These inscriptions are found in and around the fort. The fort alsoemployed a scientific system for harvesting rainwater several inter-connected tanks at variouslevels were constructed that stored the rainwater, such that the overflow from one would fill thepond below. Nonetheless, the story of the brave woman was not forgotten and she became famous for trying to protect the kingdom. Chitradurga meant the picturesque fort in Kannada language. The fort is straddled over hills and overlooks a flat valley down below of Chitradurga. This stunning and picturesque hill fort is situated in the district of Chitradurga around 200 km northwest of Bangalore on the Mumbai route. The boulders surrounding the temple were used as arsenal in their fight. Obavvas husband was a soldier in King Madakari Nayakas time and hewas stationed in the watchtower to look out for enemy incursions. Chitradurga Fort History Architecture and Facts - i Share On the upper part of the fort Eighteen ancient temples can be found and in the lower part of the fort there is one huge temple. Subsequently, some parts of the monument were also built with the use of scorched bricks and mortar along with cement. If not for the sake of history, the forts presence amidst randomly spread boulders on a hill top is a reason enough for a visit. . The fort lies embellished with eighteen temples. A well-developed highway between the two cities ensures that the distance can be easilycovered in under 3 hours. It is believed that a ferocious man-eating giant Hidimb lived on the Chitradurga hill and terrorized everyone around. Two ponds that were built side by side were called the Akka-Thangi kolas elder andyounger sister ponds! Chitradurga Fort also known as the The Fort of Seven Rounds is located in the Chitradurga District of the state of Karnataka. Hyder Ali, the father of Tipu Sultan, took over the fort in 1779. Rainwater enters Bengaluru metro coaches. It is approximately 215 KM from Bangalore.If you are planning to have a day return trip from Bangalore then start by 6 am. Situated at a distance of 61 km from Chitradurga, Davangere is famous for Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple located here. The fort's name bears a meaning of picturesque fort in Kannada, something that it . Chitradurga Fort British called it as Chitaldoorg, is a fortification that straddles several hills and a peak overlooking a flat valley in the Chitradurga Di. Elephants, frogs, ships and more find shape among the rocks, making it a picturesque hill fort. Located in the beautiful state of Karnataka, the Chitradurga fort lies beside the river Vedavati. These are the words forever recorded in the Congressional . The elegance of the place will mesmerize you, and it wont be an exaggeration to say that you would fall in love with the fort in a heartbeat. Hidimba was slain by Bhima, and peace returned to the region. Considering its architectural importance and the uniqueness of its design, the monument can be regarded as a masterpiece in the human history. Required fields are marked *. However, the area that now houses the fort came into prominence only during the reign of the Nayakas of Chitradurga, also known as Paleygars (little kings), a feudatory of the Vijaynagar Empire. The fort was built between the 11th and 13th centuries by the dynastic rulers of the region including the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, and later the Nayakas of Chitradurga of the Vijaynagar Empire. It is spread across 3-4 hills. Unlike the name Chitradurga, the location is also picturesque with bold rock hills, deep green valley and huge towering boulders in numerous patterns. Get connected with architecture firms in Chitradurga and design your project in a minimal budget. Escape the noise and monotony of city life and plan an escape that takes you beyond the confines of time. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The beautiful Chitradurga Fort is known locally as Kallina Kote orstone fortress. The Chitradurga fort is built in a series of seven walls and has a nice picturistic view. The fort was taken over for a short while byHyder Ali in 1779 in his third attack with first 2 attacks being unsuccessful. At the entrance of the rocky gateway, we found sculpturesof Gods and a huge snake on the rock wall. Hello Travelers! Bus Tours. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclamer Privacy Policy This article has been written by Sanskrity Sinha for IBTIMES.COM The sixteenth day of April in the year 1889 had really been kind in giv Forts and palaces have some mystique kind of silence about them. Not wanting to disturbher husband, she stood beside the rock holding her Onake a thick wooden log used for poundinggrain. Chitradurga fort was my second solo travel, which just took place. I am quite late in responding to this, but thanks Rahul for your appreciation. a Hill fort. It is situated about 200 km north-west ofBengaluru. Both KSRTC buses and private buses are available. The smooth paths also had smallcuts and holes carved out so that horses could tread easily without slipping on the smooth surface. Though rainy season is considered to be the best time to visit as the