Hidden for decades, a British-era outpost returns to life in Bengaluru

A forgotten British-era military outpost inside an Indian Army campus that once stood along the old Bengaluru–Chennai route has been brought back to life after decades of neglect. The fort-like structure, believed to be over 150 years old, is in Domlur and was restored by the Indian Army and more than 150 volunteers from HandsOn Foundation, an environmental NGO.

The place is now being used by the Army Women’s Association and other charitable organisations for meetings and activities.

The Army and volunteers from the HandsOn Foundation carrying out the restoration work of the outpost.
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For over 25 years, dense creepers, climbers and wild plants had covered the site completely.

Identified during lake revival

Gurunandan Rao M., founder and president, HandsOn Foundation, told The Hindu that the place was identified in 2024, during a lake revival project. “We had been working with the Army on the creation and maintenance of Eagle’s Nest Lake at the 515 Army Base Workshop, now regarded as Bengaluru’s highest-elevation lake. During this work, Brigadier R.S. Budhwar, the then Commandant, pointed out another neglected site on the campus,” he said.

A picture of the outpost before the restoration.
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They found that two massive iron gates secured using old riveted technology had been jammed shut for years. Vegetation had grown through and around the building. With negligible resources available, the approach shifted to cleaning with manpower. The NGO arranged workers who spent nearly 15 to 20 days clearing the exterior, while military personnel and their family members contributed during weekends.

What was revealed

Once the area was cleared to access the gates, a JCB was used to push the gates open. What first appeared to be a small ruin opened into a large inner ground surrounded by multiple rooms, confirming that it was a planned military installation, Mr. Rao said.

Experts who examined the site identified it as a British-era Army depot and protection post, capable of housing around 30 to 40 soldiers. The size and reinforcement of the gates suggest that horses and possibly elephants were kept there. The outpost likely functioned as a security and observation post along the Bengaluru–Chennai road, which was a key military route.

One section of the structure includes a small circular enclosure believed to have been used to detain prisoners, based on design features, such as limited entry points for sunlight. Experts involved in the revival explained that the British commonly confined Indian freedom fighters to darker spaces.

“Inside, there are no direct outward-facing windows. Instead, the structure has double-layered walls with gaps that allow air to circulate without offering a view outside. Small openings in the walls are believed to have been used to pass food to detainees or for surveillance. The layout suggests that control and isolation were central to the design,” he added. 

Attempts to trace official records of the building were unsuccessful. Military service records available on site date back to around 1839, but the outpost does not appear in them, suggesting it may have been built earlier.

What was the structure

Based on construction techniques and materials, experts estimate the structure dates back to the early 19th century, around the 1810s, the time the British Army made a garrison here. Old maps and historical references indicate that the outpost may have formed as part of a larger military network connected to what is now the Indian Air Force Command Hospital area, where British soldiers and their families were treated. The elevated sections of the structure appear to have been used for night observation.

Historically, the outpost is part of Domlur’s role within the British Bangalore Civil and Military Station. After the Treaty of Srirangapatna in 1799, after the fall of Tipu Sultan in a battle with the British, the area became a key military zone, housing troops, training grounds, firing ranges, and a polo pavilion.

The land remained under British rule until 1949, when it was transferred to the Mysore State. It is now managed by Indian defence establishments, including the 515 Army Base Workshop and ASC College, Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area. 

Published – February 08, 2026 07:00 am IST