru ---- "On the 4th of October, 1846, an extraordinary storm of this sort broke over the hills to the north of Toomcoor, in the Chittledroog district, 10 inches of rain fell in 4 hours, and burst the bunds of nearly all the tanks over a range of 80 miles. The presence of trees appears in some way to modify these sudden bursts of rain and to eualize the falls, as similar thunder storms are common in the immediate neighbourhood of Seringapatam, where rocks are abundant and verdure scanty." Source: 'Notes on the influence exercised by Trees on Climate' The Madras Journal of Literature and Science. Published under the auspices of the Madras Literary Society and Auxillary of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 15, 1849, Madras. RELATED STORIES Conservation of Devarayanadurga forest over the centuries Devarayanadurga’s big game in legends and shikar tales Bangalore’s missing grasslands Tigers in Bangalore i

Unscientific restoration threatens Sira fort

History of Sira town The history of Sira town can be traced back to the dismantling of Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 at the Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadgi (Battle of Talikota). During the power vaccum that followed in this part of the world, Sira town was found, attributed to Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka, Chief of Ratnagiri. The town was the centre of power of ocal rulers till 1638, prominent among whom being the Nayakas and Palaigars (Polygars).  Sira's connection with Shivaji... In 1638, the Adil Shahi Bijapur Army led by Ranadulla Khan captured Sira and areas of Tumkur north of it. The same year one Shahji Rao Bhonsle along with Ranadulla Khan captured Bangalore for the Adil Shahis, due to which Bangalore was given as a jagir to Shahji. Shahji was the father of the Marhata King Shivaji. ...with Aurangazeb Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb captured Golkonda & Bijapur in 1686-87 and made Sira a 'Suba' or province of the Moghul Empire, which remained so till 1757.