“She stood at the top of the crevice to the fort, fearless and determined. And brought countless soldiers of the invading army down with her valour as she guarded the fort on behalf of her husband !!”
Interesting legends, stories of utmost bravery, vast expanses and strategic built – these are some of the many ways to describe the Chitradurga Fort Karnataka. One of the most massive and strategic forts of India, with 19 gateways, 38 postern gates, 35 entrances and 4 invisible entrances, this fort was like a world of luxury and mystery in it’s prime. Also known as the “Chitaldoorg Fort” during the British Era. And as “Elusuttina Kote” (meaning “The fort of 7 circles”) in the local dialect. A unique fort that stretches over not just one but several hills!! And is built inside seven circles. Which were impossible to penetrate. Let us take you through a virtual day trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore with us today.
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A virtual tour of Chitradurga Fort
The first glimpse of a massive fort is always impactful, as you drive near it. And the same was true of Chitradurga Fort as well. As we left the highway and navigated through the lanes of the town of Chitradurga, eager to get that first glimpse. I was impressed by the huge structure at the first sight.
Entry to Chitradurga Fort
Soon we arrived at the entry gate and parked our vehicle here. There are three entry gates to the fort operational at this time. Two of them lie in the town. But this was the one that google guided us to, and was on the outskirts of the town. We parked our vehicle near the gate on the outside. And took the entry fee tickets. There was not much of a queue here, just 3-4 people ahead of us in the queue. And then we entered from the gate right besides the entryway.
The first thing I noticed was the pond or rather water tank on the left, which must have been used a reservoir of water in the olden days.
Then we went through the gate on the right, penetrating through the 7 circles to reach the inside of the fort. The massive walls and narrow gates only emphasise further the utter strategy with which the fort was built. And how it was almost impossible for enemies to penetrate through them.
Maddu Bisuva Kallu & Rain Water Harvesting System
The first major stop on our tour of Chitradurga Fort was Maddu Bisuva Kallu – a unique mechanism designed to produce gunpowder for ammunitions in house. An elephant tied to a structure very similar to the indigenous grains grinder, worked to create the gunpowder. As the elephant walked, it rotated the ginder which churned the raw material to produce the final product.
Then we saw the rain harvesting system built centuries ago to effectively utilise the rainwater inside the fort premises. Another one of the ingenious inventions of the time.
The Bateris and Temples inside the main complex
After this we visited Jodu Bateri, Jhanda Bateri, and Ganesha Temple, a very small temple on the premises of the Chitradurga Fort where prayers are performed till date.Next we visited the Ekanatheshvari Temple.
And then the Hidimbeshvara Temple. It is believed that the character Hidimba, whom Bhim killed, and thereafter married his sister in the Hindu epic Mahatbharta, lived in the Chitradurga Fort Region. The duel between Bhima and Hidimba was fought here, and some of the rocks were used in the same. Also it is said Hidimba’s broken tooth fell here. And there is a rock right in front of this temple which resembles an elephant!
The administrative parts of Chitradurga Fort
Next came Mint & Palayegar Kacheri. Very little of the original structure stands. But it is intriguing to see how a small temple like structure was erected on the top. To misguide people. While actually inside the basement, it was much more vast. Where the secret meetings were held. And also mint / coins created for the administrative purpose.
Echo Rock, a very specific hollow rock structure in the gates, was what caught our attention next. If you put your mouth in the hollow and even so much as whisper, it echos all over. Our guide told us that these were formed to warn the soldiers and the people. In case there was an attack or an enemy nearby. How ingenious!!
Onake-Obavva-Kindi
Next we came to a very interesting place where the rainwater was collected on one side. And then filtered through a filtering mechanism. Then it finally flowed through the other side as clean water. Further stored in reservoir. And then supplied for various purposes across the kingdom. One of the narrow escape routes to the fort, almost hidden underground lies right besides it. It can be easily mistaken as a canal or drain through which some of this water seeps out. But actually, it is a way to access the fort in a hidden manner.
Haider Ali’s army discovered the same. And tried to penetrate the fort through this route. A brave woman named Onake Obavva was actually guarding the tunnel at that time on behalf of her husband who was having his lunch. When she noticed the soldiers coming in from that route. Without raising an alarm or even disturbing her husband, she took the task of stopping the troop single handedly. She killed 30+ soldiers as each one entered the tunnel one by one, before getting overpowered and killed by a soldier. There are several documentaries and even movies about her. And particularly in Chitradurga, there are several hospitals, educational and other institutes in her name, honouring her valour !!
After seeing the reservoir, we took several steps down, all the way to the place where the drain – escape to the fort exists. You can see water gushing through it even today.
Sampige Siddhesvara Temple
Next we visited one of the major temples in the Chitradurga Fort premises which is still intact. The Sampige Siddhesvara Temple. The temple complex itself is very peaceful and located at one corner of the fort. But what makes it all the more interesting is the carvings and the beautiful depictions that you see all over the walls.
