Hutridurga is a fortified hill not far from the burgeoning metropolis of  Bangalore in the state of Karnataka, India. The history of Hutridurga is interesting and intriguing and is an important link in the history of the genesis of Bangalore. The timeline of the history of Hutridurga history dates back to more than 3000 years to the stone age and spans the times of Krishna Devaraya, Kempegowda, Tipu Sultan, and the British.

History of Hutridurga – Bridge To The Past

The history of Hutridurga remains in the shadows with not many aware of the importance of this hill and its role in the history of Karnataka. Of late the hill has emerged as a popular trekking destination near Bangalore and attracts visitors in search of nature and adventure. But not many are aware of the history hidden within the ruins that lie scattered on the Hutridurga Fort Trek.

History of Hutridurga – Preserving Our Heritage

Many villages lie in the shadow of the Hutridurga Betta also sometimes referred to as Uttari Betta or Uttari Durga Betta. These are typical villages of Karnataka where simple village folk go about their daily lives, oblivious to the historic importance of the hill that looms in the distance.

There is a small settlement very near the start of the Uttari Betta Trek, vehicles can be driven till here, and a proper road is currently under construction. The Hutridurga Fort was secured with seven layers of fortified security and had seven gates. Today only six gates can be seen and the first of these gates is located near the designated parking area.

The small village near the starting point of the trek to the Hutridurga hills is like any typical Indian village. Vignettes of routine village life delight you as you interact with the villagers. A tiny calf trying to drive away flies, a woman selling snow-white Kakada ( flowers of the Jasmine family), simple lives of simple and honest people.

But of late the winds of change are blowing as Hutridurga wakes up to keep its tryst with history and take its rightful place in the history of Karnataka and India. Catalyzing the recognition of the importance of the history of Hutridurga is a group of passionate men, who have spent their childhood under the benign and protective shade of the Hutridurga hill.

In order to protect and preserve the historical heritage of Hutridurga as well as its ecology, a group of people from the villages around it have joined hands to form the Huthridurga Samrakshana Samithi.

Timeline of The History of Hutridurga

We talked to members of the Hutridurga Conservation Committee who unveiled to us the fascinating history of Hutridurga Uttari Betta. We listened with bated breath as they talked about the history of Hutridurga as well as various folklore, myths, and legends associated with the place. Here is the timeline of the history of Hutridurga based on our discussions.

Hutridurga In Pre-Historic Times

The  Iron Age burial site discovered at Hutridurga Fort which is estimated to be over 3,000 years old vouch for the existence of civilization in this region during prehistoric times.

The presence of the burial sites also points towards the practice of the funereal rites known as Kallu Seve in the region. This is a practice of the disposal of the bodies of the deceased by placing them in rocky shelters covered with rocks and stones. Stones were placed as offerings in these places and hence the name, “Kallu Seve”, Kallu means stone in Kannada and Seve may be loosely translated as worship.

Apart from the burial sites, remains of pottery and also iron weapons have also been found in Hutridurga and the vicinity.

History of Hutridurga – Inextricably Linked With Kempegowda

A stone inscription found in the region of the Hutridurga Fort places the construction of the fort to the year 1534. “According to the inscription, the fort was built by Jangamaiiah on the orders of Chenamanayaka, says Mr. Prakash Murthy from the Hutridurga Conservation Committee who is briefing us about the history of Hutridurga. He informs us that both Jangamaiiah and Chennamanayaka are contemporaries of the father of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar, present-day Hampi.

The history of Hutridurga Fort is inextricably linked with the Kempegowda clan. The fort was built by Kempegowda I also referred to as Yelahanka Nadu Prabhu or Hiriya Kempe Gowda, who is credited with the founding of Bangalore and fortifying the city with nine strategically placed forts known as Navadurgas. Hutridurga is one of the Navadurgas. The other Navadurgas are Nandidurga known popularly as Nandi Hills, Savandurga, Devarayanadurga, Huliyurdurga, Kabbaladurga, Channarayanadurga, Makkalidurga, and Bhairavadurga.

Kempegowda was a chieftain who owed allegiance to the Vijayanagara Empire and later went on to establish what we today know as Bangalore.

