Igorsiw at 14:37, 24 February 2026

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{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Chitradurga}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chitradurga district
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Karnataka|District]] of [[Karnataka]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
|size = 250
|photo1a = Chitradurga Temples.JPG
|photo1b = Nayakanahatti temple olamatha.jpg
|photo2a = Entrance to Ranganatha Swamy temple at Neerthadi.JPG
|photo2b = Rear view of the Teru Malleshvara temple at Hiriyur.JPG
|photo3a = Vani vilas sagar dam, hiriyur, Karnataka.jpg
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Clockwise from top-left: [[Chitradurga Fort]], Nayakanahatti temple, [[Teru Malleshvara Temple, Hiriyur|Teru Malleshwara Temple]] at [[Hiriyur]], [[Vani Vilasa Sagara]], in [[Hosadurga]].
| nickname =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-point = none
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Karnataka
| coordinates = {{coord|14.00|N|76.50|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Seal of Karnataka.svg|Emblem of Karnataka}}[[Karnataka]]
| subdivision_type2 = Division
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bangalore Division]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| parts_type = [[Taluka]]s
| parts = [[Challakere]] [[Chitradurga]] [[Hiriyur]] [[Holalkere]] [[Hosdurga]] [[Molakalmuru]]
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Chitradurga]]
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_title1 = [[Deputy Commissioner]]
| leader_name1 = Shri. Venkatesh T. {{small|([[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]])}}
| leader_title2 = Member of Parliament
| leader_title3 = [[Superintendent of Police]]
| leader_name2 = [[Govind Karjol]]
| leader_name3 = Ranjith Kumar Bandaru, I.P.S.
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name="stats">{{cite web|title=District at a Glance|url=http://chitradurga.nic.in/stastics.html|publisher=Chitradurga district website|access-date=3 January 2011}}</ref>
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 8440
| elevation_footnotes = (Highest)
| elevation_m = 1094
| population_total = 1,659,456
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="stats"/>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kannada]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 577 501, 502, 577524
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = + 91 (8194)
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KA-CT]]
| registration_plate = [[Chitradurga]] KA-16
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1 = 1.047 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank2_info_sec1 = 73.82%
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Chitradurga (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chitradurga Lok Sabha constituency]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = {{convert|522|mm|in}}
| website = {{URL|chitradurga.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Chitradurga district''' is an administrative district of [[Karnataka]] state in south-western India.<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chitaldrug|volume=6|page=247}}</ref> The [[Chitradurga|city of Chitradurga]] is the district headquarters. Chitradurga city gets its name from 'Chitrakaldurga', meaning 'picturesque castle' in Kannada.

== History ==
Chitradurga district has been inhabited since at least neolithic period as per archeologists.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sahitya Akademi New Delhi |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.76466 |title=Indian History For The Year 1928 |date=1928 |pages=184, 185}}</ref> A rock carving of Emperor Ashoka near Bharamagiri provides evidence that the district was part of the Mauryan Empire.

Subsequently, the region was under the rule of the Shathavahanas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, and Hoysalas. A boulder engraving near village Chandravalli mentions Kadamba King Mayurasaram.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Not Available |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.44256 |title=Excavation At Chandravalli (mysore State) |date=1931 |pages=6}}</ref>

The Nayakas, also known as Palegars, are most well associated with the district due to their significant historical presence. The Nayaka period began around the late 16th century. There were local chiefs, who were governed under the Vijayanagara Empire, became independent after the fall of the empire and established a stronghold in Chitradurga. A notable Nayaka was Bharamappa Nayaka (1689–1721), considered "the greatest of the Nayaka rulers" for his military victories and resistance to Mughal incursions. The final ruler, Madakari Nayaka V (1758–1779), was known for his leadership and diplomacy between the Maratha Empire and Hyder Ali of Mysore. Later, he also resisted multiple sieges by Hyder Ali, but the fort ultimately fell in 1779. During the last siege, Onake Obavva, the wife of a fort guard, single-handedly defended a secret passage against enemy entry. She became known for her heroic act and is regarded as a symbol of Chitradurga.

The fort was subsequently expanded by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan before coming under the control of the Royal Mysore family after Tipu Sultan's defeat by the British.

