Chitradurga Fort forms the old walled Town , built on the north eastern base of a cluster of rocky hills, qualifying it to be a Giridurga, or hill fortress. Known as Yelu Suthina Kote, the fort is fortified by seven circular walls, three of which are on the ground and four on the hill. Chitradurga fort is said to have had 19 majestic doors, 38 smaller doors, 35 special entry points and four secret entrances. The fort is entered through four gateways of the outermost wall. The foothills of the fort constitute the main residential area of the town. The Mel Durgas, forts on the hill are embellished with extensive fortifications, ramparts, bastions, batteries, watchtowers and entrances located at strategic points and house fourteen temples. Some of the fort’s important landmarks are Thuppada Kola Betta, Hidimbagiri, Zadaa Battery (Flag battery), Kahale Battery (Trumpet battery), Lal Battery (Red battery) and Nellikai Battery (Gooseberry battery). The main entrance to the fort, Kamanbhavi, has carvings of the seven – hooded cobra the legendary twin headed bird, Gandaberunda, the royal swan, Rajhamsa and lotus flowers.
Banashankari Temple, located in a little cave still has worship going on. A little further, in a large stone walled pit, are four massive Grinding stones. These stones, used to crush gunpowder, were turned by buffalo power. At the entrance of the place are Enne Kolas, large cauldrons used for storing oil. On the left of the hillock is the Bombe Chavadi Mantap. (toys pavilion) that has sculptures of elephants and horses with their mahouts. The majestic teak door is one of the finest features of the Chitradurga fort. Sculptures of Kalinga mardhana (Krishna salying the serpent Kalinga), Hanuman, tiger fights and elephant fights adorn the doorway. The Ekanatheshware Temple, built by Matti Thimmana Nayaka in the 15th century, has a deepastambha (lamp pillar) and a swing arch in the forefront. Nearby is the Hidimbeshware Temple, that was previously a Buddhist monastery. The Brihanmatha (monastery) consisting of 300 columns was built on the hillock by “Bichugatti Baramanna Nayaka”, the sword wielding chieftain of the 17th century. The Sampige Sidheshwara Cave Temple and the Gopalakrishna Temple are nearby. No account of Chitradurga Fort would be complete without mention of the Vanake Obavva Kindi, a secret entrance associated with the heroic tale of a Beda woman, Obavva. Single handed, she vanquished hundreds of Haider Ali’s soldiers, who were stealthily trying to enter the fort.
Brave woman Obavva, the wife of a soldier called Maddha Hanumappa, was guarding a fort tower, substituting for her husband during a lunch break. She was guarding the Chitradurga Fort at a crack opening, a secret opening where only one person could barely squeeze through. Her heroics have entered the annals of legendary folklore of the Karnataka State. While fetching water, she heard the muted sounds of enemy soldiers attempting to enter the fort through the crevice. With great presence of mind she immediately hid behind the crevice in the fort and hit at each soldier trying to squeeze through the crevice with onake, the name given in Kannada to a masse or pestle, a wooden rod used for pounding paddy. In this process, she bravely killed several enemy soldiers. By the time her husband appeared on the scene, she had already dragged several bodies of dead soldiers into the fort wall and was standing around the dead bodies with the blood stained onake in her hand. Maddha Hanumappa blew the bugle, and other soldiers joined him and killed all the enemy soldiers. This brave act saved the fort on that day from further attacks by Hyder Ali’s soldiers. Her heroic act was commemorated with her impressive statue (sculpted by Ashok Gudigar) erected in front of the District Commissioner’s office in Chittradurga town. The stadium in the town was named after her. This act earned her the epithet "Onake Obavva" and the crevice in the fort where she showed her bravery is called "Onake KindiFolk legend links the hills surrounding the fort to the epic Mahabharata. It is said that a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and had terrorized everyone around. When the Pandavas came with their mother Kunti in the course of their exile, Bhima had a duel with Hidimba. Hidimba was slain by Bhima and peace returned to the area. Legend further states that the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that duel.
Banashankari Temple, located in a little cave still has worship going on. A little further, in a large stone walled pit, are four massive Grinding stones. These stones, used to crush gunpowder, were turned by buffalo power. At the entrance of the place are Enne Kolas, large cauldrons used for storing oil. On the left of the hillock is the Bombe Chavadi Mantap. (toys pavilion) that has sculptures of elephants and horses with their mahouts. The majestic teak door is one of the finest features of the Chitradurga fort. Sculptures of Kalinga mardhana (Krishna salying the serpent Kalinga), Hanuman, tiger fights and elephant fights adorn the doorway. The Ekanatheshware Temple, built by Matti Thimmana Nayaka in the 15th century, has a deepastambha (lamp pillar) and a swing arch in the forefront. Nearby is the Hidimbeshware Temple, that was previously a Buddhist monastery. The Brihanmatha (monastery) consisting of 300 columns was built on the hillock by “Bichugatti Baramanna Nayaka”, the sword wielding chieftain of the 17th century. The Sampige Sidheshwara Cave Temple and the Gopalakrishna Temple are nearby. No account of Chitradurga Fort would be complete without mention of the Vanake Obavva Kindi, a secret entrance associated with the heroic tale of a Beda woman, Obavva. Single handed, she vanquished hundreds of Haider Ali’s soldiers, who were stealthily trying to enter the fort.
Brave woman Obavva, the wife of a soldier called Maddha Hanumappa, was guarding a fort tower, substituting for her husband during a lunch break. She was guarding the Chitradurga Fort at a crack opening, a secret opening where only one person could barely squeeze through. Her heroics have entered the annals of legendary folklore of the Karnataka State. While fetching water, she heard the muted sounds of enemy soldiers attempting to enter the fort through the crevice. With great presence of mind she immediately hid behind the crevice in the fort and hit at each soldier trying to squeeze through the crevice with onake, the name given in Kannada to a masse or pestle, a wooden rod used for pounding paddy. In this process, she bravely killed several enemy soldiers. By the time her husband appeared on the scene, she had already dragged several bodies of dead soldiers into the fort wall and was standing around the dead bodies with the blood stained onake in her hand. Maddha Hanumappa blew the bugle, and other soldiers joined him and killed all the enemy soldiers. This brave act saved the fort on that day from further attacks by Hyder Ali’s soldiers. Her heroic act was commemorated with her impressive statue (sculpted by Ashok Gudigar) erected in front of the District Commissioner’s office in Chittradurga town. The stadium in the town was named after her. This act earned her the epithet "Onake Obavva" and the crevice in the fort where she showed her bravery is called "Onake KindiFolk legend links the hills surrounding the fort to the epic Mahabharata. It is said that a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and had terrorized everyone around. When the Pandavas came with their mother Kunti in the course of their exile, Bhima had a duel with Hidimba. Hidimba was slain by Bhima and peace returned to the area. Legend further states that the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that duel.
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