Aug 21, 2021

What to see in Chitradurga district?

Chitradurga district is one of the southern districts of Karnataka. The district is known for its rich mineral deposits, wind energy farms, a formidable fort, several prehistoric sites, 3/9 edicts of Samrat Ashoka are in Karnataka state, and there's one geological heritage site too. Chitradurga is one of the districts which shares it's border with neighboring state Andhra Pradesh. The district is bound by five districts i.e. Tumkur, Chikmagalur, Davangere & Ballari, and Anatapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Davanagere was formerly a part of Chitradurga district. The district consists of six taluqs namely Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Hosadurga, Holalkere, Challakere and Molakalmuru. The district's terrain is a mix of plain land scattered with dirt hills and rock hills. The major river of this district is Vedavathi and the dam in its path is Vani Vilas Sagar.
A few notable people of this district are- 1. S Nijalingappa a prominent politician, 2. TaRaSu (T R Subba Rao) a renowned author, 3. P R Thippeswamy an artist & writer, and 4. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya a Yoga & Ayurvedic guru.
For tourists the popular places are Chitradurga fort and Chandravalli. And for history enthusiasts there's a lot more.
Multi-level gateway near Murugha Matha | Fort walls
Grinding stones | Gopalaswamy Honda

Pillow Lava of Maradihalli | Jain temple next to Brahmagiri
Pond at Chandravalli | Prehistoric burial site near Brahmagiri

