Jagadevaraya of Channapatna was the father-in-law of Thimmaraj who was ruler of Penugonda. In AD 1577, when the sultans of Bijapur and Ahmednagar were trying to conquer Penugonda, Thimmaraja shifted his capital city to Chandragiri, and consequently the responsibility of forestalling the Sultans’ conquest fell on Jagadevaraya. A born adventurer and brave soldier, Jagadevaraya saved Penugonda from the humiliation by defeating the Bijapur army. Vijayanagar’s Sri Rangaraya, appreciating Jagadevaraya’s valour shown in third Penugonda battle, he bestowed the title Ghanagirirakshaka and a large region with 9 lakh pagodas as revenue. This region extending from Baramahal till the western ghats, comprised Mulubagilu, Piriyapatna, Kanakanahalli and Budihalu areas. To ensure convenient system of rule for this newly acquired big state, he made Channapattana as capital, built a fort in AD1586 which was later named as Channapattana. Also, it is stated that Sri Rangaraya married his daughter to Jagadevaraya.

Later, Peddajagadevaraya concentrated on the development of this region. Reinforcement of the fort at Kabbalu Durga which was closer to the then capital Channapattana, happened, perhaps, during Channapattana Paleyagara Peddajagadevaraya’s period. Kabbalu Durga has steep sides on all sides except one, and that is the only way to hike the Durga. Though there are carved steps on this face, they are very narrow, so it is tough to hike the hill even through these carved steps. If people stay with food and water reserves, they can escape enemy attacks..

JSince the capital of Channapattana was an open land, to defend the enemies’ attacks conveniently, Peddajagadevaraya shifted his army base to the plains at the base of Kabbalu Durga. During his 15-year rule, Jagadevaraya had given a facelift to Channapattana rajya. When the army base was in Channapattana, he organised for a trading fair at Kabbalu grama. Locals confirm that from then on a fair takes place regularly till today. This Jagadevaraya-II, Jagadevaraya-III, and Ankusharaya (16 years) have ruled this region, says the folklore. In AD 1630, Mysore’s Chamaraja Wadeyar occupied Channapattana, and consequently parts of this state like Kanakanahalli, Piriyapatna became merged into Mysore and thus ended the rule of Channapattana Paleyagar. The mysore rulers also destroyed the army base in Kabbalu grama. The Kabbalu Durga fort assumed the status of prison fort for keeping prisons of war. Mysore’s royal family’s Krishnaraja-I had no progeny, and hence on his deathbed, he had directed his wife to adopt Chamaraja son of Ankanahalli’s Devaraja. As per her deceased husband’s wishes called the dominating Nanjarajayya, Dalavayi Devarajayya and Karachuri Nanjarajayya and explained the previous king’s wishes and enthroned Chamaraja in Ad1732 March 19th. By then Chamaraja had married and was 28 years of age. After he came to throne in 1655 AD, he married two – Devarajammanni, daughter of Shoolagiri Nanjarajaiah, and Devajammanni, daughter of Muguru family’s Alagangi Balaiah. After Chamaraja Wodeyar assumed power, for several months he tolerated the power wielded by Dalavayies. By that time, the rule was almost in the hands of Devarajayya of Kalale family and Karathuri Nanjarajayya and dictator Nanjarajayya. Dalavayies were handling all the financial and administrative matters of the palace. These three plotted to cheat the royal family by having agreements of financial benefits out of royal asset incomes. They also encouraged their subordinates to collect corrupt money and hand it over to them, by enticing them of higher positions in future. They also, using their authoritative power, acquired fertile lands at the border and divert the revenue from such acquisitions to themselves cheating the royal family.

Noticing this, Chamaraja Wodeyar put an end to Dalavayi powers and took a bold decision in 1732 AD. Dalavayi Devarajayya found out, by his notorious network of informants, the King’s decision, went and complained to Chamaraja’s step-mother by winning her confidence. He obtained the permission to run the administration at his will. Knowing this Chamaraja removed, in 1733 AD, removed Devarajayya and the dictatorial Nanjarajayya from their positions and appointed his close aids into the positions. Chamaraja Wodeyar appointed a Brahmin, Devayya to the position of Dalavayi Devarajayya, and appointed Virashetty in place of Nanjayya. He appointed Gopinathaiah as chief and gave him gifts. He also appointed Kanteeravaiah, Narayanappa, Kaduru Chikkaiah, Shivanappa, to his close planning committee. After that, Chamaraja ran his government independently, and as per the contemporary works Shringararaja Tilaka, Bana and other sources Chamaraja observed every administrative aspects with care. Like his predecessors, he extended donations and dutti to the temples and pundits. Srirangapattana is learned to have thrived with trade, ethics and efficiency. Officers appointed by Chamaraja executed their authority properly and sincerely.

Chamaraja was not fortunate enough to continue as king. Displaced Dalavayies were waiting for an opportunity to end his rule. In the meantime, Chamaraja took some financial reforms. Step-mother Devarajamma was donating sums to religious institutions and also had appointed a number of unnecessary attendants for her service. In the name of these religious functions, her servants were drawing a lot of things from the palace stores. Besides this, they were giving false account of requirements, though there were no religions functions, the things were transferred to their own homes. This information also came to Chamaraja’s notice, who thought of new rules in this regard. Those who thought would get affected by the King’s new rules started to brainwash his step-mother.

