Kavaledurga Fort

Historical

Karnataka

19°C / Clouds

History
Places to visit
How to reach

Nestled in the western ghats of Karnataka, this fort is located in Thirthahalli, Shimoga. And no matter if you are a history buff, tourist, or just a local, you are bound to like this fort. The Kavaledurga Fort was originally built in the 9th century and was time and again restored by the kingdom's successors.

While on a walk to discover the fort, you come to know how intelligently it was designed and built. Spread over an area of about 8 km, naturally, this fort has multiple gateways. The fourth gate, however, consists of several historical elements that signify the strong persuasion of Hindu culture. Entering the fourth gate, you will notice Kashi Vishwanath Temple which is finely carved with the sculptures of armed warriors, sun, moon, birds, elephants, snakes, and many other creatures. Other famous temples are Lakshminarayana Temple and Shikareshwara Temple.

While Karnataka is considered to be one of the humid regions of India, you can prefer the winter months to explore the Kavaledurga Fort in Thirthahalli.

History of Kavaledurga Fort

Kavaledurga was built in the 9th century and was again renovated by Cheluvarangappa in the 14th century. The fort had been a continuous spectator of several strong and dignified rulers of Keladi who were the big names in the feudal era of Vijayanagar Kingdom. In 1763, the fort was captured by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan who also contributed to the beautification of the fort.

The Kavaledurga place has a significant association with Hindu Mythology, according to which this place was known as Parashuram Kshetra. It is also believed that the famous Hindu sage named Maharshi Valmiki and Agastya also lived here for a long period of time. During Dvapara Yuga, Pandavas also lived here for some time.

Places To Visit Near Kavaledurga Fort

Kavaledurga Fort is among the best places to visit in Karnataka. Here's the list of the places you can explore near Kavaledurga Fort.

1. Srikanteshwara Temple

This majestic temple of Kavaledurga Fort is one of the three remaining temples. It is located in the center of the fort. The temple consists of huge pillars with beautiful carvings. Such a historic gift to us!

2. Remains

Once you are in the beautiful Kavaledurga Fort, you will be mesmerized to see some objects that were being used in the era. For instance, there are objects like are horse stables, a five-burner stone stove, a puja room, and even swimming pools.

How to Reach Kavaledurga Fort

Spread across an area of about 8 km, Kavaledurga Fort elevates the beauty of Karnataka's Western Ghats. To reach this place, one must travel a distance of about 2204 km, 806 km, 718.7 km, and 356.6 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore respectively.

By Air

Deboard at the Mangalore International Airport that caters to the Karnataka state as well as overseas. Several Indian cities are well-routed with the airport offering good air connectivity. Once you deboard at the airport, consider booking a cab or some other means of public transport to reach your respective destination.

From Delhi - Board Air India, Spice Jet, and IndiGo flights from Delhi International Airport. The flight may cost you around INR 5003 – INR 6412
From Hyderabad - Board Air India, Spice Jet, and IndiGo flights from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airfares maybe around INR 5247- INR 6192

By Train

In the vicinity of the Kavaledurga fort, the most nearby railway station is Shimoga Town Railway Station. It has overall okay train connectivity with the neighboring cities of Karnataka. Once you reach the station, you can opt for a bus or cab service to complete the journey to Thirthahalli.

From Mysuru - Board TALGUPPA EXP train from Mysore Railway Junction and deboard at Shimoga Town railway station
From Bengaluru - Board SMET EXP train from Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station and deboard at Shimoga Town railway station

By Road

At a distance of 11 miles from Thirthalli, the Kavaledurga Fort is present in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. Its connection to the nearby cities offers ease to tourists in traveling. For visiting here, you can consider booking buses, private cabs or if you prefer then self-drive here.