Jatinga Rameshwara hill | Ashokan edict of Brahmagiri
Ashokan edict of Siddapura

Here's a list of interesting places one could see, starting with the fort of seven rings.
Chitradurga fort - Chitradurga fort has the reputation of being one of the largest and strongest forts of Karnataka. Spread over several rock hills, the fort has seven tiers hence called the Elu Suttina Kallina Kote. Within the fort are several bastions & turrets, gateways, a secret passage, ruins of palaces and treasury, temples & a monastery, waterways & water storage tanks, a flour mill, granary and edible oil storage tanks carved into boulders. The fort was designed to hold off sieges for two years. Chitradurga was built between XI and XIII centuries in stages by Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara and Nayakas. During Madakari Nayaka's rule Hyder Ali laid siege which lasted a year. A secret passage, guarded by a lone soldier, was discovered by enemy soldiers who tried to make their way in. The infiltration of enemy soldiers was discovered by the guard's wife Obavva. The narrow passage allowed only one person a time. Obavva knocked out several soldiers with her pestle before she was overpowered. In honor of the brave woman, the secret passage has been dedicated to her as Obavvana Kindi. To the British people Chitradurga was known by the name Chittaldroog.
This fort is a popular tourist destination despite the tiring climbs one needs to endure. The fort has been a favorite for cinema makers too, the popular ones being Hamsa Geethe and Nagara Haavu. Below is a list of places within Chitradurga fort:
Apart from the fort, the other places of the district are listed below:
  1. Uchangi Yellamma Devastana - A temple built in Vijayanagara architecture in the outer fort area of Chitradurga.
  2. State Archaeological Museum - The mueseum has a collection of artifacts from prehistoric times such as Neolithic tools, weapons, pottery sherds, terracotta jewelry. The museum has a sizable collection of coins including gold coins from Vijayanagara times. Then there are sculptures ranging from X to XVIII Centuries collected from nearby villages and other parts of the district. The exhibits include modern paintings, palm leaf manuscripts, cannon balls and, arms & armory.
  3. Ramadurga fort - This hill is also known as Hosagudda and Hosadurga. Atop the hill is fort in ruined condition. The fort's stone walls and bastions are standing on three sides. A stone water tank can be seen in the center of the fort. The hill is popular for Sri Ramalingeshwara cave temple hence called Ramadurga. Hosagudda is about 36 km northeast of Chitradurga and 9 km south of Nayakanahatti.
  4. Thipperudra Swamy Devastana, Nayakanahatti - Thipperudra Swamy was a spiritual leader and a social reformer of the XV or XVI Century who's origin remains unknown. The name Thippe Rudra Swamy derives from the story of him performing meditation on a thippe ~ dump of agri waste and cow-dung which converts into manure. There are three shrines associated to Thipperudra Swamy namely Olamatha (residence), Ekanatha Matha (meditation retreat) and Horamatah (grave). Nayakanahatti is about 45 km northeast of Chitradurga.
  5. Chandravalli - is an important prehistoric site and also a religious site. Situated in a valley formed by the hills of Chitradurga, Jolagudda and Kirabanakallu. This place has several spectacular rock formations with caverns and a fresh water pond. Besides artifacts of Vijayanagara times, Roman and Chinese coins have been found here. The major attraction of this place is the subterranean temple known as Ankali Mataha. Chandravalli is 4 km south of Chitradurga fort. 
  6. Jogimatti - This is a hill range with forest cover. The name Jogimatti is derived from the tomb of an ancient ascetic named Jogi Siddeshwara. The tomb is situated atop a hill with spectacular rock formations. The place is popular for picnickers during rainy season when the entire hill is green and grey. Jogimatti shrine is 11 km south of Chitradurga.
  7. Adu Malleshwara Devastana - This is an ancient shrine dedicated to Shiva. Within the temple premises is a stepped water tank and a zoo. Adu Malleshwara Gudi is about 5.5 km southwest of Chitradurga fort. 
  8. Himvat Kedaya - This is a brook which flows out from the mouth of a Nandi idol inside a cavern. This place is also known by the name Himadagiri waterfall. The spot is about a kilometer southeast of Adu Malleshwara Devastana. 
  9. Megalithic burial site, Brahmagiri - Cist graves dating back to 900 BC have been discovered in the plains on the western side of Brahmagiri hill. Archaeologists have found that the graves show  astronomical orientation. The graves have been vandalised in the recent past yet the site remains important. Roppa village is about 100 km northeast of Chitradurga.  
  10. Ashokan edict, Siddapura - Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga war. As a part of his mission to propogate peace had messages inscribed on rocks through out his empire which covered most of the Indian subcontinent. Of the surviving edicts, nine of them are within Karnataka state. Three of nine sites are located in Chitradurga district. The edict here is found on rock formations less than a kilometer from Siddapura village. Ashoka Siddapura is about 99 km northeast of Chitradurga.  
  11. Ashokan edict, Brahmagiri - A kilometer from Ashoka Siddapura is another Ashokan edict, situated at the northern base of Brahmagiri hill.    
  12. Ashokan edict, Jatinga-Rameshwara -  Jatinga-Rameshwara is a rock hill with its peak at 180 meters above the surrounding plains. This place is connected with Ramayana. It is here that Jatayu fell fighting with Ravana trying to rescue Sita. Atop the hill is a temple dedicate to Rameshwara and the inscription of Ashoka. Jatinga Rameshwara is about 18 km northwest of Ashoka Siddapura and 114 km northeast of Chitradurga. 
