Built many centuries ago, Chitradurga Fort is an enchanting place surrounded by hills and studded with ancient monuments. Pack your picnic basket and head here for a day of exploring. Chitradurga is about 200 kilometers from Bangalore and one can drive down there and make a day trip out of it. If you are a history buff or just love to sneak a peek into nooks and crannies of Karnataka, it is perfect. You’ll have to leave pretty early if you want to make most of your trip. Pile into your car at 5 AM and you’ll be at the doorsteps of the enthralling fort by around 9 AM.
Between the 17th and 18th century, several dynasties built up the fort and it is dotted with various temples. Once you’ve bought your ticket which is priced at INR 20, you can take in the sights of the fort that is surrounded by hills and a deep moat. It’s little wonder Chitradurga translates to ‘picturesque’ fort.
For those of you who want to dig deep into the history of the fort, a guide will work best. A few hundred rupees will get you an experienced guide who will show you much of the fort’s mysteries. You’ll stop by the elegant Hidimbeswara Temple that includes the tooth of the rakshasa, Hidimba, and is surrounded in legend. Apart from this, there are 17 other temples in the fort. There’s also a mosque built during Tipu’s time. You can also witness other interesting features of the fort. A complex rain harvesting system, cannons, secret passages, inscriptions, and sculptures. There’s also an administrative office and a jail from centuries ago.