The History Of Bangalore

The transition of power in Bengaluru often happened not through the clash of steel, but through the scratch of a pen. Ramjee Chandran navigates the complex and often overlooked chapter of Bengaluru’s Maratha years following the death of Shahaji Bhonsle. As his son Ekoji I took the reins, he found himself caught in he middle of the ambitions od Aurangzeb from the noth, his brother Chhatrapati Shivaji from the east and the expanding rising Wadiyars from Mysore. This episode explores the internal family fractures of the Bhsales, the exhaustion of Ekoji, and the monumental decision to treat Bengaluru as a commodity rather than a fortress—leading to its sale for three lakh varahas. It is a story of shifting loyalties and the cold pragmatism that eventually brought the city into the fold of the Mysore Kingdom. Key Details from the episode: The Succession: After Shahaji’s death in 1664, his younger son Ekoji I (also known as Vyankoji) took over the Bengaluru jagir. Family Friction: Chhatrapati Shivaji, Ekoji’s half-brother, eventually demanded his share of the southern jagir, leading to a brief but significant military confrontation in 1677. The Strategic Trap: Ekoji found Bengaluru increasingly difficult to defend against the aggressive expansionism of Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar of Mysore and the looming shadow of the Mughals. The Sale of Bengaluru: Feeling the city was a "white elephant," Ekoji entered negotiations with Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar to sell Bengaluru for a price of three lakh varahas. The Mughal Intervention: Just as the sale was being finalized in 1687, the Mughal general Qasim Khan seized the city, forcing the Wadiyars to buy it from the Mughals instead of the Marathas. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

