Chitradurga - Famous FORT. Review on Chitradurga

*Chitradurga is situated approximately 200 km away from Bangalore.  The NH 4 is a beautiful 4 lane drive, which is tolled and it is part of the quadrangle road project.

The most famous landmark in Chitradurga is the Kalline Kote or translated it means Fort constructed with stones.  It has some epic reference to Ramayana, wherein Bheema is alleged to have killed the demon hurling the rocks.

This fort was constructed by Nayaks, who were fuedals connected with the Vijaynagar Empire.  Hampi the most world famous heritage site is just 150 kms away from Chitradurga.

Chitradurga Fort is massive edifice, spread over almost 20 acres with almost 20 gates.  The current access road to this fort is through the city only.  One finds at the enterance a Devi temple and opposite a small muesuem run privately.

Guides are available at the enterance of the Fort who may charge upto Rs 100/-  Official rates are much higher for a group.  The most important event associated with the fort is the heroic story of Obbava.

The Fort was having a weak spot, in terms of hidden enterance through the gaps in the rocks.  This spot was jealously guarded by Obbavva, who is wife of the watchmen.  One day the watchmen had gone to have his lunch and he deputed Obbava to guard the weak spot.  Suddenly the Muslim invaders started entry through the opening.  She quietly clobbered one by one enemies invading the Fort.  She became a heroine who saved the day.  The Nayaks were elated and they honoured by naming the place as OBBAVVA KIDKI.  They also erected a Hanuman temple in her honour.

Another fabled story is that the ruler had two wives and he constructed 2 different tanks for each of them.  It reveals the vanity of women folk in those times too.

The Gun Powder making machinism is quite an architecture.  The technology seems to have been perfected by the Nayaks, who may have passed on the technology to Tipu Sultan.  The cannons are missing from the Fort.  Maybe the British conviniently smuggled the same to Europe.

There are more than 4 temples big and small.  One temple is dedicated to Veerabhadra, another to Yoganarshima, Virupaksha and Devi.

One will come across Yogiraj, who does some amazing stunts climbing the fort walls with bare hands, without any supports.  He is just like the Iganu, the monitor lizard.  Just keep clicking the clock work stunts on sports model of your camera.  He is known as the Indian spiderman too. LOL.

Just near the Gun powder point there is a Bhanshankari temple inside a cave.  We were eager to finish the visiting Gun powder point and then proceed for Lunch.  Suddenly I heard an old shutter bug sound.  It was sounding like flash.  Suddenly I saw a cobra with hood raised, within a striking distance.  My wife and the guide did not even hear the sound, probably tired and hungry.  I just cooly told my guide, let us go it is time for lunch.  After moving a safe distance of 20 feet away, I pointed them at the hood raised cobra, unfortunately my photo reel was exhausted.

You never know what life has to offer, remember fortune favours the brave.  Enjoy the visit to Chitradurga Fort.  There are other tourist attractions such Chandravali gardens, and a few temples in and around the city.