On a recent two-day visit to Bagalkot for a wedding, my family and I took advantage of some spare time despite the blistering 38°C heat to explore local sights. We visited Kudala Sangama, where the Malaprabha and Krishna rivers meet, the Almatti Dam, and the nearby rock garden. Our friendly taxi driver, doubling as a guide, suggested we explore a hidden gem the next day — the Kerakalamatti Vaade.
In North Karnataka, a vaade refers to a large, palatial estate, historically owned by the wealthy or feudal lords. The Kerakalamatti Vaade, constructed by Ramachandragouda Nadgouda, the then palegar (chieftain) of Kerur village, is a classic example. Palegars once governed villages, dispensed justice, collected taxes, and supported scores of workers — not with salaries, but with grains, food, and housing.
Ramachandragouda once held 12,000 acres of land, which was redistributed under the 1961 Land Reforms Act. Work on the vaade began in the early 1900s and ended in 1930, as inscribed at the entrance. Spread over 2.5 acres and enclosed by 35-foot-high walls, the vaade showcases striking features: gopuras, arched windows, lamp niches, ventilation systems, a durbar hall, arsenal, stables, and treasury. Intriguing elements like gun slits, deep stone toilets, and steep stairways reflect a bygone era of architecture and defence.
Though one wing remains unfinished due to Ramachandragouda’s illness and high maintenance costs, the structure now serves as a scenic location for film shoots, particularly for action scenes. The family, now residing in an older, adjoining 200-year-old teakwood home, has generously offered the premises free for filmmakers, though crowd control and cleanliness remain a challenge.
This living relic is more than just a monument — it’s a silent storyteller of Karnataka’s feudal past, cultural endurance, and architectural ingenuity.
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