Hidimbeshwara Temple -Chitradurga

Chitradurga is a beautiful hill station located at a distance of 202 km from Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, on the way from Bangalore to Pune. Outside the city of Chitradurga, there is a fort with large stone walls that connects the hills with large boulders. The fort is popularly known as Chithuradurga and Chitrakala Durga due to its iconic fort design. Chitradurga is also known as the Fortress of Stone, Ukkudurgam and the Seven Wall Fortress. It is surrounded by seven ramparts, with 18 temples built inside the fort, with 19 gates and 38 entrances. The tallest fort has temples dedicated to the idols of Losiddeshwara, Hidimbishwara, Eknatheshwari, Phalguna Ishwara and Gopalakrishna. According to its mythology, during the Mahabharata period, Hidimbasur and his younger sister Hidimba lived in caves on this hill. Hidimbasura is known for his demonic instincts. But Hidimbi, who was born as his younger sister in the demon caste, is a peacemaker. The Pandavas, including their mother Kunti, came to the area after the burning of the Lakka house. Once here in a battle between Hidimbasur and Bhimasena, Hidimbasura was killed and Hidimbi married Bhimasena, the trio of Bhima's prowess. In that order the Pandavas stayed here for some time and happily spent the Hidimba ministry. Later a son was born to Bhima and Hidimba. He is the mastermind. Chitradurga is a beautiful place where these events took place. The fort walls were built in a circular pattern connecting the hills with large granite boulders. It has seven walls with stone walls. The fort has a large moat on the outside around the first fort wall.

There are 18 fort gates and 38 rear entrances to enter the fort. Many of these are now in a state of disrepair. The gates of the fort were removed. The fort walls are also in ruins here and there. There are some secret ways to sneak into a castle in an emergency. These secret passages are naturally formed by ridges and ridges between the rocks. After crossing the fourth fort, there is the first Ganapati temple. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is hidden by a large boulder. There is a stone double pillar, Uyyala hooks on the stone pillars, Vasantha Koneru, some old structures, Siddhiswari Devi Temple, and Lingeshwara Temple on Chinagutta on one side of the hill. Going further, there is the Raghavendraswamy Math. The Siddilingeswara Swamy Temple is located next to the Math. The temple itself has two 16th century inscriptions. Below the mint is the sisters' ponds. The Venugopalaswamy Temple is located on a mound opposite Sister Pond. The Vaishnava and Shaiva shrines in the fort indicate that the rulers of the fort practiced two religions. There is also a mosque in the fort. It may have been built in the time of Hyder Ali.