Chitradurga literally translates to "A Picturesque Castle". The city is surrounded by the rocky hills, endless lines of wind mills, and has beautiful valleys. During summer the place is mostly dry and hot, where as after few showers during the monsoon the city turns into lush green paradise with cool breeze inviting you to explore the Kallina Kote (Stone Fortress).
Let me take you through a photo story of my birth place...
1. History of Chitradurga Fort
Chitradurga Fort was built between the 10th and 18th centuries by the kings various dynasties during that period which are Rashtrakutas, Kalyana Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar and Nayakas of Chitradurga.
2. Photography
If you are a photographer interested in capturing butterflies, squirrels, and birds, you will enjoy the post monsoon season. Walk through the garden just past the entrance around the lush green grass, and you will find plenty of little wonders.
3. Rock Formations
There are rocks and boulders all around. Playing guessing games - "What this rock looks like?" is a common thing. Someone view the rock as an elephant, other might visualize a hippo, where as few people can't see anything but a rock !
4. Climbing like a monkey
Jyothi Raj alias Koti Rama from Chitradurga is famous for his rock climbing and wall climbing feats without any safety harness. You will find him teaching young kids from his academy at the Chitradurga Fort. He also perform stunt climbs for tourists and visitors.
5. Gaali Mantapa
'Gaali Mantapa' loosely translates to 'Wind Hall'. Summer or winter or monsoon, you will find cool breeze gushing through these structures. An architectural marvel from 12th Century.
6. Impregnable Fort
The Nayak Palegars built the fort as an impregnable fortification for defense purposes with 7 layer of walls (Yelusuttina Kote), 19 gateways, 38 posterior entrances, 35 secret entrances, four invisible passages, water tanks and 2000 watch towers to guard and keep vigil on the enemy incursions. The storage warehouses, pits and reservoirs were primarily designed to ensure the food, water and military supplies required to endure a long siege. Uniquely, all these facilities are still well conserved. Even the rainwater-harvesting structures were built during those times, which makes Chitradurga Fort unique in many ways.
7. Mallakhamba
'Mallakhamba' translates to 'wrestling pole', and this is a traditional Indian sport in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging pole. Mallakhamba was a popular sport during the time of Nayakas and it is still a popular sport around the Chitradurga area. On the peak of the fort there is an old stone pillar, some say it is the Mallakhamb from olden days, some say it is just a structure. And I just enjoyed climbing it.
8. The Legend of Onake Obavva
Onake Obavva was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a pestle (Onake) in the kingdom of Chitradurga. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower. Hyder Ali had a clever plan to send his troops into the impregnable stone fortress through a small opening in the middle of the rocks and the chance sighting of Obavva ruined those plans. The legend of Obavva is still the talk of the town and the hold is still a popular attraction in the fort.
9. Highest Watch Tower Point
Tuppada Kola Batteri (Watch Tower), is the highest point in the Chitradurga Fort. 'Tuppada Kola' loosely translates to 'oil pond'. The legend says that the oil was stored inside the pond atop hill. In case of an attack from enemies, as counter attack the oil will be released from the pond over the rocky boulders. And the enemy soldiers-cavalry struggled to climb the slippery terrain. Such tactics gave the name of Kallina Kote (Stone Fortress) and Ukkina Kote (Iron Fortress) to Chitradurga fort.
10. Sunset from the Fort
If you are atop hills, you can see the beautiful sun setting amidst the windmills that surround the city of Chitradurga. It is simply calm and serene.
Chitradurga is around 200 kms away from Bengaluru and is well connected from most cities of Karnataka. There are frequent bus services to reach the place and affordable hotels with the city.
Monsoon is about to be over, pack your bags and GET SET Gooooooo.....