Tuppada Kola Bateri, Nellikayi Siddappana Bateri & Lal Bateri
Also called “‘Ramachari Gudda”, this structure is like a watch tower. There are several such watch towers within the premises of the Chitradurga Fort, which were used by the soldiers to watch over the surroundings. And warn others in case of any attack they anticipated. These towers even had canyons installed to fire and make the enemy retaliate much ahead of time before any attack could happen on the fort. Nelikkayi Siddapppana Bateri and Lal Bateri are yet another watch towers that you come across as you enter another main courtyard of the fort. Most of these watch towers stand in front of important structures inside the fort, guarding them. Like the major temples, assembly halls or major courtyards where people would gather for festivities.
Gopalaswamy Honda and Akka Tangiyara Honda
Two beautiful water bodies lying along the hills, in areas which were earlier part of the Chitradurga Fort Complex itself. We didn’t really visit here. But it must be a very refreshing experience to pay a visit.
Kashivishwanath Temple & Phalguneshvara Temple
Another major temples inside the premises of Chitradurga Fort that we visited. The temple lies atop a small hill. And you need to pass through Tuppada Kola Bateri and some other structures to reach here. The steps are steep. But once you reach at the top, you can see far and wide into the surroundings. The wind here is really strong. And the views jaw dropping!
Other major areas of interest inside the fort are Sihi Neerina Honda and Gare Bagilu which we had to escape in the interest of time.
How to do a trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore ?
Chitradurga Fort is located ~200km from Bangalore on NH48. This is the Bangalore – Pune Highway which is in excellent condition. And for most part a 3 lane highway either ways. A trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore takes just 3 hours drive either ways. Chitradurga is also well connected with other major towns of Karnataka like Davanagere, Hubli and Mysore. And it lies very close to the world famous ruins of Vijayanagara Empire – Hampi. In fact, we always though to visit Chitradurga fort on the way to Hampi from Bangalore. But that never happened. Then, we also thought of stopping here on our way to Hubli and Goa when we worked from Goa earlier in March this year. But that also didn’t happen. So, finally we planned a trip to Chitradurga from Bangalore like a weekend getaway from Bangalore.
Since it takes only about 3 hours to reach Chitradurga from Bangalore, one can easily do a day trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore. But, we planned to cover some other places as well. So, we decided to stay overnight in the region and do a weekend trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore along with its surroundings. I have covered below details on where to stay on a trip to Chitradurga Fort and which other places to visit near Chitradurga Fort.
What is the entrance fee to Chitradurga Fort ?
The entrance fee to Chitradurga fort is INR 25/- for Indian Nationals. Children below 12 years of age don’t require a ticket to enter Chitradurga Fort. There is a ticket counter on each of the main 3 entry gates that exist as of today. We followed the route as suggested by Google. And entered through Gate no 3. Near this gate, there is also ample parking space right outside the fort.
Chitradurga Fort timing
Chitradurga Fort is open from 10:00am in the morning to 5:30pm in the evening. Please check for the opening hours online when visiting on public holidays.
How much time is required to visit Chitradurga Fort ?
Chitradurga Fort is huge. Even if one were to skim through the major points of interest inside Chitradurga Fort, it would take 1 hour-1.5 hours. For thoroughly visiting the Chitradurga Fort, it will take anywhere between 3 to 6 hours. So, if you are doing a day trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore, it will definitely be a long day! We took a little over 4 hours to explore Chitradurga Fort.
Do I need to hire a guide at Chitradurga Fort ?
In my opinion it will be good to hire a guide in Chitradurga Fort. This way, you come to know a lot more facts and interesting stories about each of the spots in the fort that you visit. We have earlier hired guide on our trip to historical places like Amer Fort in Jaipur, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur or City Palace Udaipur. Also when we visited the Khajuraho group of temples on our road trip to Madhya Pradesh from Bangalore. And we regretted not hiring a guide on certain trips like when we visited the Halebidu temple in Hoysala. So yes, we did hire a guide in Chitradurga Fort. He charged INR 500/- for our group and spent all the time with us while we were on the fort premises.
What is the best time to visit Chitradurga Fort ?
Although you can do a trip to Chitradurga fort from Bangalore all through the year. But in my opinion the best time to visit here is the months of May to August. On a cloudy day. Since there is vast open spaces inside the fort, both sunny and rainy days will be uncomfortable. We were really lucky that when we visited, it was comfortable and cloudy all through the day. But there was no heavy rainfall.
Also, the perk of visiting in the months of July, August and September is that you get to see mesmerising sunflower fields on the way. You can even venture in one like we did!
Where to stay near Chitradurga Fort ?
We did a weekend getaway from Bangalore to Chitradurga Fort. And stayed overnight in Davanagere at Hotel Southern Star. We will highly recommend staying overnight over doing a day trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore. Since, it will give you ample time to visit the fort at your own pace. Without having to worry about driving back home the same day. Also, it will give you time to explore other places around Chitradurga Fort. There is this decent KSTDC hotel right opposite the Chitradurga Fort. It is a nice one. In fact, we didn’t know about this one earlier otherwise we would have stayed here. Although we had our lunch here after visiting the fort.
