The Chitradurga Fort is located in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka. It’s the strongest hill fort in the country and is locally known as the Elusuttina Kote, which means “the fort of seven circles”. It is at an approximate distance of 200 Km from the state capital- Bengaluru.
During the colonial era, this fort was known as Chitaldoorg. Spread over an area of 1500 acres, this fort was constructed during the 11th and 13th centuries by Chalukyas and Hoysalas, who ruled this region. Later, between the 15th and 18th centuries, this fort was expanded by the Nayakas.
History of the Chitradurga Fort
Based on the inscriptions of the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas, and the Vijayanagar Kings found in this fort, the history of this fort can be traced back to the Ashokan period. Under the reign of Nayakas of Chitradurga, this place became prominent.
However, between 1500 and 1800 AD, many rulers took over this fort. Firstly, the Nayakas of Chitradurga, as a feudatory of the Vijaynagar Empire, took control of this region from Hoysalas and ruled it till 1565. After that, the Nayakas independently ruled this region till 1779. Their last ruler was Madakari Nayaka V.
In 1779, Haider Ali defeated the last ruler of the Nayakas and ruled this region. He led this fort until the fourth Mysore War, when Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali, was defeated by the Britishers. After which, this fort became part of the Mysore Province. At present, this fort is located in the state of Karnataka.
Structure of the Chitradurga Fort
The Chitradurga Fort is one of the well-structured and well-built forts in India. It has 19 gateways, 38 postern gates, 35 secret entrances, and four invisible entrances. While most of them have disappeared now, the fort also has seven concentric ramparts.
The structure of this fort was well-planned to deal with war conditions. The outer wall of this fort was made using granite. It has zigzag pathways to slow down the enemies entering the fort. The doors here are made of thick wood and fastened with iron plates. It also has a sophisticated water harvesting system that ensures that the fort never runs out of water.
Apart from all this, the Chitradurga fort also has a total of sixteen temples within it. Some famous temples are Hidimbeshwara, Ekanthamma, Phalguneshvara, Gopalkrishna, Anjaneya, Subbaraya, and Basava.
Another essential element of this fort is the Onake Obavvana Kindi. It is a small crevice where Obava hid when Haider Ali attacked the fort. She killed his army men using Onake when they tried to the fort.
Location
Chitradurga Fort, Chitradurga, Karnataka 577501
Timings
6.00 AM to 6.00 PM (All Days)
Entry Ticket
- Adults: ₹20 per person
- Foreigner Visitor: ₹250 per person
- SAARC Visitor: ₹20 per person
- BIMSTEC Visitor: ₹20 per person
Note: These prices are for online tickets. The price of the tickets may vary at the ticket counter.
How to Reach Chitradurga Fort?
You can reach the Chitradurga Fort in the following ways:
By Air
The nearest airport to the Chitradurga Fort is Bengaluru airport and Hubli airport. Local transport can be taken from here to reach the fort.
By Train
The nearest railway station to the fort is Chitradurga Railway Station. The easiest way is to reach Bangalore from any part of India and then take a train to Chitradurga.
By Road
The Chitradurga district has a well-connected network of buses. It is connected with all the districts of Karnataka. You can also take a bus from the neighbouring states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
Places to visit near Chitradurga Fort
Some of the places you can visit near the Chitradurga Fort are
- Vani Vilasa Sagara Dam
- Davanagere city
- Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary
- Hampi