== Mythology ==
It is believed that the few natural formation are attributed to link to Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Tradition dates Chitradurga District to the period of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The whole district lies in the valley of the Vedavati River, with the Tungabhadra River flowing in the northwest. During the British times it was named Chitaldroog. The district was practically ruled by all the well known dynasties that ruled Karnataka. A historical places like Jain basadi of Heggere, a pilgrimage centre for Jain's in district.[[File:AdministrativemapofChitradurga.svg|thumb|317x317px|Administrative map of Chitradurga |left]]

==Demographics==

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Chitradurga district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Karnataka |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11378/download/14491/DDW29C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Per cent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Karnataka|Hinduism]]|darkorange|91.63}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|7.76}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.61}}
}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Chitradurga district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 1,659,456,<ref name="districtcensus">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Chitradurga |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/602/download/2056/DH_2011_2912_PART_A_DCHB_CHITRADURGA.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Guinea-Bissau]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date =1 October 2011 | quote = Guinea-Bissau 1,596,677 July 2011 est.}}</ref> or the US state of [[Idaho]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
|title=2010 Resident Population Data
|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
|access-date=30 September 2011
|quote=Idaho 1,567,582
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php
|archive-date=19 October 2013
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 297th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name="districtcensus" /> The district has a population density of {{convert|197|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 9.39%.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Chitradurga has a [[sex ratio]] of 969 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name="districtcensus" /> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 73.82%. 19.86% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 23.45% and 18.23% of the population respectively.<ref name="districtcensus" />

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=3,54,308|13=1911|14=3,93,953|15=1921|16=4,08,588|17=1931|18=4,62,953|19=1941|20=5,05,565|21=1951|22=5,88,497|23=1961|24=7,41,344|25=1971|26=8,99,257|27=1981|28=10,89,304|29=1991|30=13,12,717|31=2001|32=15,17,896|33=2011|34=16,59,456|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=center}}

{{Pie chart
|caption = Languages of Chitradurga district (2011)<ref name="language">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Karnataka|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2900.XLSX|website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Kannada]] |value1 = 83.33 |color1 = darkslateblue
|label2 = [[Urdu]] |value2 = 7.33 |color2 = green
|label3 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value3 = 5.39 |color3 = steelblue
|label4 = [[Lambadi]] |value4 = 2.29 |color4 = khaki
|label5 = Others |value5 = 1.66 |color5 = grey
|thumb=left
}}

At the time of the 2011 census, 83.33% of the population spoke [[Kannada]], 7.33% [[Urdu]], 5.39% [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and 2.29% [[Lambadi]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Karnataka |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10208/download/13320/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2900.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Economy==
In 2006 the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Chitradurga one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the five districts in Karnataka currently receiving funds from the [[Backward Regions Grant Fund|Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme]] (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=8 September 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref>
==Education==
{{expand section|date=April 2023}}
*Sri Shivakumara Rangaprayoga Shale

==People==

* [[Madakari Nayaka]] – King of Chitradurga
* [[Onake Obavva]] – Legendary woman who fought [[Hyder Ali]]'s army.
* [[Malladihalli Raghavendra|Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji]] (Tiruka) – yogi and Ayurvedic guru
* [[S. Nijalingappa]] (vinayak) – politician, ex-CM, ex-MP and ex All India Congress lead
* [[T. R. Subba Rao|T.R. Subba Rao]] (TaRaSu) – a novelist, 1985 winner of [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his novel ''Durgasthamana''
* [[Tirumalai Krishnamacharya]] – yogi and Ayurvedic guru. One of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century and is credited with the revival of [[hatha yoga]]. Also called father of Modern Yoga.
* [[P. R. Thippeswamy]] (PRT) – Artist, Writer & Folklorist – K. Venkatappa Awardee 1999, ex-Chairman Karnataka Lalithakala Academy

==See also==
* [[Districts of Karnataka]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chitradurga district}}
{{Wikivoyage|Chitradurga (district)}}
* [https://chitradurga.nic.in/ Chitradurga district website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060218182334/http://www.chitradurgacity.gov.in/ Chitradurga City Municipal Council]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111106031025/http://www.chitharadurga.com/ all about Chitradurga in kannada]

{{Karnataka topics}}
{{Settlements in Chitradurga district}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chitradurga District}}
[[Category:Chitradurga district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Karnataka]]

Chitradurga district - Revision history

Igorsiw at 14:37, 24 February 2026