Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Museum

The Kittur Rani Chennamma Memorial Museum is a government museum located inside the historic Kittur Fort in Kittur, Belagavi district, Karnataka. Dedicated to Rani Chennamma, the 19th-century queen of Kittur known for her 1824 resistance against the British East India Company, the museum displays weapons, armour, sculptures, inscriptions, wooden carvings and artifacts related to the fort and region. It preserves the heritage of Kittur and its celebrated ruler.

Visitors can expect a small government museum housed within the stone walls of Kittur Fort. The museum has galleries displaying historical artifacts including old weapons, swords, armour, shields, stone sculptures, inscriptions, wooden carvings, and objects associated with Rani Chennamma and the Kittur principality. The setting is inside the fort complex with bastions, gateways and open courtyards to explore alongside the museum halls. It is a quiet, educational visit focused on local history and heritage.

The museum commemorates Rani Chennamma of Kittur, who led an armed resistance against the British East India Company in 1824 following the doctrine of lapse dispute after the death of her husband Raja Mallasarja. Kittur Fort, where the museum is housed, was the seat of the Kittur principality. The museum preserves artifacts from the fort and surrounding region, including sculptures and inscriptions that reflect the area's history from earlier periods through the 19th century.

The museum is a cultural landmark for Karnataka, honoring Rani Chennamma as an early symbol of resistance and a prominent historical figure in the state. It serves as a centre for preserving and showcasing the heritage, art and traditions of the Kittur region and is visited during local commemorations and cultural events associated with the fort.