When the dust of the 1638 siege settled, a new era began under a man who was far more than a mere conqueror. Ramjee Chandran explores the twenty-six-year reign of Shahaji Bhosale in Bengaluru. No longer just a frontier outpost, the city became Shahaji’s personal jagir—a sprawling estate where he blended Maratha administration with Deccani culture. This episode delves into Shahaji’s "Gowri Mahal" palace, his patronage of Sanskrit and Kannada literature, and the complex double-life he led as a loyal Bijapur general while his son, Shivaji, began carving out a rebel kingdom in the north. We also trace a direct, bloody line from a tragedy in Bengaluru to one of Indian history’s most famous assassinations: the tiger-clawed revenge against Afzal Khan. Key Details from the Script: The New Landlord: After the fall of the Kempe Gowdas, Adil Shah gifted Bengaluru and surrounding regions (Hoskote, Kolar, Tumkur) to Shahaji Bhosale as a personal jagir. The "Gowri Mahal": Shahaji didn't just garrison the city; he built a palace called Gowri Mahal within the Pete, turning Bengaluru into a sophisticated seat of governance and a "second home" for his family, including his wife Jijabai and a young Shivaji. Cultural Renaissance: Under Shahaji, Bengaluru became a hub for scholars and poets. He was a polyglot who encouraged works in Sanskrit and local languages, bridging the gap between the Maratha elite and the local populace. The Afzal Khan Connection: The script reveals a dark personal vendetta. Shahaji’s eldest son, Sambhaji, died in a battle at Kanakagiri under suspicious circumstances involving the general Afzal Khan. This tragedy in the south directly fueled Shivaji’s later, legendary encounter with Afzal Khan at Pratapgad. The Strategic Buffer: While the Mughals pressed from the north and Bijapur struggled to maintain control, Shahaji managed Bengaluru as a semi-autonomous island of stability for over two decades. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The transition of power is rarely just about the clash of swords; it is often about the whispers in the tent. Ramjee Chandran breaks down the high-stakes drama of 1638, where the fate of Bengaluru was decided by a mix of relentless Sultanate artillery and the fluid loyalties of Kenga Nayaka. As Ranadulla Khan’s army tightened its grip on the mud fort, the city faced a choice: total destruction or a pragmatic surrender. This episode explores the three days that ended the Kempe Gowda era, the controversial role of the "man of many sides," and the moment Shahaji Bhonsle—father of the legendary Shivaji—stepped into the pete not just as a conqueror, but as its new administrator. Bengaluru survives, but under a new flag and a new Maratha destiny. Key Details from the Script: The Strategic Shift: Following a 1636 treaty with the Mughals, the Bijapur Sultanate was forced to expand south, making Bengaluru the ultimate "jagir" (fiefdom) for its generals. The Role of Kenga Nayaka: Initially a Bijapur ally who defected to help Kempe Gowda II, Kenga Nayaka eventually negotiated the final surrender. While history often views him as a traitor, the script suggests he may be the reason the city wasn't sacked and destroyed. The Siege Mechanics: For three days, the professional Bijapur army battered the mud walls. The script highlights the "cannon vs. courage" imbalance that made the fall of the fort inevitable. The Rise of Shahaji Bhonsle: After the surrender, the city was handed over to Shahaji as his jagir. He moved into the Pete, setting up a palace that exists to this day, marking the start of the Maratha years. A Resilient City: Despite the change in rulers, the city’s economic engine—the Pete—didn't stop. The markets stayed open, and the immigrant population absorbed the transition without a rupture in trade. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠hob@explocity.com⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The walls that held in 1612 could not withstand the shifting tectonic plates of the 17th-century Deccan. Ramjee Chandran chronicles the dramatic and somber turning point of 1638, when the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur set its sights on the prosperity of Bengaluru. This episode talks about why Bijapur decided to attack Bengaluru. And presents a fascinating look the two armies about to fact each—it was a combat not only of sword, musket canon and horse, but a clash of war ideologies. It is a story about the eve of a local power about to meet an imperial machine, marking the end of Bengaluru’s "founder era" and its transition into a strategic piece on a much larger, bloodier chessboard. Key Details from the Script The Imperial Pivot: By the 1630s, the weakening of the Aravidus left a power vacuum that the Bijapur Sultanate was eager to fill, viewing Bengaluru not just as a trade hub, but as a gateway to the south The Command Duo: The siege was led by the veteran general Ranadulla Khan, accompanied by Shahaji Bhonsle, whose local knowledge of the terrain made the Bijapur assault particularly lethal. The Final Stand: Unlike the 1612 skirmish, this was a sustained bombardment. The mud walls, while innovative for local defense, were eventually breached by Bijapur’s superior artillery and professional infantry. The Great Exit: In a moment of high drama and pragmatism, Kempe Gowda II negotiated a surrender. He was allowed to retreat to Magadi, taking the "soul" of his administration with him, but leaving the physical city to the invaders. A Change of DNA: 1638 marks the moment Bengaluru ceased to be a "family-run" chieftaincy and became a cosmopolitan military garrison under Sultanate rule. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

Success has a way of inviting a target. Ramjee Chandran details the moment Bengaluru’s rapid rise as a cosmopolitan trade hub finally collided with the harsh realities of Deccan power politics. By 1612, the pete was no longer just a market; it was a desirable acquisition target for jealous neighbors. This episode focuses on Immadi Kempe Gowda (Kempe Gowda II) and his defining test: a massive confederacy of rival palegars who sought to dismantle Bengaluru’s growing dominance. We explore the high-stakes siege of the city’s mud fortifications and the brutal, tactical combat that proved the founder’s son could fight as well as his father could build. It is a story of how Bengaluru’s wealth became its greatest vulnerability, and how the city survived its first true hinge moment. Key takeaways: The Target on the Back: Bengaluru’s "urban pitch" and success as a trade hub reaching international ears made it an irresistible target for surrounding regional powers. The Rival Confederacy: Local palegars, fuelled by resentment and a shared envy, formed an alliance to attack the city. They received the support of a weak, indecisive king of Vijayanagara, Venkata II. The Siege of 1612: The battle was not a single clash but a siege and a breach of the city’s defenses, forcing Immadi Kempe Gowda to defend the very gates and streets his father had laid out. The "Ground Zero" of Battles: While an 890 AD inscription mentions a "Battle of Bengaluru," Ramjee Chandran argues that 1612 is the true starting point for the modern city's military history. The Darker Realisation: Though Kempe Gowda II was victorious, the battle signaled a shift: Bengaluru was now a source of pride that required constant, violent enforcement to survive. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

