Chitradurga Pincodes

Chitradurga is a city in Karnataka, India, and it’s where the main office of Chitradurga district is. It sits in the middle of Karnataka, by the Vedavati river valley, about 200 km to the northwest of the state capital, Bengaluru. Chitradurga is a popular place for tourists to visit.

The city is famous for its 15th-century fort, which locals call Kallina Kote or Stone Fortress. This name comes from two Kannada words: ‘Kallina,’ which means “Stone’s,” and ‘Kote,’ which means “Fort.” In Kannada, it’s also known as ‘Ukkina Kote,’ meaning “Steel Fort” (used to describe a really strong fort), and ‘Yelusuttina Kote,’ which means “Seven Circles Fort.”

History:

Chitradurga is famous for its massive rocky hills and unique boulders, earning it the nickname “stone fortress.” In an ancient tale from the Mahabharatha, there lived a fearsome creature named Hidimba and his sister Hidimbi here. When the heroic Pandavas visited, Bhima battled and defeated Hidimba. Bhima later married Hidimbi, and they had a magical son named Ghatotkacha. Legend has it that Bhima used the large rocks of Chitradurga in their fight, and these rocks are among India’s oldest.

In ancient times, Timmana Nayaka led Chitradurga under the Vijayanagara Empire. His son, Madakari Nayaka, became renowned for taming a troublesome elephant. Kasturi Rangappa, Madakari Nayaka’s son, continued to strengthen the kingdom. When he lacked a direct heir, an adopted son was chosen as the ruler but met an untimely demise. Subsequently, Bharamappa Nayaka, a relative, ascended to power in 1689 and is celebrated as one of Chitradurga’s greatest rulers. Following his reign, the region witnessed various rulers like Hiri Madakari Nayaka IV, Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka II, and Madakari Nayaka V, although historical records about their governance are limited.

Geography:

Chitradurga is situated at an average elevation of 732 meters (2401 feet). The city is well connected to various places like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and more by both roads and railways.

Near the village of Maradihalli in Chitradurga District, Karnataka, there’s something called “Pillow Lava.” It’s been declared a National Geological Monument of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to promote geotourism. This Maradihalli group is one of the best examples of this phenomenon worldwide. These pillow-shaped formations were created when hot molten lava erupted underwater and quickly cooled, forming rounded shapes. They are small, only a few feet in size. This unique pillow lava is incredibly old, dating back 2500 million years.

Maradihalli is about 16 km southeast of Chitradurga town and 4 km north of Ayamangala village, on the NH-4 (Bangalore – Pune highway). You can reach the area via a well-maintained road from Ayamangala, which is approximately 180 km from Bangalore.

Demographics:

According to the India census, Chitradurga had around 1,25,170 people. More than half of them are males, about 51%, and the rest are females, about 49%. Many people here can read and write, with an average literacy rate of 76%, which is higher than the average in the whole country, which is 59.5%. Among the folks who can read and write, about 80% are males, and about 72% are females. About 11% of the population is younger than 6 years old.