E. View of Savandrug (Mysore) 573

Wash drawing of the fortress at Savandurga in Karnataka by Colin MacKenzie (1754-1821), dated circa 1792. Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'Distant View of Savan-Droog in Mysore from the East side.'

Savandurga is made up of two granite cliffs around 4000 feet tall and 13 kilometres (8 miles) in circumference. The darker one is called Karigudda or 'black hill' and the other Billigudda or 'white hill'. The hill fort on the top of the outcrop was erected in 1543 by Samanta Raya. It then came to Immadi Kempe Gowda of Bangalore until 1728 when it was captured by the Raja of Mysore from whom it passed to Haider Ali.

This sketch was probably made when MacKenzie was assisting Lieut. Colonel Ross, Chief Engineer at Madras, with the British assault on the fortress. It was captured on 21 January 1792.