Chitradurga Fort: the seven-walled stone citadel

Few places in Karnataka announce their history as boldly as Chitradurga. Rising out of a sea of rounded granite boulders, the fort known locally as Kallina Kote (the stone fortress) and Elu Suttina Kote (the fort of seven circles) is the reason the city exists – and the reason it is remembered.

A fort built over centuries

The hill was fortified in stages by several powers that held the region, but the fort took its present grand shape under the Nayakas (Palegars) of Chitradurga, who ruled from here between the 16th and 18th centuries. Later additions were made after the fort passed to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in 1779.

What to look for

• Seven concentric walls of dressed granite blocks fitted without mortar, following the natural lines of the rock.
• Many gateways and secret passages – the fort is traditionally said to have 19 main gateways, along with numerous posterns and hidden entrances.
• Temples inside the walls, including the Hidimbeshwara and Ekanatheshwari temples.
• Water tanks and granaries that allowed the fort to hold out during long sieges.
• Onake Obavvana Kindi – the narrow opening in the rock linked to the legend of Onake Obavva.

Visiting tips

Start early in the morning – the rock gets hot by noon. Wear shoes with a good grip, carry water, and allow at least three hours to explore the upper levels. Sunset views from the upper fort are spectacular.