Onake Obavvana Kindi — Attraction in Karnataka

ಓಬವ್ವ) was a woman who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a pestle (Onake)in the kingdom of Chitradurga of Karnataka, India. Her husband was a guard of a watchtower in the rocky fort of Chitradurga.In the state of Karnataka, she is celebrated along with Abbakka Rani, Keladi Chennamma and Kittur Chennamma, as the foremost women warriors and patriots. During the reign of Madakari Nayaka, the city of Chitradurga was besieged by the troops of Hyder Ali (1754-1779). A chance sighting of a man entering the Chitradurga fort through a hole in the rocks led to a plan by Hyder Ali to send his soldiers through that hole. The Guard (Kahale Mudda Hanuma, who was on duty near that hole) had gone home to have his lunch. During his meal he needed some water to drink, so his wife Obavva went to collect water in a pot from a pond which was near the hole in the rocks, halfway up the hill. She noticed the army trying to enter the fort through the hole. She used the Onake or pestle (a wooden long club meant for pounding paddy grains) to kill the soldiers one by one by hitting them on the head and then quietly moving the dead without raising the suspicions of the rest of the troops. Mudda Hanuma, Obavva's husband, returned from lunch, was shocked to see Obavva standing with a blood stained Onake and several of the enemies' dead bodies around her. Later, the same day, she was found dead either due to shock or having been killed by the enemy soldiers. She belonged to the Holayas (Chalavadi) community. Though her brave attempt saved the fort this time, Madakari could not resist the attack by Hyder Ali during 1779, when the fort of Chitradurga was lost...

The guides stationed at the entrance are genuinely friendly and knowledgeable, though their proficiency in English is limited. My husband, fluent in Kannada, accompanied me and served as our translator. I highly recommend hiring a guide; not only is it easy to lose your way, but they also highlight many overlooked details.

Ticketing proved to be a cumbersome process due to the mandatory QR code system. For foreigners with intermittent cellular connectivity, this could pose challenges, especially since cash transactions aren't an option. Additionally, if your group comprises both Indian citizens and foreigners, separate transactions are necessary. Ensure you wear appropriate footwear, preferably athletic shoes, as the staircases vary in height and some paths are uneven. Opt for early morning or late afternoon visits to avoid the scorching sun, as shade is minimal. Given my fair complexion, sun exposure was a concern for me.

Despite spending a mere two hours there, we only touched upon its vastness. The site, with its historical significance and remarkable examples of ancient Indian ingenuity, remains largely underrated. If you're exploring Hampi, it's a must-visit. Alternatively, if you're in Bengaluru or nearby regions, consider making a trip. I genuinely believe the Government of Karnataka has a golden opportunity here for promoting tourism, preserving history, and fostering...

This is the place where famous onnake obbavva killed many soldiers of Hyder Ali in 1779 CE . Soldiers of Hyder Ali tried to enter the fort through the Hanchina Bagilu . Hyder Ali had used his money power to buy the minister of Chitradurga and took the blue print of the fort and attacked the fort . The story runs like this --

Obbavva's husband had come for lunch in the afternoon and was having meal in home and obbava went to bring water and while going for fetching water obbava noticed enemies entering the fort through Hanchina Bagilu, and since it was a tradition in that time that , we shouldn't disturb person(esp husband ) When they are having food and so obbavva didn't inform her husband about enemies and single handedly killed many enemies,but at last, she was killed by them.

Obbavva's home can be seen near to...