About Chitradurga
Chitradurga City is an administrative district H.Q. of Karnataka state in Southern India. Chitradurga gets its name from Chitrakaldurga, an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found there. The district was practically ruled by all the well known dynasties that ruled Karnataka.
History and Legends
Chitradurga is surrounded by bold rock hills and pictorial valleys, huge towering boulders in unimaginable shapes. It is known as the "Stone Fortress" (Kallina Kote). The landscape looks much like a mischievous giant's playground, with boulders thrown around, forming silhouettes against the sky. According to a story in the Epic Mahabharata, a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and was a source of terror to everyone around. When the Pandavas came with their mother Kunti in the course of their Vanavasa (exile), Bhima had a duel with Hidimbasura. Hidimbasura was killed by Bhima and peace returned to the area. Legend has it the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that combat. In fact, the boulders on which major part of the city rests belong to the oldest rock formation in the country!!
Timmana Nayaka a chieftain under the Vijayanagar Empire was declared Governor of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. This was the beginning of the rule of the Nayakas of Chitradurga. His son Obana Nayaka is known by the name Madakari Nayaka, Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him and consolidated the kingdom to rule peacefully. As Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son, the apparent heir was enthroned but was killed in few months by the Dalavayis.
In 1676 Chikkanna Nayaka, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne, and his brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III in 1686. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to one of their distant relatives, Bharamappa Nayaka to ascend the throne in 1689. He is known as the greatest of the Nayaka rulers. Somehow, the subjects of Chitradurga did not experience a good reign of the successive rulers as they ruled on the throne for very brief periods. The Hiri Madakari Nayaka IV 1721, Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II 1748, Madakari Nayaka V 1758 were few others who ruled this area.
Descent of Nayakas & Bravery of Obavva
During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was surrounded 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, noticed soldiers emerging out of this opening. Obavva was not perturbed. She was carrying 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 bodies. 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 soldiers 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 the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali. Obavva, remains a legend, especially to the woman of Karnataka.
Kote - The Fort
World famous Chitradurga Fort is also known by names Kallina Kote (Rock Fort) / Ukinna Kote (Iron Fort) / Elu Suttina Kote (Fort of Seven Enclosures) which was built in parts by the Palegar Nayakas, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It comprises a series of seven enclosure walls, 18 ancient temples can be found inside the fort. This seemingly impregnable fort has 19 gateways, 38 posterior entrances, a palace, a mosque, granaries, oil pits, four secret entrances and water tanks. The rulers of this fort built 2000 + watch towers to guard and have a better look at enemy movement all the time.
History and Legends
Chitradurga is surrounded by bold rock hills and pictorial valleys, huge towering boulders in unimaginable shapes. It is known as the "Stone Fortress" (Kallina Kote). The landscape looks much like a mischievous giant's playground, with boulders thrown around, forming silhouettes against the sky. According to a story in the Epic Mahabharata, a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and was a source of terror to everyone around. When the Pandavas came with their mother Kunti in the course of their Vanavasa (exile), Bhima had a duel with Hidimbasura. Hidimbasura was killed by Bhima and peace returned to the area. Legend has it the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that combat. In fact, the boulders on which major part of the city rests belong to the oldest rock formation in the country!!
Timmana Nayaka a chieftain under the Vijayanagar Empire was declared Governor of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. This was the beginning of the rule of the Nayakas of Chitradurga. His son Obana Nayaka is known by the name Madakari Nayaka, Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him and consolidated the kingdom to rule peacefully. As Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son, the apparent heir was enthroned but was killed in few months by the Dalavayis.
In 1676 Chikkanna Nayaka, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne, and his brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III in 1686. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to one of their distant relatives, Bharamappa Nayaka to ascend the throne in 1689. He is known as the greatest of the Nayaka rulers. Somehow, the subjects of Chitradurga did not experience a good reign of the successive rulers as they ruled on the throne for very brief periods. The Hiri Madakari Nayaka IV 1721, Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II 1748, Madakari Nayaka V 1758 were few others who ruled this area.
Descent of Nayakas & Bravery of Obavva
During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was surrounded 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, noticed soldiers emerging out of this opening. Obavva was not perturbed. She was carrying 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 bodies. 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 soldiers 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 the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali. Obavva, remains a legend, especially to the woman of Karnataka.
Kote - The Fort
World famous Chitradurga Fort is also known by names Kallina Kote (Rock Fort) / Ukinna Kote (Iron Fort) / Elu Suttina Kote (Fort of Seven Enclosures) which was built in parts by the Palegar Nayakas, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It comprises a series of seven enclosure walls, 18 ancient temples can be found inside the fort. This seemingly impregnable fort has 19 gateways, 38 posterior entrances, a palace, a mosque, granaries, oil pits, four secret entrances and water tanks. The rulers of this fort built 2000 + watch towers to guard and have a better look at enemy movement all the time.
