North View of Sewandroog Shewing the Attack in Decr. 1791

The second edition of Twelve Views of Places in the Kingdom of Mysore (published in 1805), a collection of drawings and paintings by Robert Hyde Colebrook, says the following about this work: ‘Sewan-Droog is one of the most stupendous rocks in the country, and as a fort has been generally deemed impregnable. It lies 19 miles from Bangalore, in a direct line, bearing S. 82˚. W. This place is surrounded on all sides by extensive woods and thickets, inhabited by tigers and other wild beasts. Several rills of clear water issue from the foot of the rock, and discharge themselves into a small river in the vicinity. Tanks or reservoirs have been constructed on the hill itself, some of which have been hewn out of the solid rock.’