Chitradurga

Chitradurga district is an administrative district of Karnataka state in southern India. The city of Chitradurga is the district headquarters. Chitradurga gets its name from Chitrakaldurga, an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found there. Tradition dates Chitradurga District to the period of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The whole district lies in the valley of the Vedavati River, with the Tungabhadra River flowing in the northwest. During the British times it was named Chitaldroog. The district was practically ruled by all the well known dynasties that ruled Karnataka.

History :-

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. According to a story in the Epic Mahabharatha, a man-eating giant named Hidimbasura lived on the Chitradurga hill and was a source of terror to 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 has it the boulders were part of the arsenal used during that duel. In fact, the boulders on which major part of the city rests belong to the oldest rock formation in the country.

Timmana Nayaka a chieften under the Vijayanagar empire rose to the rank of governor of Chitradurga as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the Vijayanagara ruler. This was the beginning of the rule of the Nayakas of Chitradurga. His son Obana Nayaka is known by the name Madakari Nayaka 1588 CE. Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa 1602 succeeded him and consolidated the kingdom to rule peacefully. As he had no heirs to succeed him, his adopted son, the apparent heir was enthroned but was killed in few months by the Dalavayis.

Chikkanna Nayaka 1676, the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne, and his brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka III in 1686. The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka III's rule gave an opportunity to one of their distant relatives, Bharamappa Nayaka to ascend the throne in 1689. He is known as dthe greatest of the Nayaka rulers. Somehow, the subjects of Chitradurga did not experience a good reign of the successive rulers as they ruled on the throne for very brief periods. The Hiri Madakari Nayaka IV 1721, Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II 1748, Madakari Nayaka V 1758 ruled this area but there is not much to mention of their rule.

Battle with Hyder Ali, Legend of Obavva :

During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali. A chance sighting of a woman entering the Chitradurga fort through an opening in the rocks led to a clever plan by Hyder Ali to send his soldiers through the hole. The guard on duty near that hole had gone home for lunch and asked his wife to be on guard until he was back. The wife of that guard, Obavva while in her temporary seat, noticed soldiers emerging out of this opening. Obavva was not perturbed. She was carrying with her an Onake (a long wooden club meant for pounding paddy grains).

She killed Hyder Ali's soldiers one by one as they attempted to enter the fort through the opening and quietly moved the dead. Over a short period of time hundreds of soldiers entered and fell, without raising any suspicion. Obavva's husband, upon his return from his lunch was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundreds of dead bodies of the enemy around her. The opening in the rocks still remains as a historical witness for the story, beside the Tanniru doni a small water source which holds cold water all round the year. Though her sincere and brave attempt saved the fort on that occasion, Madakari Nayaka could not repel Hyder Ali's attack in 1779. In the ensuing battle, the fort of Chitradurga was lost to Hyder Ali. Obavva, like Kittur Rani Chennamma remains a legend, especially to the woman of Karnataka.

The district is divided into 6 taluks, namely Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Hosadurga, Holalkere, Challakere and Molakalmuru.

Chitradurga:

It is  the headquarters of Chitradurga district. Chitradurga was also known by the names Chitradurg, Chitrakaladurga, Chittaldurg. Chittaldrug was the name officially used by the British Govt.Chitradurga gets its name from Chitrakaldurga, an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found there.

Hiriyur :

It is a town and taluk capital located near Chitradurga in the Indian state of Karnataka. Hiriyur is renowned for having the oldest dam in Karnataka, built on the Vedavati river, and named Mari Kanive.

The Water on the dam looks exactly the preindipendce India Map. Hiryur is situated along National Highway 4. Hiriyur is located 160 km north of Bangalore.

The ancient name of hiriyur was "Ghanapuri". The "Yeppattu Kannina Setuve" ("the seventy eyed bridge") located near Hiriyur is noted for its architecture. The patterns in the bridge resemble human eye, and there are seventy eyes.

Hosadurga :

It is a panchayat town in Chitradurga district in the Indian state of Karnataka.Hosadurga is one of the most backward regions in terms of Industrialization. Agriculture is one of the mainstays of this region.Coconut is found in abundance and this tree has been a gift to this region. Coconut based Small Scale Industries(Coconut Oil extraction, Coconut Coir etc) are found in this region.

Many minerals like Iron ore, Manganese, Dolomite are found here. This area has the potential to be a Steel Manufacturing zone as many Iron Ore Mines are located here. Ramco Cement Factory is situated in Mathodu Village of the Hosadurga Taluk. It is the only factory in Hosadurga Taluk.

Molakalmuru:

It is a panchayat town in Chitradurga district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is near the border of Karnataka state with Andhra Pradesh. It borders the Rayadurg Taluk of Ananthpur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Molakalmuru has major villages like Rampura, Hangal. It is famous for the unique Molkalmuru sarees which are manufactured here. Legend has it that its name means "broken knees" in Kannada after a battle between the native Indians and the British in which due to the rocky and hilly terrain behind the city, the Brits suffered many broken knees in their losing battle.

Challakere :

It is a town in Chitradurga district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is said to be future science city(Now "Oil City") of Karnataka. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has second campus at Kudapura near the town. The institution would soon be surrounded by other eminent institutions of strategic importance, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Challakere is also known as the 'oil city' of Karnataka and is India's second largest producer/supplier of edible oil after Mumbai.

Holalkere :

It is a town and taluk headquarters located near Chitradurga in the Indian state of Karnataka.Legends A Ganesha Temple with an idol of Lord Ganesha carved out of monolithic stone is around 20 ft (6 m) tall, with entwined hairs and was established in 1475 CE. by the Nayaka Guthyappa Nayaka. Legend has it that whoever worships this Ganesha with true bhakti, the devotees wishes will be fulfilled.A sprawling park has come up which has beneficial plants and trees on 15 acres (61,000 m²) and a fruit garden on a 40 acre (162,000 m²) plot beside the Leela Visranti Vana at a cost of Rs 5 crores.

Myrada NGO is situated at Holalkere,Davanagere road, from the city 2 kilometers. The activities of NGO are building the poor people institutions like Self Help Groups (SHGs)and Watershed activities like World bank assisted Sujala watershed project implementation and also giving training on different activities.