rocks look beautiful with greeneries on the hill, the stones get slippery and you have to be very careful with your footwear. There were also ware-houses and water reservoirs which were used . The place is a treat to the eyes and soul. Some of the well-known temples are the Hidimbeswara, Sampige Siddeshwara, Ekanathamma and Phalguneshwara. I found the watch towers built all over the fort on hill tops very impressive and one may climb uphill to see the towers from close by. Chitradurga Fort. It is a massive fortification that stretches over several hills overlooking a flat valley in the district of Chitradurga in Karnataka, India. There are taxis available at the station. Chitradurga became a part of the Mysore province. It was believed to be one of the impregnable forts of its time with seven lines of concentric walls. A verification email has been sent to your inbox. The years from 1500 to 1800 AD proved to be turbulent for the Chitradurga Fort. The Chitradurga Fort is decorated with several inscriptions of the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagara Kings. Thousands of years ago when Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, was wandering in exile with his brothers and their mother Kunti, he came across this demon. Archaeologists have also found Ashokan period rock edicts near Brahmagiri that link Chitradurga to the Mauryan Empire during the reign of royal dynasties of Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, and Hoysalas. It is believed that the monument is connected with tanks to collect rain water during the time of water shortage. Sign boards will guide your way to Chitradurga district. During the rule of the Nayakas the fort was designed in manner where it has 19 gateways along with 38 following entrances and 35 covert doorways to deal with the incursion of enemies. In addition, several large doorways were built within the fort, and placedaround the concentric circles such that even if one of the doorways was attacked and seized, theother doors could still offer protection. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The fort is one of the biggest monuments among the 300 structures in the state of Karnataka. The fort requires a bit of trekking, which can be managed on own. The fort at Chitradurga, Karnataka. Chitradurga Fort is known as a stone fort due to its ramparts being made of heavy blocks of granite. In 1799, the famous Tipu Sultan was killed by the British in the Fourth Mysore War, and the Mysore Kingdom was reordered under the Wodeyars. There are temples, granaries, water tanks, oil pits, watching towers that are all made of stones. Among others ancient temples is Ekanatheshwari Temple which is worth visiting. Almost at the top, we could oversee the city of Chitradurga through the forts boundary walls. Chitradurga gets its name from Chitrakaldurga (meaning picturesque fort), an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found here.Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, and Chittaldurg. If you want to spend some peaceful moments amid natural surroundings, this is the perfect spot for you. It rests on a hill top looking over the plains of Chitradurga district. In the Gopalakrishna Temple, inscriptions date the idol back to the early 14th century. The entire fort trip took us roughly 3 hours.Chitradurga Fort was built using granite stone as an impregnable fortification, covering an area of 1500 acres. The Chitradurga Fort bore witness to the rise and fall of empires, and during all this time, it remained central to their reigns, particularly for the Nayakas. Chitradurga Fort is a standing testimony of ancient India's intricate architecture. This is a fort spanning several hundreds of acres but has now been engulfed to a large extent by the city. Chitradurga Fort: Interesting architecture - See 314 traveler reviews, 683 candid photos, and great deals for Chitradurga, India, at Tripadvisor. According to folk legend, the hills surrounding the fort had significance during the time of the Mahabharata. A Masjid was added to the fort during Hyder Alis reign. Nicely maintained fort, guides are available. It is believed that the demonkind Hidimb challenged Bhima to a duel in which the former lost. Their dynastic reign ended in 1565. Take a Look at Our Travel Guide On Hampi For Historical Trip! Sampige Siddeshwara temple is at the foot of the hill. Additionally, since the place is quite popular amid the local people, its awareness amid the tourists can be easily ensured. However, a woman was guarding this crevice on behalf of her husband at the time when Alis men tried squeezing through it at night. Located nearly 200 kms from the state capital of Bengaluru, is one of Karnataka's most picturesque fort - the Chitradurga fort. By Road: The city has road connectivity from all the major cities. Chitradurga means picturesque fort. For all those who wish to visit this place, here is how you can get here-, By Air: There are two airports near Chitradurga, the first one is the Hubli Airport which is approx 186 km away and the second one is the Bangalore International Airport which is 197 km away. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy.