Chitradurga Fort is a fortification that straddles several hills and a peak overlooking a flat valley in the Chitradurga District, Karnataka, India. The fort's name Chitrakaldurga, which means 'picturesque fort' in Kannada. It is one of the Greatest Wonders which echoes about the vestige of the unique Indian empires.
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| One of the Seven Concentric Walled Layer of Chitradurga. |
Chitradurga Fort lies in the midst of a valley formed by the Vedavati River. The Tungabhadra River flows to the northwest of the fort. Seven hills constitute the Chinmuladri range. The seven circles of the fort enclose these hills.
Who Built it and Reigned over it?
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| Entrance Wall of the Chitragurga Fort |
The fort was built in stages between the 11th and 13th centuries by the dynastic rulers of the region including the Chalukyas(6th to 12th centuries) and Hoysalas, later the Nayakas of Chitradurga of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Nayakas of Chitradurga, or Palegar Nayakas, were most responsible for the expansion of the fort between the 15th and 18th centuries. 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. The fort is built in a series of seven concentric fortification walls with various passages, a citadel, masjid, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and ancient temples. There are 18 temples in the upper fort and one huge temple in the lower fort. Among these temples, the oldest and most interesting is the Hidimbeshwara temple. The fort's many interconnecting tanks were used to harvest rainwater, and the fort was said to never suffer from a water shortage. All of these three empires were significant in their own ways. The fort was taken over for a short while by Hyder Ali at Chitradurga in 1779. The fort was captured by the British forces twenty years later, when they defeated his son Tipu Sultan. The masjid was an addition during Hyder Ali's rule.
India's rich soil in which "Gold" used to bloom was unimaginably exploited by the Mughals and Britishers and other invaders who ruled on our land.
Significance of the Fort In the Epic - Mahabharat
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| Representation of Bheem Killing Hidimbasur |
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| Hidambeshwar Temple(The oldest of all) |
The hills surrounding the fort have a link with the epic Mahabharat. Hidimbeswara temple in this fort displays the tooth of Hidimba, the giant (Rakshas in Sanskrit). It is said that a man-eating giant named Hidimbasur lived on the Chitradurga hill and had terrorized everyone around. His sister Hidimbi, a giantess, also used to live in this temple. When the Pandavas came with their mother Kunti in the course of their exile, Bheem had a duel with Hidimba. Hidimba was slain by Bheem and peace returned to the area. Legend further states that the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that duel. Hidimbi, who fell in love with Bheem (the second of the Pandav brothers of Mahabharat) married him and had a child by him named Ghatotkach. 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 Bheem is also located here.
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