Nestled at the base of a chain of lofty peaks,
Chitradurga is characterized by its stunning boulder-strewn landscape.
Natives believe that these massive boulders are remnants of the arsenal
used during the duel between Pandava Bhima and the demon Hidimbasura, an
event mentioned in the Epic Mahabharata. Chitradurga derives its name
from Chitrakaldurga, an umbrella-shaped lofty hill found here.
For a considerable period, Chitradurga remained a part of the dominions
of the Vijayanagar Empire. Timmana Nayaka, a chieftain under the
Vijayanagar Empire, established the rule of the Nayakas in Chitradurga.
Later, in the 17th-18th centuries, Chitradurga became the headquaters of
Bedas, until it was occupied by Haider Ali in 1799 and then annexed by
the British.
The boulders that lie scattered in and around Chitradurga belong to the
oldest rock formation in the country. The district is rich in mineral
deposits, including gold prospecting at Halekal, Kotemardi or
Bedimaradi, etc., and open cast copper mines at Ingaldhal. The Kallina
Fort is a major attraction here and tourists travel to Chitradurga from
all over India.
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