Chitradurga: The fort with legends, military architecture and rainwater harvesting

Spread over several hills and a peak, the Chitradurga Fort in Karnataka is a masterpiece of ingenious military architecture. While its seven concentric fortification walls provided multiple layers of defence, its advanced rainwater harvesting structure ensured that the fort never faced a water shortage.

Even today, the fort’s ponds and water reservoirs accumulate rainwater as they did a thousand years ago.  

Locally known as Elusuttina Kote (the fort of seven circles), it is one of the most formidable hill forts in the country. Originally boasting 19 gateways, 38 postern gates, 35 secret entrances, and four ‘invisible’ entrances, Chitradurg was built between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Its doors were constructed from sturdy wooden beams reinforced with iron plates. The rugged terrain was strategically designed such that each line of fortification commanded a view over the others below. 

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Zigzag pathways were laid out to prevent enemy advancement, while main gateways were fortified with iron spikes to deter elephants.

Architecture and the Legend of Obavva

An iconic feature of the fort is Onake Obavvana Kindi, a passage named after the brave woman Obavva. Linked to the legendary attack by Haidar Ali on Chitradurga, this passage played a crucial role. During a siege, when enemy soldiers found a narrow crevice to infiltrate, Obavva courageously defended the fort by single-handedly eliminating them with a pestle (a club-shaped tool used to grind or crush substances in a mortar).

The construction of Chitradurga Fort spanned two centuries under the Chalukyas and Hoysalas, later expanded by the Nayakas of Chitradurga during the Vijayanagar Empire. The fort was briefly captured by Hyder Ali in 1779 and then fell to British forces two decades later after the defeat of his son Tipu Sultan. 

In the lower fort, administrative structures like Tippu Sultan's Cutcherry and a unique quadruple mill were used for gunpowder preparation.

The structure provides insights into the fort's strategic importance and technological advancements during those periods.

Rainwater harvesting

Apart from seven concentric walls, the fort’s architecture comprises passages, a citadel, a mosque, granaries, reservoirs, and ancient temples. Its elaborate rainwater harvesting ensured continual water supply, a feat for which it was renowned.

Rainwater was collected and stored in natural depressions among rocks, which were converted into ponds. New water storage structures were also created at strategic locations. 

Interconnected reservoirs efficiently collected and stored rainwater, cascading from one tank to another below. Traditional techniques were employed to channel excess water, ultimately directing it into the moats. 

One side of the hill, with its flat terrain, facilitated water storage, while the steeper slopes on the other side guided rainwater towards the moat through the fort walls. These ponds were designed to hold sufficient water for several years, ensuring a reliable supply during droughts. Reservoirs were also created at varying elevations, allowing easy access to water near key structures such as palaces, temples, and administrative buildings.

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Legends of Pandavas

The Fort houses numerous temples, including Sampige Siddheshwara, Hidimbeshwara, Ekanathamma, Phalguneshvara, Gopalakrishna, Anjaneya, Subbaraya, and Basava. 

Folklore connects the hills around Chitradurga Fort to the Mahabharata. Legend has it that the man-eating ‘asura’ Hidimbasura lived in the area and troubled the people. 

During their 12 years of exile in the forest and one year in disguise, the Pandavas visited the area, and Bhima killed Hidimbasura, bringing peace to the region. It's believed that the massive boulders in the area are remnants of that legendary battle. Bhima later married Hidimbasura's sister Hidimbi.

The Hidimbeshwara Temple in the fort holds a significant relic believed to be the tooth of the demon Hidambasura, alongside an iron cylinder resembling Bhima’s kettle drum. 

Sculptures of Hidambasura adorn the Vimana of the Siddheshwara Temple, where a larger bone fragment, also claimed to be Hidambasura’s tooth, is enshrined.

Archaeological finds such as an inscription dating back to 1284 AD in the Panchalinga cave near Ankhi Matha attribute the establishment of the Five Lingas in Chitradurga to the Pandavas, indicating the fort's ancient significance.

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