What happens to a city when the singular authority that willed it into existence vanishes? Ramjee Chandran explores the enigmatic end of Kempe Gowda I. While the Aravidu dynasty struggled to maintain a shadow of the Vijayanagara Empire from Penukonda, Kempe Gowda faced a "strange duality"—the freedom of a weakening center balanced against the rising suspicion of an imperial court looking for someone to blame for their downfall. This episode investigates the recent archaeological discovery of the Kempapura tomb and the historical theories surrounding Kempe Gowda's death. Was it a quiet passing, or did he fall in a skirmish while returning from a tribute mission? We analyze the inheritance he left for his successors: a city built with an economic logic so durable it could survive the fragility of the authority that founded it. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠hob@explocity.com⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

As the Vijayanagara Empire splintered into a "political looseness" following the catastrophe at Talikota, Bengaluru didn't just survive—it adapted. Ramjee Chandran examines how Kempe Gowda navigated the transition from imperial subject to autonomous ruler in an era of "untethered freedom". This episode explores the pragmatic nature of Bengaluru’s founder, who had the foresight to maintain the city’s logic of economic circulation. While the Aravidu dynasty at Penukonda struggled to issued orders without authority, Kempe Gowda focussed inward, building the temples, tanks, and markets that would anchor the city’s identity for centuries. We follow the final years of his reign, his strategic alignment with the flow of trade, and the legacy he left for his son, Kempe Gowda II. It is the story of how Bengaluru ceased to be an imperial outpost and began its journey as a self-sustaining engine of the Deccan. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The collapse of the Vijayanagara center at Talikota didn't just end an empire; it created a political vacuum that was similar to the one left by the Hoysalas two centuries earlier. Ramjee Chandran explores the historiography of this transition—how the political vocabulary of imperial authority persisted even when the centre could no longer bark orders. This episode follows the Aravidu family as they stepped into the void, attempting to preserve imperial continuity through a strategic retreat to the fortified heights of Penukonda—a truncated sovereignty, while the empire’s vassals began to declare independence. From the first rebellions of the Madurai Nayaks to the lingering imperial viceroyalty in Srirangapatna that would eventually become Mysore, we map the events that changed the course of history. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The defeat at the Battle of Talikota was only the beginning of the end. Ramjee Chandran chronicles the "ooru alivu"—the systematic erasure—of one of the world’s greatest metropolises. As the battlefield lay thick with the carnage of fallen empires, the Vijayanagara royals, led by Tirumala, executed a desperate exodus, loading 1,550 elephants with a treasury of gold and jewels to flee toward Penukonda. We explore the two-stage destruction of the capital: first, the chaotic plunder by local robber tribes and "jungle people" who descended on the forsaken city, followed by the six-month organised dismantling by Sultanate forces using fire and crowbars to level the city's symbolic heart. Amidst this comprehensive ruin, we examine the strange anomaly of the Virupaksha temple, which remained largely untouched while the surrounding city was reclaimed by the jungle and wild animals. This episode captures the visceral moment a seat of imperial power became an empty shell, forever shifting the political gravity of the Deccan. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

We stand on the north bank of the Krishna River to witness one of the most consequential and bloody battles in history: the Battle of Rakkasagi-Tangadgi, popularly known as Talikota. Ramjee Chandran details how the vast coalition of the Deccan Sultanates—Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar—marched south in early 1565 to challenge the dominance of the Vijayanagara Empire. As the two massive forces collided, a day that began with Vijayanagara's tactical confidence quickly descended into catastrophe due to a shocking battlefield betrayal by the Gilani brothers. This episode chronicles the final, frantic hours of the empire, the capture of the defiant Aliya Rama Raya, and his immediate execution at the hands of Husain Nizam Shah. In a single afternoon, two centuries of imperial rule were shattered, leaving the capital in chaos and forever altering the political landscape of the Bangalore plateau. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234⁠⁠ iHeartRadio: ⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/⁠⁠ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to ⁠⁠hob@explocity.com⁠⁠. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.