Tourism
The heaven of ‘stone fortress’ – Chitradurga

A unique heaven for tourists. That is Chitradurga. Chitradurga features bold rock hills and picturesque 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. And that could be true! According to a story in the Epic Mahabharatha, a man-eating gaint named Hidimbasura did line here on the Chitradurga hill - a source of terror to everyone around. And then Pandavas came here with their mother Kunthi in the course of their exile and Bhima had a duel with Hidimba. Hidimba was slain by Bhima and peace returned to the area. These amazing boulders could well be part of the arsenal used during that duel! Seriously though, these boulders and the major part of the city rests on belong to the oldest rock formation in the country.

Chitradurga Fort sits on the top of a hill overlooking the flat surrounding land in Chitradurga District. It is located 120 kilometers from Hampi and 200 kilometers from Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, India.
Having come under the rule of rulers as diverse as the Nayak Palegars and Haider Ali, this strategically placed town was ideal from the military point of view. The city of Chitradurga itself is said to be named after the Fort of Seven Rounds (of walls).
Walk around this practically impregnable capital of the Nayak Paleyagars and scrutinize the fascinating battlements and bastions.
Each successive ruler has made his own addittion to improve the vantage position of this fort. See if you can find atleast one of the four "invisible" enterances.
This marvel of military architecture has 19 gateways and 38 postern entrances too, of which the fourth gateway is indeed the best. Rising 25 feet in height, the ornamented pillars and walls contain fascinating relief figures.
Don't miss the cave temple to the west of the wall. The Hidimbeshwara temple is the oldest one on the hill. The other temples in the hill fort are those of Ekanathamma, Phalguneswara, Gopalakrishna, Anjaneya, Subbaraya and the Siddeswara. A huge kettle- drum, in one of the temples, 6 feet in height and 1 0 feet in circumference is said to be Bhima's. Walk across to the circular well and check out the millstones that ground the gunpowder for Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. Move down to the lower fort and don't leave before paying your respects to Goddess Uchchangimma, the patron goddess of the Paleyagars, who built this impressive two- storied building with its unique swing-arch and tall lamp-pillar. It also happens to be the largest temple in the town.
You will be amazed at the unique system devised by the rulers of Chitradurga to ensure constant water supply. Those ingeniously placed set of 'keres' (tanks) and 'hondas' (reservoirs), one below the other collected all the rain water that fell on the Jogimatti hills and the upper fort before finally filling the moats.
Creep through the -'Onake Obavvana Kindi", the secret entrance, and salute the valiant Obavva who saved the fort from Haider Ali's invasion by killing a number of soldiers while they tried to slither in through this entrance.
On the way to Jogimatti (one of the highest points in this area) to beat the heat and probably enjoy a picnic, you will pass a lovely waterfall -the Himavat Kedaya

The Ankli Math is on a hillock across the cool Chandravalli valley. Walking up the path you will come across a large cave with remain of paintings on the walls and 10 lingas, which are said to have been set up by the Pandavas,according to the local folklore.

For a real feel of historv, not to mention awe, don't leave before visiting Brahmagiri which has earned a prominent place on the archaeological map of India, ever since B. Lewis Rice made the famous discovery of Kinq Ashoka's three edicts around this place. Situated on the hills on the right and left banks of the Sanna Hagari river, the best preserved of the lot is the Brahmagiri inscription, engraved on the top of a huge boulder. Known locally as the 'letter rock' local folklore believes that it has medicinal virtues. The second inscription is less than a mile away on a ledge close to Siddapura and the third one is on the western summit of the Jatinga - Rameshwara hill in front of the stairs leading to the Jatinga - Rameshwara temple. Right in the path of pilgrims for centuries in the shadow of an overhanging boulder, it was the favorite spot for bangle-sellers during the annual festival. It is therefore known as the 'bangle sellers' rock. You can still see the holes punched into the rock to hold the poles of the booths or tents.

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