Thanks to Aziz for these pictures.

This particular photo of the St.Mary’s church is again distinct, as all earlier images were taken from the side whereas this one is from the front.

All the old pics like these are treasures.

By Bramhanand Chipre (AAB’s History Editor)

Belgaum is one of the oldest, strong, prominent and well cultured historical place, nestling high in the Western Ghats. The old town area with cotton and silk weavers stands gloriously besides the modern, bustling, tree-lined British Cantonment. Step out of the forts and you have a wide choice of temples and churches to visit. Belgaum has an enviable heritage and offers much to be discovered. It lies in the zone of cultural transition between Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa with a known antiquity clearly traceable up to 2nd Century A.D. Due to its proximity with the states of Maharashtra and Goa, Belgaum has acquired the cultural flavor of these states and blended it with the local Kannada culture to create a rich heritage, which is unique in its manifestation. It is also known as Malenadu or Rain Country and the vegetation here is verdant green throughout the year. Well, centuries have passed and today it is an entirely different story. Belgaum has now become one of the important and considered districts in the state of Karnataka. Belgaum is now marching with a tag of fast growing, redeveloping district with a population of approximately over 5.5 lakhs.

The name Belgaum is originated from "Velugrama" or "Ikhsugrama". The earliest mention of this is made in the Nesari Plates of 805 AD. The archaeological inscriptions under A Sunder in the Vadgaon - Madhavapura area reveal a prosperous town of the Satavanhana times. Chalukyas and Rastrakutas administrated the territory. Later on Kadambas of Goa and Rattas ruled Belgaum. It was made the capital city under the Rattas. Afterwards Yadavas of Devagiri and Vijayanagar rulers governed the city.

In 1472 AD Bahamani's conquered Belgaum. The Adilshahis of Bijapur captured it in 1489.

Asad Khan a noble of Bijapur, ruled Belgaum from 1511 to 1540. His tomb is in the camp area.

In about 1550, Sherkhan a Bijapur coommander built the present town Shahapur, originally called shahpet. Shivaji, the Maratha ruler in 1673 invaded Belgaum.

The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb defeated the kingdom of Bijapur and then he transferred Belgaum to the Nawab of Savanur. In 1756, Belgaum was conquered by the Marathas. It was under the Maratha until it was occupied by the British in March-April 1818. The British made it the headquarters of a Sarkar (District) with 15 paraganas (Talukas) in 1838. The British experienced the heat and chill of the 1875 Revolt in Belgaum also. A leader of the Revolt was sentenced to death at the Military Dairy. He was Nargund Baskar Rao alias Babasaheb. His ' Samadhi' is located at the Military Dairy. Foreigners have left behind their indelible impressions of Belgaum. Ralf Fitch (1583) calls the place “The first town between Bijapur and Goa ".
Geographer Ogliby (1680): remarks as one of the four eminent castles in Konkan.

Italian traveler (1695) calls it a populous city and a place of much trade with a large market.

Belgaum was one of the five military stations that were established in the Old Bombay Presidency. In 1878, it was made the headquarters of the Southern Division under the Bombay Presidency.

Belgaum hosted the 1924 annual Congress session which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi as the president. It assumes greater importance as it was the one and only congress session held in Karnataka as well as presided by Mahatma Gandhi as the president.

Part of this was already published on this site earlier as well.

Asad Khan Darga Photo courtesy Aziz.

Sahir Kittur was able to find this masterpiece of Belgaum’s history; The Belgaum fort which is so neglected by the authorities. The pictures here show the golden past of the fort.

The fort Church Belgaum:

Not many know that there was a church in the fort (including me).

Aziz who has spent many years around the fort area gave some insight on the fort Church. The church was during the British era and there is a reference to this in the gazetteer of Campbell. No ruins remain, but legend has it that it was located after the PWD offices on the left side as one enters from Durga Devi gate, before Deshpande's bungalow, there is a teak plantation there now.

THE FORT CHURCH - called Christ Church was 112 ft long with a pleasing interior, built in 1833 and contained several monuments and memorial windows.The church front was in black marble. Its apse was designed by General Merriman R.E. to commemorate the services of Mr. Charles James Mason, of the Bombay Civil Service, who when Acting Political Agent, South Maratha Country, was murdered by the chief of Nargund in 1858. The Apse and Memorial window at the east of the church were erected by Mason's friends in affectionate memory of his public worth. Of the 6 other tablets, 1 is to Lieutenant W.P.Shakespeare, A.P.Campbell & Ensign W.Caldwell who fell in Kolhapur and Savantvadi insurrection in 1844.

Thanks to Sahir for sharing a picture he found of the Belgaum Railway station which is around the year 1938-1945.

Another photo which is much older was found by team AAB which might not be anywhere on the internet. Its most probable date might be 1920-1930. The exact year could be 1925 but it could not be confirmed.