NAMA CHITRADURGA

Located at a Distance of 202 kms. northwest of Bangalore.The district headquarters town, Chitradurga owes its name to "Chitrakaladurga", or "Picteresque Castle". This is a massive fortress on the top of granite hills that rises dramatically from the ground (See picture). Archaeological remains found in the area, trace its history to the 3rd Millennium BC. A rock edict of Emperor Ashoka, near Brahmagiri reveals that Chitradurga was part of the Mauryan Empire during the rule of royal dynasties like the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas. But it really achieved eminenece, as a feudal state of the Vijayanagar Empire, under the dynastic rule of the Nayakas or "Paleyagars", known for their heroic exploits. The most eminent of the feudatory chieftains, was Madakari Nayaka, who after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire, declared his suzerainty and consolidated his power. This hill fortress buit by the Nayakas during the Viajayanagar era, became their stronghold later. in 1977, the fort was captured by Hyder Ali, along with his son Tipu Sultan. After Tipu Sultan's defeat by the British, the fort came under the rule of the oyal Mysore Family