Waiting for this time, Kalale brothers invited Jamadar Hyder Ali, who was working under the army chief, Muddagiri Mallaiah, along with some others and incited them to after taking their salaries, to tell the King that they would not turn up to duty and rise against the Kingdom. Agreeing to this 2000 horse riders and 6000 soldiers just stood at the entrance of the fort.

After the army rebelled against the King, Kalale brothers took over the power themselves and started robbery and spread terror during nights. Unaware of the plot, Chamaraja Wodeyar had to submit to a peace agreement with Dalavayi Devarajayya. The cunning Devarajayya did not stop there. He got the main doors of the place removed and snatched all royal symbols and placed on the royal throne. Thus, he succeeded to dethrone the King in 1734 AD on June 10, and imprisoned all his loyal officers.

The King and his three wives were kept under house arrest at different locations in Srirangapattana. After a few days, the King and his wives were secretly sent to the Kabbalu Durga. No one in Srirangapattana knew out what happened to King Chamaraja and his wives, after the rebellion. Even the Kabbalu grama people themselves did not know that their King & his wives are at their very own place.

The King and his three wives were kept under house arrest at different locations in Srirangapattana. After a few days, the King and his wives were secretly sent to the Kabbalu Durga. No one in Srirangapattana knew out what happened to King Chamaraja and his wives, after the rebellion. Even the Kabbalu grama people themselves did not know that their King & his wives are at their very own place.

Kabbalu Durga had a seven-level fort. There is a Koteshwara Temple and a Lamp Stone Pillar can be seen. Donating land to this temple is mentioned in the 1250 AD, of the Kanakapura Shasana No.66 (Tamil Shasana). It can, therefore, be said that the fort was certainly built during the Hoysala dynasty’s rule or even before that. After crossing the 2nd level of the fort, at the 3rd level, there is small water pond and a cave transformed into a temple. In this there are two small ponds and God Shri.Chikka Srinivasamurthy’s idol is inside, and this God is also called Shri.Ranganathaswamy. Some 200 steep steps are carved in the rock from the 3rd level. At the entrance of the 4th level, there is a water pond and then sloping rock face without steps, and one has to climb with caution. Then the 5th level, from where we can see 40 Kaagadi-like steps carved into the rock face. 6th level of the fort has a 50 feet by 60 feet grain storage, and storage places for ghee and oil, and has a water pond as well. On the west side, there is a deep gorge with an equipment to drop the dead bodies of the dead, into the gorge. To the left way to the Temple, weapons storage and guards’ houses are situated. Further, the 7th row of the fort is built with mud and stores and is 600 feet long and 300 feet wide fort. This holds a palace (now, we can see only its remains).

On the top of the Kabbalu Durga, there is the Bhimeshwara Temple where defaced Shiv Linga can be seen. Also, there are two Ganapathi’s idols (also defaced). In this Bhimeshwara Temple, there Sanctum and Navaranga (where worship activities are held) sections are there. The Temple has west-facing entrance, a lamp lighting pillar, and has, to the east, a big round-shaped water pond with a diameter of 100 feet.

Anticipating risk to their lives, had infused small amount of poison to the Bhimeshwara Temple’s adjacent pond’s water. When they were kept in house-arrest in Shri Rangapattana, they had kept with them two wooden idols of their family’s Godess Shri Chamundeshwari’s another form of Shri.Kaalidevi. And when they were secretly shifted to Kabbalu Durga also, they did not forget to carry these idols with them. They were not objected to carry the idols at that time. Now the King Chamaraja and his wives established these idols in two places in the Kabbalu Durga palace and continued to worship, which gave them solace. Since in the Kanakapura, located to the east of Kabbalu Durga, Shasana No.65 Shri.Kalikaadevi is mentioned, later Shri. Kalikaadevi is called Shri.Kabbalamma, as per some people. The idol of Shri.Kabbalamma was found in Kabbalu grama as far back as 1429 AD, and has document backup for the same. It is a fact that even now we can see the basic idol of Shri.Kaalikadevi but it is lying defaced in a corner of the circular pond on top of the Durga.

Out of the two wooden idols, the one worshipped by the second wife of King Chamaraja was brought to the palace by Mysore kings after conquering Mysore from Hadinadu. After this idol was established in the Mysore palace, the royal family had gained many successes and became auspicious to them. Some say, this idol was established with religious rituals with ancient procedures and was worshipped by great sages, and hence this Shri.Kaalidevi’s idol had mysterious power and ability. This idol was being worshipped by King Chamaraja’s second wife, Shoolagiri Nanjaraja’s daughter, Devajiammanni, in Shrirangapattana. The third of Chamaraja also requested for an opportunity for her also to worship this idol. Since the second wife did not agree to this, King Chamaraja got another similar idol made by his royal sculptors and gave it to his third wife.