Top Things To Do In Chitradurga, Karnataka (India) || Karnataka Tourism
Chitradurga is the fortress town located in the southern
part of Karnataka. Apart from the fort, the town is popular for the amazing
spread of huge boulders and interesting rock formations. There are many rock
temples in the area that make it an even more interesting tourist place worth
visiting. The road leading to the town has the beautiful site of Vanivilas
Sagar Dam on the way. Spend some time observing the rows of windmills that
instantly capture one’s attention.
Chitradurga is often revered as a picturesque fort with
eye-pleasing and majestic beauty surrounding it. The name of the fort
translates to the ‘fort with rock art forms’.
The fort was cleverly designed to the entry of foreign
elements. It is believed that there are four secret entry points to the fort
that remain invisible to the visitors. There are multiple watch towers in the
fort complex that should have helped the occupants to keep an eye on the enemy.
The fort has nearly 20 gateways, though it is difficult to
believe the number considering the invincible construction of the fort.
Chitradurga has its mention in the most popular Indian epics named Ramayana and
Mahabharata.
In fact, the boulders spread all over are believed to have
resulted from the fight between Bhima, one of the five Pandavas in Mahabharata,
and a demon named Hidimba. The town was later established on these boulders and
is considered as the oldest Indian rock formation.
Chitradurga Fort was constructed by the rulers of the Nayak
Dynasty. The rulers later lost the fort to Hyder Ali in the 19th century. The
interesting features of the fort include Yenne Kola and Tuppada Kola, the pits
that were dug to store oil and ghee for various purposes. Meludurga Siddhi
Vinayaka Temple with the statue carved in the shape of an elephant back is
another worthwhile attraction within the fort.
The exciting rock art form is apparent from the way the huge
boulders lie shaped up into figures of animals like elephant and rabbit. There
are nearly 18 ancient temples in the fort, the most popular being the
Hidimbeshwara Temple. Granaries, water tanks and a mud fort to absorb the
excess of heat are other highlights of the complex.
Chitradurga is also surrounded by other attractions like
Chandravalli Caves and Ankali Matt that accommodates a huge Shiva Lingam.
Trekking is possible on the rocky hills at this place. Adumalleshwara temple,
known for a zoo and a waterfall, can also be visited.
A number of inscriptions of the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas and
the Vijayanagar kings have been found in and around the fort. These
inscriptions trace the history of the fort to the 3rd Millennium B.C. Ashokan
period rock edicts found near Brahmagiri also link Chitradurga to the Mauryan
Empire during the reign of the royal dynasties of Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas and
Hoysalas. However, the area where the fort now exists achieved prominence only
under the dynastic rule of the Nayakas of Chitradurga or "Paleygars"
(called "little kings") as a feudatory of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Between 1500 AD and 1800 AD, Chitradurga Fort witnessed a
turbulent history starting with the Vijayanagar Empire; the empire had gained
control of this region from the Hoysalas. Vijayanagar rulers brought the
Nayakas, the traditional local chieftains of the area, under their control as
their feudatory, until their dynastic reign ended in 1565 A.D. Thereafter, the
Nayakas of Chitradurga took independent control of the region and their clan
ruled for more than 200 years until the last of their rulers, Madakari Nayaka
V, was defeated by Hyder Ali of Mysore Kingdom, in 1779. During all these
years, Chitradurga Fort was central to the reign, particularly of the
Nayakas.
Timmanna Nayaka or Thimmappa Nayaka, a chieftain from Matti
during the rule of Saluva Narasimha, was the first ruler in the hierarchy of
the Nayakas of Chitradurga. Initially, he was a chieftain under the Vijayanagar Empire but was soon elevated to the rank of Governor of Chitradurga by the
Vijayanagar ruler in recognition of his excellent military service to the
empire. He controlled areas of the Chitradurga District including Davangere,
Jaglur and Harihar in the present Davangere District. His rule lasted for a
brief period and ended with his incarceration and death as a prisoner of the
Vijaynagar Empire. His son Obana Nayaka or Madakari Nayaka (1588–1602)
succeeded him. followed by a series of hierarchical or other adopted forms of
successions of the same clan. Bharamappa Nayaka, who ruled from 1689 until
1722, is regarded as the greatest of the Nayaka rulers famed for building
forts, palaces, tanks, and temples, including several gateways and bastions. He
fought several battles against the Mughals.
Madakari Nayaka V was the final ruler of the clan from 1758
to 1779. It was during his reign that the city of Chitradurga and the fort were
besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali. Madakari Nayaka used the fort effectively
for defense during three battles against Hyder Ali, at times allying himself
with Hyder Ali of Mysore Kingdom and at others with the Marathas. Hyder Ali
attacked the Chitradurga Fort the first time in 1760, the second time in 1770
and the third time successfully in 1779 when he defeated Madakari Nayaka.
Nayaka was taken a prisoner and killed. Nayaka's gamble of playing with both
Hyder Ali and the Marathas was not successful; he was betrayed by the Marathas
and some local Muhammadan officers in his service. Subsequent to his death the
treasury at the fort is said to have yielded a rich bounty. It was during one
such war that the heroics of Onake Obavva, the wife of a soldier guarding the
fort, became a legendary event.
The dynastic reign of the Nayakas lasted for over 200 years
and the Chitradurga fort was their stronghold and the very heart of their province.
In the Fourth Mysore War, Tippu Sultan was killed by the
British in 1799, and the Mysore Kingdom was reordered under the Wodeyars.
Chitradurga became a part of Mysore province. The British considered
Chitradurga Fort a potentially useful base for providing a strong line of
defense to Mysore's northern border. Between 1799 and 1809, the British
garrisoned their troops in the fort. Later, the control of the fort was
restored to the Government of Mysore.
Temples in the fort –
Eighteen temples were built in the upper fort. Some of the
well-known temples were the Hidimbeswara (an ancient legend is linked to it),
Sampige Siddeshwara, Ekanathamma, Phalguneshwara, Gopala Krishna, Lord Hanuman,
Subbaraya and Nandi.
Hidimbeswara temple displays the tooth of Hidimba, the giant
(Rakshasa in Sanskrit). It is said that Hidimba and his sister Hidimbi, a
giantess, used to live in this temple. Hidimbi, who fell in love with Bhima
(the second of the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata) married him and had a child
by him named Ghatotkacha. A large cylinder about 3 metres (9.8 ft) in circumference
and 2 metres (6.6 ft) high made of iron plates known as Bheri or Drum of Bheema
is also located here.[citation needed] A monolithic pillar and two swing frames
are also seen at the gate to this temple. Sampige Siddheshvara temple is at the
foot of the hill. In the Gopalakrishna Temple, inscriptions date the idol to
the early 14th century.
In the lower fort, a temple dedicated to the tutelary deity
of the Nayaka Palegars, the Uchchangiamma or Uthsavamba, was built amidst the
rocks of the fort complex on the hill.
The Murugarajendra Matha, a famous religious institution of
the Lingayats, which was originally located within the fort, is now situated
about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the northwest of Chitradurga.
The fort is managed by Archeological Survey of India. It is
open from dawn to dusk. Visitors are required to buy entrance tickets at the
ticket counter and then explore the fort.
Few guides are available at the entrance of the fort.
Exploring the fort requires climbing. The fort is not disabled friendly. The
best time to explore the fort is in the morning when temperature is
comfortable.
A hotel managed by Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation
is located near the main entrance.
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