| Voice of Chitradurga
: Swami Nayak
Chitradurga
District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 8440.0 Km2
Population in CHITRADURGA (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 16,60,378
Male : 8,43,411
Female : 8,16,967
Under 6 population
Total : 1,77,786
Male : 91,973
Female : 85,813
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 31971
In seeing : 15568
In speech : 3228
In hearing : 1686
In movement : 8904
Mental : 2585
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 117
Sex Ratio Rank : 375
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 286 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 298 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Brief About Chitradurga District
History
Bold rock hills and picturesque valleys. Huge towering boulders
in unimaginable shapes. That is Chitradurga for you. This place
is not known as the "Place of stone fort" (Kallina Kote) for nothing.
The landscape looks much like a mischievous giant's playground -
with boulders thrown around, forming awesome silhouettes against
he sky. And that could be true! According to a story in the Epic
Mahabharatha, a man-eating gaint named Hidimbasura did line here
on the Chitradurga hill - a source of terror to everyone around.
And then Pandavas came here with their mother Kunti in the course
of their exile and Bhima had a duel with Hidimba. Hidimba was slain
by Bhima and peace returned to the area. These amazing boulders
could well be part of the arsenal used during that duel! Seriously
though, these boulders and the major part of the city rests on belong
to the oldest rock formation in the country. The former military
personnel, Timmana Nayaka rose to the rank of Governor of Chitradurga
as a reward for his excellence in military achievements, from the
Vijayanagara ruler. His son Obana is known by the name Madhakari
Nayaka. Madakari Nayaka's son Kasturi Rangappa succeeded him and
consolidate the kingdom to rule peacefully . As he had no heirs
to succeed him, his adopted son - the apparent heir was enthroned
but got killed in few months by the Dalavayis. Chikkanna Nayaka,
the brother of Madakari Nayaka II sat on the throne in 1676, and
his another brother succeeded him with the title Madakari Nayaka-III.
The unwillingness of Dalawayis to accept Madakari Nayaka-III's rule
gave an opportunity to one of the distant relation Bharamappa Nayaka
to ascend the throne in 1689. Somehow, the subjects of Chitradurga
did not experience a good reign of their rulers as they lived on
the throne for very brief period. The Hiri Madakari Nayaka (1721
- 1748), Kasturi Rangappa Nayaka-II, Madakari Nayaka-IV succeeded
one after him and there is nothing to mention of their rule. Obavvana
Kindi (The crack), Chitradurga Fort.During the reign of Madakari
Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder
Ali. A chance sighting of a woman entering the Chitradurga fort
through a crack hole in the rocks led to a clever plan by Hyder
Ali to send his soldiers through the crack hole. The defence guard
on duty of the port near that crack hole had just gone home as usual
asking his wife to guard till he is back from his lunch. The wife
of that guard, Obavva while in her temporary seat, noticed the soldiers
emerging out of this crack, Obavva was not perturbed. As she was
carrying with her, the Onake (a wooden long club meant for pounding
paddy grains) she killed and quietly moved the dead, so that hundblacks
of them enteblack and fell, without raising any suspicion. The guard,
Obavva's husband, upon his return from his lunch was shocked to
see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and hundblacks of
dead bodies of the enemy fleet around her. The passage still remains
as a historical witness for the story, beside the Tanniru DoNi -a
small water source which holds cold water all round the year. Though
her sincere brave attempt saved the fort this time, Madakari could
not resist the attack of 1799 by Hyder Ali. The fort of Chitradurga
was lost for Hyder Ali once for all. The place is renowned for its
Kallina Kote ("the place of the stone fort"), and is home to the
"Fort of Seven Rounds" (??? ??????? ???? in Kannada), built with
large stones. The Chandravalli Caves are also a very popular tourist
site at this historic place. The stone masonary that the fort of
Chitradurga is representative of one of the most daring woman of
Karnataka - "Obavva."
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