Chitradurga, also called Kallina Kote (the fort of stones), is an old town situated 200 km from Bangalore, on the
Pune-
Bangalore highway. It is the administrative headquarters of the
Chitradurga District.
Chitradurga is steeped in history. It was a strategically located town in the feudatory domain of Vijayanagar under the Nayak Paleyagars. The fort of seven rounds of ramparts, built by the Paleyagars, a marvel of military architecture, is a major attraction in the town. The city itself had derived its name from the fort. Later
Hyder Ali took control over the city and rebuilt the mud fort with stone. A mosque, palace, oil pits and granaries were added to it during the rule of
Tipu Sultan. The hill fort also houses the temples of the Sampige Siddheshwara, Hidimbeshwara (a cave shrine), Phalguneshwara, Ekanathamma and Gopalakrishna.
Bangalore is the nearest airport. Chitradurga is situated on a prominent railhead. Regular buses connect Chitradurga with other city centers in the State.
