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Last edited February 24, 2026

About: the district

For other uses, see Chitradurga.


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Chitradurga district

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Settlement type District of Karnataka
Country India
State
District
Subdivision

Chitradurga district is an administrative district of Karnataka state in south-western India.[1] The 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.[2] 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.[2][3]

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
Administrative map of Chitradurga

Demographics

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According to the 2011 census Chitradurga district has a population of 1,659,456,[4] roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau[5] or the US state of Idaho.[6] This gives it a ranking of 297th in India (out of a total of 640).[4] The district has a population density of Template:Convert.[4] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 9.39%.[4] Chitradurga has a sex ratio of 969 females for every 1000 males,[4] and a 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.[4]

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At the time of the 2011 census, 83.33% of the population spoke Kannada, 7.33% Urdu, 5.39% Telugu and 2.29% Lambadi as their first language.[7]

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Chitradurga one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[8] It is one of the five districts in Karnataka currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[8]

Education

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  • Sri Shivakumara Rangaprayoga Shale

People

See also

References

  1. Template:Cite EB1911
  2. 2.0 2.1 Indian History For The Year 1928{{#if:Sahitya Akademi New Delhi|, Sahitya Akademi New Delhi}(1928)
  3. Excavation At Chandravalli (mysore State){{#if:Not Available|, Not Available}(1931)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 District Census Handbook: Chitradurga. censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India(2011).
  5. Country Comparison:Population. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  6. 2010 Resident Population Data. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Karnataka. www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme. National Institute of Rural Development(8 September 2009). Retrieved 27 September 2011.

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