Savandurga is formed by two hills known locally as Karigudda (black hill) and Biligudda (white hill). The earliest record of the name of the hill is from 1340 AD by Hoysala Ballala III from Madabalu where it is called "Savandi". Another view is that the name is originated from "Samantadurga" attributed to a "Samantharaya", a governor under Ahchutaraya at Magadi, although there is no inscription confirming this. This was the secondary capital of the Magadi rulers such as Kempegowda. From 1638 to 1728, Mysore took over this place and Dalavayi Devaraja occupied this place with the palace at Nelapattana. In 1791 Lord Cornwallis captured it from Tipu Sultan's forces during the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Robert Home in his "Select views in Mysore" (1794) shows distant views of the hill from Bangalore. He called it "Savinadurga" or the "fort of death". There were no steps to reach the hill top and it was covered by bamboos and other trees forming a barricade.