Chitradurga - - - THE ROCK FORT

Even though I had been to chitradurga, earlier, couple of times, I didn’t have the opportunity to understand the town and particularly the history and chirtradurga Fort.It happened so; I attended my closest friend’s marriage in this town and was grounded here for two days. So I thought what better opportunity to discover about the town...

Chitradurga, a small town and District HQ, with great historic importance and remembrance, is at 200km north of Bangalore on NH-4 and ahead 60km ahead to it is commercially active city Davangere.

Most Kannadiga's (inhabitants and native of Karnataka) would agree the moment we say chitradurga images of Big Rocks, hillocks, big boulders, monolith and the Famous Fort with "Seven folds of security fort wall" ("Aelu Suthina Kote")would pass right in front of your eyes.

Chitradurga Fort was built in 16th century by the then Chieftain (Palayagaara) Thimmanna Nayaka, who was known for his Great warrior skills & Bravery. With his bravery he had even impressed the Kings of Vijayanagara Empire. Famous Madakari Nayaka (Obanna Nayaka), is his son, who was also a great warrior like his father, he got name Madakari because he tamed a Musk rampant elephant with his sheer strength & skills.

Fort has as many as 19 main entrances (Hebbagilu) with 4 secret entrances. Inside fort you find temples & mosques, which stands testimony for cultural harmony and religious well being that was established in the 16th century. Lots of ponds to hold rain water which served as the drinking water holes for the citizen and the people in the fort. Fort also has special storage places which were basically dug-up space underneath the ground surface to store food grains called "Hagevu".

By paying nominal entry fee you can get into the fort, you can explore yourself the whole fort area, where there are sufficient sign boards and literature about the fort or you can take help of local guides,if you intend to know in detail in terms of culture, heritage, life style etc.

As you enter the fort you can get a sense of civilisation that prevailed during the 16th-17th century and their expertise on the security for the place, people and for their belongings. You can note several architectural marvels as you climb and get deeper into the fort. You can ascertain the civilisation from the temple and other civic facilities that have been unearthed in the fort region. There are as good as 20 temples inside the Fort. Palayagaara were good warriors and had expertise in make own arms and ammunition for the troops during the war and for safety purpose which is evident, even till date, you can see the equipments that were used to gun-powder and the storage room for the canon balls.

Another name synonym to chitradurga is Obbavva, who was later called the "Onake Obbavva". She is remembered for her bravery and for her quick thinking and timely action. She took control of the situation and killed many soldiers of Mysore province, with the help of her Rice pounding stick ( "Onake"),who have entered through the secret entrance, to capture the fort, under Hyder Ali's instructions. Now the secret entrance is remembered as "Obbavvana Kindi". (This has undergone little restoration work by the ASI). This is again a proof which shows that how strong the security and the fort of Chitradurga were, so that the enemy troops have to find the secret entrance to break into the fort,in order to take control of the fort. And even to date you find the fort in its full glory.

Little mention of chitradurga is found in great Indian Epic "Mahabharata".Chitradurga is surrounded with few tourists spots like Chanadavalli thota,The Chandavalli Caves are also a very popular tourist site at this historic place. Jogi matti (a small hill side, where you can see plain lands up to several miles)Vanivilas sagar, Brahmagiri etc. Near-by, you can also notice the Ingaldal Copper mine unit, Hatti Gold mines and off-late can find many wind--mill units.

Glory of this fort has inspired many of the film makers to capture the beauty of the Fort and the inside fort region. Many Kannada movies have been shot here, few to name, a song sequence of movie "Tananam Tananam" by Kavith Lankesh,The famous "Nagarahavu” by Puttanna Kanagal, "Hamsageete" and the recent National Awarding winning Movie & Director T.S.Nagabharana's "Kallarali Hoovaagi".

Best time visit Chitradurga: All through out the year avoid April to June as far as possible as the temperature can soar up to 40 Degrees.Chitradurga is well connected by Road with frequent bus services. Any buses leaving from Bangalore to Davangere, Haveri, Belgaum Hubli-Dharwad, Goa, mumbai all will pass through Chitradurga.

Don't miss the Lakshmi Tiffin room, which is very famous for its Soft Dosa’s and is its delicacy for past 50 years. Hotel is near the forts main entrance, Please note Tuesday’s this hotel remains closed.

If you are having your personal transport its just two & half hour enjoyable drive from Bangalore. It can be a nice one day trip spot too...Hope all of you shall plan a visit and enjoy the place as much as I did… Plan your visit…… happy hols….

Let me thank my friend for getting married in Chitradurga, let me wish him a happy married life (and let him have kids as brave as Madakari Nayaka & Obavva…AAAMEEEN!!) who helped in bringing this blog to all of you…

Our Own BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited)

Of course!!! A lot has been written about the BIAL, rather in disheartening and negative way...

With due respects, to who so ever have said, spoken or written so much (negatively) about BIAL would have done so cos of some vested interest...it’s my personal opinion....

i had (and wish will always have) a total out-n-out positive experiences with the BIAL...

