The Forgotten Map: Bangalore Through the Eyes of the East India Company During the Third Anglo-Mysore War

The Forgotten Map: Bangalore Through the Eyes of the East India Company During the Third Anglo-Mysore War

Hidden within the vaults of colonial history lies a fascinating map — a meticulously hand-drawn cartographic record of Bangalore created by the East India Company during the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790–1792). More than just a military document, this map tells a layered story of conquest, resistance, and a city caught between two empires — that of Hazrat Tipu Sultan and the growing power of the British East India Company.

A City at the Crossroads of Empire

By the late 18th century, Bangalore (Bengaluru) was no longer just a quiet town on the Deccan plateau. It had become a strategic military hub, nestled between the larger dominions of the Nizam, the Marathas, and the British-controlled Madras Presidency. Under the rule of Hyder Ali and later his son, Hazrat Tipu Sultan, Bangalore had been transformed into a fortified stronghold — complete with massive stone walls, deep moats, granaries, and underground passageways. The city's defenses were considered among the strongest in South India at the time.

The Third Anglo-Mysore War and the British Obsession with Maps

The Third Anglo-Mysore War marked a turning point in colonial warfare. The East India Company had realized that brute force alone wasn’t enough to defeat the strategic brilliance of Hazrat Tipu Sultan. They needed information — detailed, reliable, and precise. British engineers and surveyors, trained under the likes of Colonel William Lambton (who would later begin the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India), were tasked with mapping Mysore territory inch by inch. Bangalore, being a critical node, was mapped with particular detail.

What the Map Revealed

The East India Company’s map of Bangalore from this period is not merely a topographic sketch. It reveals the military mind of the British and their obsession with geometry and control. Fort walls are drawn with mathematical precision. The location of batteries, barracks, water wells, open grounds, narrow entry gates, and even temple complexes are marked with symbolic clarity.

One of the most striking features is the outline of the **Bangalore Fort** — originally built by Kempe Gowda in the 16th century and later expanded and reinforced by Hyder Ali and Hazrat Tipu Sultan. The map shows how the British carefully studied the bastions, curtain walls, and potential breach points, which would later help them in their 1791 siege of the fort under Lord Cornwallis.

Tipu Sultan’s Defensive Genius

Although the map was made for conquest, it also unintentionally pays tribute to Hazrat Tipu Sultan's defensive planning. It documents the intricate layout of inner walls, storage units, watch towers, and even the positioning of Mysorean artillery. The mapping of elevated platforms and camouflaged trenches reveals how Tipu had turned Bangalore into a city of resistance — one that could absorb and counter any British advance.

A Tool of Invasion, A Window into the Past

Today, the map serves as a historical artifact — a tool once used for invasion, now offering a rare window into 18th-century Bangalore. It captures the transition of the city from a princely stronghold to a colonial outpost. With street names in English and landmarks labeled for military use, it reflects the early layers of British urban planning that would later reshape the city.

Why This Map Still Matters

This map reminds us that history is often written not only in books but also on paper, parchment, and canvas. Every drawn line, every labeled corner of Bangalore in that colonial map, is a testament to a time when the city stood at the center of a great historical conflict. It’s a symbol of the clash between two worlds — the traditional sovereignty of Hazrat Tipu Sultan and the rising tide of British imperialism.

As we walk today through the modern streets of Bengaluru — past bustling markets, IT corridors, and old fort walls — we must remember that the soul of the city still carries echoes of that era. The East India Company’s map is not just a colonial relic; it is a silent witness to the bravery, sacrifice, and vision of those who shaped Bangalore’s fate in one of the most defining chapters of South Indian history.