  13. Maari Kanive Dam & Vani Vilas Sagar - This is the reservoir created by a dam across river Vedavathi, a tributary of river Tungabhadra. The dam was was built between 1897 and 1907 by the kings of Mysore kingdom. Queen Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, the widow of king Chamaraaja Wadiyar was one of the promoters of this dam project. Also known as Maari Kanive project (named after a nearby village), this dam is 43m high. The reservoir irrigates about 100 sq km land. The dam and reservoir is situated about 20 km southwest of Hiriyur and 50 km south of Chitradurga. Close to the dam is Kanive Maaramma Devastana, a state tourism garden and forest department park. The forest dept park has a number of theme gardens of which one is Bruhat Panchavati Vana inside which is a group of the rare Krishna Ficus trees.
  14. Teru Malleshwara Devastana - this is an ancient shrine on the bank of river Vedavathi at Hiriyur. The Dravidian style temples seen here were built during Vijayanagara times. Hiriyur is about 42 kms southeast of Chitradurga.
  15. Gayatri Jalashaya - This is a small dam across river Suvarnamukhi near Kariyalla village in Hiriyur taluk. Suvarnamukhi is a tributary of river Vedavathi, they confluence at Koodalahalli. Kariyala is situated about 26 km southwest of Hiriyur and 66 km southeast of Chitradurga.
  16. Bayalu Ganapati Devastana, Holalkere - The main deity of this temple is a monolithic Ganapati approximately 20 feet tall. It is said that the idol was established in 1475 CE by  Guthyappa Nayaka.
  17. Sri Ontikambada Murugha Matha, Holalkere - This Lingayath monastery is a branch of Murugarajendra Brahmanata. The monastery is popular for its sprawling garden and stepped well which creates a peaceful ambiance.
  18. Raghavendra Swamy Anatha Sevashrama, Malladihalli - Raghavendra Swami (1890 to 1996) of Barkur village is the founder of this ashram. Raghavendra had served under a Siddharudha Swami of Hubli. He learned Ayurveda from Lakshman Das, a Yoga and Ayurveda scholar at Lahore. Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru) the founder of Isha Foundation was one of his disciples of this ashram. Malladihalli is about 50 km southwest of Chitradurga and 11 km west of Holalkere.
  19. Doddahotte Laxmi Ranganatha Swamy Devastana, Lokadolalu - The name of this shrine is derived from the big belly of the deity. The shrine is situated on a rocky hill which offers a beautiful view from the top. Lokadolalu is about 45 km southwest of Chitradurga and 15 km south of Holalkere.
  20. Molakalmuru silk weaving industry - Molakalmuru is a town close to Andhra-Karnataka border known for handwoven silk sarees. The saree weaving tradition here commenced a few decades ago. The sarees are woven by the Swakulasali community from Maharastra and Padmasali community of Andrapradesh. The patterns, motifs and designs are inspired by nature. These sarees received special patronage during Nalvadi Krishnarajendra Wadeyar's rule. Molakalmuru is about 90 km northeast of Chitradurga.
  21. Jagadguru Muruga Rajendra Brihanmatha - this is one of the major Lingayath monasteries. Also known as Murugi Matha, this monastery was established in the XVII Century. Murugi Matha has been lead by twenty four pontiffs starting with Sri Murige Swamiji I to the present Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru. Murugi Matha is engaged in religious, social, educational and cultural activities which is of great value to the society. Within the Matha premises is Muruga Vana, a garden with lifesize sculptures of humans, animals and other scenes. The collection of animal sculptures include dinosurs. The Matha is situated on the outskirts of Chitradurga, off Bangalore-Poona highway.
  22. Dasaratha Rameshwara Punyakshetra, Doddavajra - This is an ancient shrine connected to the epic Ramayana. It is beleived that this is the spot where king Dasharatha killed Shravanakumar in the darkness mistaking him for an animal. The shrine is situated in the cleft of a hill. This peaceful place has a natural source of fresh water and temple. Doddavajra is about 88 km south of Chitradurga and 48 km southwest of Hiriyur.
  23. Halu Rameshwara Punyakshetra - This is another place associated with Ramayana. It is believed that Rama installed and worshipped Shivalinga here while going to Srilanka to rescue Sita. Apart from the Shivalinga, the place has two natural sources of water namely Udbhava Gange and Varava Koduva Bavi. The latter is a well, its water is white colored like milk. Hence the name Halu (milk) Rameshwara. Halurameshwara is about 12 km northeast of Hosadurga and 60 km southwest of Chitradurga.
  24. Taralabalu Jagadguru Brihanmath, Sirigere - this is another large Lingayath monastery which was founded by Marulasiddha in the XII Century CE. It is said that Marulasiddha blessed his successor by uttering "Taralabalu" which means "long live my child" and that is how the monastery's name came by. Sirigere Matha manages a number of educational institutions and carries out social activities. The present pontiff is Dr. Shivamurthy Shivacharya Mahaswamiji. Sirigere is about 25 km west of Chitradurga, about 6 km west of NH48.
  25. Pillow Lava Rocks, Maradihalli - Pillow lava rocks are formed when submarine volcano lava comes in contact with seawater. The result of sudden chilling is bulbous or pillow shaped structures. They are flat bottomed and convex topped with thin glassy margin. These rocks of Maradihalli were first recognized by Dr. C S Pichamuthu, Director of Mines and Geology Department. Maradihali is situated between Chitradurga and Hiriyur, close to NH48, about 20 km southeast of Chitradurga.
  26. Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Devastana, Horakeredevapura - This is a 800 year old temple originally built by Chola kings, it was later developed by Palegars and Nayaka rulers. It is believed that Lord Laxmi Narasimha came here from Tirupati in three steps only. Horakeredevapura is 30 km south of Chitradurga and 50 km west of Hiriyur. 
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