If you are not able to book the above hotel, you can always find another hotel in Chitradurga town. Or, drive a little further to the town of Davanagere like we did. Since, there are many options to stay in Davangere that you can explore. And this way, you can visit some beautiful places in and around Davanagere before returning back home the next day. You can use this link to book a hotel in Davanagere through our travel partner agoda. If you are on a longer trip, like a trip to Hampi, you can book your accommodation in Hampi using this link.
Places to visit near Chitradurga Fort & Things to do on a trip to Chitradurga Fort
Visit Karivvarthi Temple Chitradurga
Located outside the main fort premises, near the Mayura Yatri Nivas (A KSTDC Hotel) is the Karivvarthi Temple of Chitradurga. An ancient temple and an archeological site, it can be visited either before or after visiting the main fort areas.
Venture in the Sunflower Fields on your trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore
Nothing better can make your day than a field of blooming sunflowers early in the morning. If you are visiting Chitradurga in the monsoon months of July through September, you are likely to pass some very beautiful sunflower fields in their prime glory right before you reach Chitradurga. We had not expected it. But, when we encountered one, we couldn’t resist parking our car besides the highway. And venturing into the fields. It was so refreshing. Be cautious not to crush the plants. And don’t pluck the flowers.
Trek through the Chitradurga Hills on your trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore
The Chitradurga area consists of many small hills. In fact, the Chitradurga Fort itself spans across several such hills. These hills are characterised by several trekking paths both inside and outside of the fort area. You can plan one on your own. Or, you can also take a group trekking or organised trekking tour.
Admire the windmills on the trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore
Something that gets our kids excited every time we drive through Chitradurga region is the site of the windmills. You will see several windmills dotting the top of the hills in this region. And some you can experience up close near the highway, right in action. I wish there were a way to visit some of these windmills. It could make for a very good educational trip for kids. Like the one we had on our trip to Amsterdam. And we also had fun climbing a windmill inside the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens.
Visit Chandravalli Archeological Site
Located just 5 km from the Chitradurga Fort is Chandravalli Archeological Site. The site is named after king Chandrahasa who once rules the area. Literally, “Chandravalli” means “moon shaped”.
There is an excavation site here. From where several earthen pots, artefacts and other stuff have been excavated. Which were used during the Vijayanagara and Hoysala Dynasty rule. Even some denarris of Roman Emperor Augustus Ceasar and coins of Chinese Han dynasty emperor Wu Ti have been found here. Which are believed to be from 2nd century BC!!
Further there is a pristine lake here. The area around which is developed like a park with benches and spots to sit and relax and bird watch. At the bank of the lake is a natural cave with a temple, called Ankali Mutt. People from far and wide came here for meditation.
Pay a visit to Santhebennur Pushkarni
A famous tourist attraction of Dhavangere district near Chitradurga is Santhebennur Pushkarni. It is a sacred pond, similar to a step well that is so common in Rajasthan and Gujarat regions. With a beautiful structure in the center and several other smaller structures surrounding it.
Enjoy in the glass house garden of Davanagere
A one of a kind botanical garden in India, the glass house garden of Davanagere which is very recently built, provides a break from all the historical places around it. It houses several exotic species of plants, many even brought from foreign lands. And has an entrance fee of INR 20 per adult at the time of this writing. It is a good place to hangout in the morning hours. Or later in the evening. And provides several opportunities to photography enthusiasts to try their hands on some excellent shots.
General Tips on doing a trip to Chitradurga Fort from Bangalore
- Wear comfortable shoes as there will be lots of walking and some trekking / steps climbing to do.
- Wear comfortable cotton cloths. It will be hot if sunny. But at the same time, on the top of some of the hills, it can get very windy and chilly also if you are visiting in monsoon months. So, carry a light jacket if visiting on a cloudy day.
- Some of the steps in the fort are steep. Be careful, keep an eye on your kids. And it might not be comfortable to walk around, particularly up and down those steps, for those who have knee problem or any other issue walking.
- There are benches at regular intervals inside the campus. So, you can use it to rest your feet if needed.
- Carry water with you. There is a small canteen inside the campus where you can buy bottled water. And there are also couple of filtered water facilities for drinking water. But one of these was not operational is what I observed. Could be just that particular day
- There are enough washroom facilities inside the campus.
- You can carry your own snacks and have picnic inside the fort campus.
- But, don’t litter please. Don’t throw plastic bottles inside the campus and wrappers of packaged food or any other garbage. It’s really sad to see such beautiful places littered with waste. It takes the thoughtfulness of every single citizen to achieve a clean and calm environment to enjoy.
- Beware of monkeys.
- The street is lined with several dhaba style outlets. And then there is this KSTDC Mayura hotel where you can walk in for lunch.
- There is free parking facility available besides each of the fort gates. So, I will say, it is one of the few places where you don’t need to worry about parking.
- Choose a cloudy day for your visit here to make the visit as comfortable as possible.
- Carry an umbrella with you, sunglasses and cap for protection against the heat.
- We recommend hiring a guide when visiting Chitradurga Fort.
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