It is worth noting that the Hutridurga Fort was built a few years before the Bangalore Fort was built under the orders of Kempe Gowda I in 1537. The Bangalore Fort which was a mud fort at that time fortified what was then known as Bengaluru Pete. It was a small area of about 1 sq miles and included various markets and had four gates in the cardinal directions. Bengaluru Pete over the centuries metamorphosed into the modern-day metropolis of Bengaluru.

The Hutridurga Fort was enhanced over the centuries, but there are many ruins and findings in the vicinity of the fort that link it directly to Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore. Coins of Kempe Gowda’s time known as Bhairava Naniya have been found from the ruins of the temple.

Ruins of what could have been a resting place or a palace identified as Kempegowda Hazara is located near the Shankareshwara Temple at the top of Huthri Durga hill. The Shankareshwara temple is an ancient Shiva temple dating back to Kempegowda’s time, ritualistic worship is conducted even today in this temple. The temple has a small Shiva Linga and the image of Nandi facing it, as is customary in all Shiva temples.

Facing the Shankareshwara temple lies a small, rectangular spring called Dodda Donne, which is filled with water throughout the year from an unknown source. Within the Hutridurga hill are also found an Anjaneya temple or Hanuman temple as well as a big statue of Nandi. A stone umbrella believed to have been used by Kempegowda himself has also been found within the precincts of the Hutridurga Fort.

The dynasty of Kempe Gowda held sway for over 100 years and lasted till 1728 when they were defeated by the Dalawayis of the Mysore Kingdom.

Presence of Tipu Sultan In Hutridurga

Tipu Sultan with his military strategy and might dominated the Mysore region. The Hutridurga Fort with its natural contours and the fortifications built by Kempegowda and his successors was a natural choice to become a military bastion of Tipu Sultan.

It is believed that Tipu Sultan housed captured British soldiers in the Hutridurga Fort and used them to repair damaged weapons.

The Hutridurga Fort was renovated and strengthened and Tipu Sultan’s army was stationed there. Hutridurga also became one of the mint towns under the Mysore kingdom. Tipu Sultan’s army occupied the Hutridurga fort till their defeat by the British in the Third Anglo-Mysore War during 1791 and 1792.

The British in Hutridurga

Robert Home (1752-1834) was a British artist who accompanied Charles Cornwallis during the Third Anglo-Mysore War. He has made a watercolour sketch of the Hutridurga Fort which the British called Outradrug or Ootradrug. In fact, he made a series of 22 drawings along with a map and three plans.

An inscription on the front of the plan reads as, “Plan of Ootradroog taken by the English army under the command of the Rt. Honble Earl Cornwallis KG, December 24 1792”.

After the British conquered the fort, they used it as a Hospital and a storehouse.

Hutridurga Quick Facts

• Hutridurga Kunigal played a pivotal role in the history of the Mysore kingdom
• Hutridurga is referred to as Ootridroog in British documents
• Hutridurga was a strategic bastion both during the times of Kempegowda and also Tipu Sultan
• Hutridurga is one of the Navadurgas attributed to Kempegowda
• Hutridurga rises to a height  of about 3710 feet above sea level

How To Get To Hutridurga

Bangalore to Huthridurga Route Map | Uttari Betta Map | Uttari Betta Route | Hutribetta Trekking | Uttari Betta Karnataka

Huthridurga Location | Uttari Betta Google Map

• Hutidurga is located at Kunigal Taluk, the place is off Bangalore – Mangalore Highway (via Nelamangala) and can be reached from Bangalore – Mysore road as well.
• Hutridurga is at an approximate distance of about 80 kilometres from Bangalore
• Huthridurga is an easy driving distance from the city of Bangalore
• The nearest airport to Huthridurga is the Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore

The journey into the dim lanes and bylanes of the history of Hutridurga is fascinating and throws light on the important role of the place in the history of the region.

Watch here our video on the History of Hutridurga

We hope you liked our post about the history of Hutridurga. Do let us know your thoughts about it and share with us any facts or information about Hutridurga that you may have. For more such interesting posts subscribe to our blog and follow us on our social media channels.

Special Thanks To:
Huthridurga Samrakshana Samithi
Shri Y.P.Kempaiah
Shri Prakash Murthy. M.
Shri Prashanth Maruru
Shri Rangaswamy Hutridurga
Shri H.D. Shivalingaiah & Team
Devu Raja (Kunigal Master)
The People of the Villages around Hutridurga
India Tourism Bangalore, Dharthi NGO,  BMC Adventures

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