Home > Travel > States of India > Chitradurga District
Chitradurga District
Chitradurga district is an administrative district of the state of Karnataka. Chitradurga city is the district headquarters.

Share this Article:

Chitradurga District, KarnatakaChitradurga district get its name from Chitrakaldurga. It means an umbrella-shaped lofty hill. The district lies in the valley of the Vedavati River with the Tungabhadra River flowing in the northwest direction. This district has witnessed the rule of well known dynasties.

It is bounded by Tumkur District to the southeast and south, Chikmagalur District to the southwest, Davanagere District to the west, Bellary District to the north, and Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh state to the east. Chitradurga district is divided into taluks: Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Hosadurga, Holalkere, Challakere and Molakalmuru. It also has rich in mineral deposits that include gold and copper.

This district has rock hills and picturesque valleys and huge towering boulders. It is also known as the "stone fortress". According to a story in Mahabharata, a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and terrorised everyone. When the Pandavas had come here in the course of their exile, Bhima had a duel with Hidimba. He was slained by Bhima and peace was restored.

Timmana Nayaka was a chieftain of Vijayanagar Empire. He became the governor of Chitradurga. This marked the beginning of the rule of the Nayakas of Chitradurga. During the rule of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali. A chance sighting of a woman entering the Chitradurga fort through an opening in the rocks led to a clever plan by Hyder Ali to send his soldiers through the hole. The guard on duty near that hole had gone home for lunch and asked his wife to be on guard until he was back. The wife of that guard, Obavva while in her temporary seat, noticed soldiers emerging out of this opening. Obavva was not perturbed. She was carrying with her an Onake (a long wooden club meant for pounding paddy grains). She killed Hyder Ali`s soldiers one by one as they attempted to enter the fort through the opening and quietly moved the dead. Over a short period of time hundreds of soldiers entered and fell, without raising any suspicion. Obavva`s husband, upon his return from his lunch was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundreds of dead bodies of the enemy around her. The opening in the rocks still remains as a historical witness for the story, beside the Tanniru doni a small water source which holds cold water all round the year. Though her sincere and brave attempt saved the fort on that occasion, Madakari Nayaka could not repel Hyder Ali`s attack in 1779. In the ensuing battle, the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali. Obavva, like Kittur Rani Chennamma remains a legend, especially to the woman of Karnataka.

Chitradurga Fort was built in parts by the Palegar Nayakas, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It consists of seven enclosure walls. The fort houses eighteen ancient temples. The fort has 19 gateways, 38 subsequent entrances, a palace, a mosque, granaries, oil pits, four secret entrances and water tanks.

Chitradurga Kote is built on top of hill with stones. "Chitra durga" means "picture perfect". There is also a temple dedicated to Rameshwara built in 926 CE. Emperor Ashoka`s earliest rock edicts in Brahmi script and Prakrit language were discovered here.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in States of India


East Indian States
East Indian States comprises of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and also the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It defines the cultural heritage, rich historical background and the linguistic unity.
Erode District
Erode District is one of the districts in the state of Tamil Nadu. The district of Erode is having a land-locked area with no sea coast.
Purnia District in Bihar
Purnia District is located in Bihar and extends from River Ganga to Nepal. The district has a rich Hindu history and glorious past.
South Delhi District
South Delhi District is the third largest district of Delhi as far as its area is concerned. South Delhi District is known for its economic, historical, cultural and social significance.
North Indian States
North Indian States formed the cultural and religious unity in spite of having many foreign invasion and the political disturbances from the early era till the British gained supremacy in Indian sub continent.
Kendujhar District
Kendujhar District, spread over an area of 8,240 sq kms, is as varied as the whole of Orissa with waterfalls roaring gorges, mountains and minerals. The manifold expressions of nature in Kendujhar District are considered as unique.
Hooghly district
Hooghly District along the bank of the river Hooghly is one of the principal trading ports of West Bengal.
Districts of South Tamil Nadu
Districts of South Tamil Nadu consist of many tourism destinations like archaeological sites and the history of Pandyas and Cholas. Considering their proximity to the sea, many districts also boast of serene beaches and coastal beauty.
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh
Flora of Arunachal Pradesh includes infinite species and is a subject of great interests for the botanists.
Districts of South Gujarat
Districts of South Gujarat are the epicenter of Jain pilgrimages and the early Hindu kingdoms.
North West States of India
North West States of India consist of three states, which are Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. All of them are culturally and traditionally diverse and they have been ruled by different dynasties in historical time.
Geography Of Chittoor District
Geography of Chittoor district is spread along the topography of the land which is divided into two natural divisions; Chittoor has a dry and healthy climate.
Districts of North Rajasthan
District of Northern part of Rajasthan is dotted with ancient forts and medieval villages.
Districts of North Odisha
District of North Odisha has Bengal boundary and shares the same culture. These are reachable if one pays a weekend visit to Digha.
Districts of West Bihar
Districts of West Bihar is comprised of medieval monuments that were built by the different governors of Mughal era.
Districts of South Haryana
Districts of South Haryana consists of many cities of industrial excellence. These districts are dotted with popular tourism destinations.
Medieval History of Assam
Medieval history of Assam narrates the advent and rule of a number of kingdoms in the region. The prominent dynasties of the kingdom left an everlasting imprint on the socio cultural heritage of India.
Geography of Meghalaya
The suitable climate, highland plateaus, rivers and the flora and fauna together forms the geography of Meghalaya.
Districts of Rayalaseema
Districts of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh state has urban population and rural settlements as well.
Districts of South Punjab
Districts of Southern part of Punjab depict medieval history of Punjab and the rise of Sikhs.