Sultan Battery

Sultan Battery is a watchtower on the bank of the Gurupura River in Mangaluru, built in 1784 on the orders of Tipu Sultan, ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. It was meant to stop British warships from entering the river from its mouth and formed one link in a wider chain of coastal defences protecting the region's ports and trade routes.

The word battery in its name points to its original role as a gun position, and from its top the garrison could watch all traffic on the waterway. The tower is built of dark local stone, with openings and windows placed for clear views over the river and for signalling between parts of the fort. Its best-known feature is an underground chamber once used to store ammunition. Today the site is a quiet riverside spot that combines a piece of military history with good views.