Tons and reams of paper has been wasted to write about, discuss about, accuse one on another. More so that one of the Leading news paper, came up with an article saying "Devanayelli??".... Contradicting that, one of the business head of the same media house in an informal gathering was seen saying, BIAL is one of the best airport he has seen, with good infrastructure, connectivity, facilities etc. that’s other story when one in crowd asked him, then why did you carry the editorial campaign… sheepish smile of the person said all….

Let me put across my experience > >

My mind was totally occupied, confused and impatient; with all the info I had about the BIAL - - too far to travel, the connectivity issue, transport problem, traffic, infrastructure etc etc with my hands-on experience i would categorically deny and disagree with each and every Media report...

I had to visit Mumbai on an official work; i had booked my tickets for the 8.30Am flight. Even though it would be my first ever visit to BIAL, with all options in the world to reach BIAL by taking taxi, airlift etc... I opted to test on the BMTC Vayu Vajra option from KBS (Kempegouda Bus Station). I reached KBS at 6.20AM, and took 6.30Am bus. (I would appreciate the BMTC and the BIAL authorities for their effort and the

facility provided to the Citizen of the City). Bus departed from KBS @ 6.35Am, with-in no time, no hassles, we started moving to BIAL, with out one single incident of traffic or infrastructure issue what so ever and reached the airport by 7.20am, i was shocked, it was flat 45mins.. What better can any one ask for 36km in just 45mins, and that to at dirt cheap fare of Rs100/-... now all would say it was morning time and not the peak traffic hour that’s why i could reach airport in 45 mins blah blah blah.... hang-on guys, let me explain my return trip too… at least let me say my kudo’s to our own BMTC.

I like to congratulate the courteous BMTC staff, who obliged each and every commuter who showered them with queries about the bus timings, bus stops etc

I took return flight the same day and arrived at BIAL at 7.15PM. with lot many passengers coming in for the first time from different parts of the country, had doubts how to reach their desired location, it was awesome and i was awestruck the way BMTC officials explaining which route to take and how to reach..

All would agree, by any norms and means, traffic at that time would be considered as the peak traffic. I again threw challenge on myself and took BMTC VAYU VAJRA service, i took 7.30pm bus which departed with 10mins delay.. and with that huge traffic all around, we reached KBS at 9pm, it means it took us 1hr 20mins, which i would say not at all bad considering the Peak traffic time.. I would like to mention,

Additional commissioner of Traffic Police, Bangalore, once said, "There is nothing called peak traffic in Bangalore, all through out the day its same pile of traffic"

From no where i felt like some id*&^# are working in the media companies as reporters and writing all nonsense about the BIAL, its connectivity, infrastructure and i really doubt have they anytime done a reality check on this, before commenting or writing on it...

I hope all of us agree it needs mindset and big positive mindset to accept a change, adapt and adopt to it...

My second incident is still more interesting; i had to travel to Hyderabad. With all the confidence and trust i put in BMTC, judiciously without a hint of second thought i took BMTC and reached BIAL with out any hitch. this time during the morning Peak hour traffic at 8.40am... was happy i reached BIAL at 9.30AM..

Much has been said about, like Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL) is much more Sophisticated, well connected etc etc.. hold on all you guys...no doubt.. the Airport terminal is good, parking lots is outstanding, but the sooner you come out of the airport you will have all problems on earth, to figure out how to reach you desired locations, no boards, no timing charts of the bus service, what type of buses etc.. nothing, you have to literally fish-out of the airport and find your way to trace the bus service.

I took the AeroExpress (much hyped) bus service (AP govt dedicated for the Airport service) i was shocked to see the bus, it is a regular air-suspension bus with AC facility, no where near to comparison of BMTC – BIAL bus service.. Hats off to BIAL-BMTC… kudos guys for the great work and providing the comfort of travel.

And how about the roads, its better if not mentioned, once you are out of airport area, its usual roads with out any dedicated roads, signal free roads, the way Bangalore has.Traffic was all around us, cris-crossing, etc. I was to travel 32KM to reach my destination, it took me 1hr 10mins.. I said good god save me.. and said will not take the bus service again. Bangalore is much ahead and has better facility in every terms.

I really dont know what the fuss all we bangloreans and Media is talking about.. saying bad road to BIAL, no connectivity, far from city, etc..Leave the media people aside, they need something to write to fill their columns and sell...hope everyone agrees-Newspapers have long back stopped giving NEWS.

Dear Bangaloreans wake-up, going ahead life is not going to be easy, the way city is growing we need to accept and accommodate and up-bring the BIAL in all aspects, it is each and every bangalorean untold responsibility...

I would pass my congratulatory note to Mr. Albert Bruner, Director, BIAL for providing such a world class Airport and to the each and every single BMTC employee making the journey a trustworthy with lot of comfort. Keep the good work and the same spirit till the eternity…

Message to all Media guys, the IT-BT companies, and all those Ill-mouthing ( not to be considered them as Banglorean) stop making mountain out of mole…

Kudos BIAL…Kudos BMTC..

Nothing to panic about BIAL.. Guys cheer-up…BIAL is going to Stay and BIAL is going to prove its capacity and capability.