1. Geography

2. History

3. Structure

4. Restoration works

5. Access

6. References

7. External links

Kondaveedu Fort, located 25 kilometres from Guntur, is a noted historical tourist attraction and is visited by hundreds throughout the year. It is also a trekker’s paradise, as the hills are ideal for trekking. The fort reminds everyone of Andhra kings, including the Reddy dynasty and the Gajapathis, who had ruled from the impregnable fort. The fort and its architecture are a feast for art and culture lovers.

Kondaveedu Fort was built by Anapotha Reddy in 1250 AD and later developed by Ana Venkata Reddy. Both of them were prominent rulers of the Reddy dynasty and were known to be benevolent patrons of art and culture. Later the fort, considered as impregnable with 24 bastions and spread across 30 hillocks, was ruled by Gajapathis.

Located on a hilltop, this historical fort has around 21 stupas. There are also many temples, residential structures, pillared halls and a magnificent entrance gateway. The panoramic view from the summit is awesome, inspiring and is ideal for trekking.

Famous historians like Amol Mujumdar and Roy Chaudhuri praised the fort in their writings. Recent archaeological excavations unearthed a 14th century inscription penned by Kavi Sarvabhauma Srinadha and an idol of Raja Rajeswari. Of late, the fort turned into a treasure trove for treasure hunters. The seizure of a massive golden "panchaloha" idol, weighing 5 kilograms last year gave credence to theories that similar treasures could be found deep in the earth. The presiding deity of this place is Trikoteswara Swamy.

The deity is situated on the hillock and is one of the noted pilgrim centres attracting thousands of visitors on Shivaratri. The Gopinath temple and Kathulabave at the foothill are other major attractions of Kondaveedu.                                                      

Kondaveedu fort is situated in Kondaveedu village in Guntur. It is easily accessible by road and rail from all parts of India. The nearest airport is at Vijayawada, which is 30 kilometres away from the fort.

Kondaveedu Fort was constructed during the time of Telugu Chodas and was occupied by Kakatiya Ganapati Deva during his campaign in the coastal Andhra. After the capture of Prataparudra by Tughlaq in 1323 AD, his subordinate Prolaya Vema Reddy became independent and shifted his capital from Addanki to Kondaveedu. Later it was taken over by Gajpathis of Orissa and ravaged by the Muslim rulers of the Bahmani kingdom (1458). The Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya captured it in 1516. The Golconda Sultans fought for the fort in 1531, 1536 and 1579, and Sultan Quli Qutb Shah finally captured it in 1579, renaming it Murtuzanagar. Later it was recaptured by Vijayanagarans^[3][4][5][2]

The fort came under the control of the French colonists in 1752 when it was extensively fortified. It passed on to the English imperialists who got control of the fort in 1788 but abandoned it in the early 19th century in favour of Guntur. Now, the massive fortifications and battlements are seen in ruins only. The interior has extensive ruins of magazines and storehouses.^[3][5]

Buddhist remains have been found under the ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum) of Sivalayam at Kondaveedu fort. The remains date back to later Satavahana period — 1st to 2nd century A.D. The discovery of the ‘Buddhist remains’ push back the hoary past of the historic Kondaveedu fort to the Satavahana period. Now the history of Kondaveedu fort has to be rewritten as it goes back to the Satavahana period.^[6]

Geography

The fortresses were once the capital of the Kondaveedu province that was delimited between the south of the Krishna River and the Gundlakamma River and located {{convert|8|mi|km}} to the west of Guntur city. They were erected on a high ridge of a small range of hills with average elevation of {{convert|1500|ft|m}} (highest point on the ridge is {{convert|1700|ft|m}}). There are two hill (ghat) sections, which form the hill ranges, one is to the north, which provides a very steep but short access to the forts. The preferred access is more circuitous and less tiring and involves {{convert|2|mi|km}} of trekking.^[4][2] The Kondaveedu and surrounding forest area has a very large number of Custard apple (Morinda citrifolia (Noni)) trees.^[7]

History

The main Kondaveedu Fort was built by the Telugu Chodas, strengthened by Kakatiyas and occupied by Prolaya Vemareddy who shifted his capital from Addanki to Kondaveedu in 1323 A.D. Later, the fort was under the control of Vijayanagar Kings, Gajapatis, Golkonda sultans and lastly under French and British. All who had divergent approaches to the administration of their province and the fort. While the Hindu rulers showed benevolence to its subjects and brought prosperity to the region, the Muslims subjected the province and its people to many depredations.^[8][9][10]

In 1323, Warangal and the whole of Andhra Pradesh came under the reign of Tughlaqs, rulers of Delhi. Their depredations and despotic reign resulted in formation of a confederation movement by the Hindu Musunuri Nayaks who ousted the Muslims from Warangal, and the Reddys were part of this movement.^[10]

The Reddys of Kondaveedu were initially feudatories of the kings of Warangal. From inscriptions, it is inferred that their rule overlapped with that of the Korukonda Reddis and that they shifted from their earlier capital at Addanki in Guntur to Kondaveedu. The founder of the dynasty was Prolaya Vema Reddy, the son of Prola.^[8][10] They ruled in the region around present day Vijayawada and Guntur towns for nearly a hundred years (1328–1428). Their first ruler Prolaya Vema Reddy (followed by five other rulers till 1428) who ruled till 1353, strengthened the defenses of his kingdom by building a number of forts, which included the Kondaveedu Fort. He shifted his capital from Addanki in Guntur to Kondaveedu fort. Subsequently, the region was ruled by the Bahmanis (1458), the Vijayanagara Kings (1516), the Qutb Shahis, (1531,1537 & 1579), the Mughal army of Aurangzeb in 1687, the French (1752), the Asafjahi Kings, and finally the British (1766 and 1788).^[4][9][10]

Structure

The three forts on top of the narrow hill range are now in ruins; earliest built fort is dated to the 12th century. The main fort built by the Reddy dynasty and refurbished by subsequent rulers, located at a height of nearly {{convert|320|m|ft}}, was considered then as one of the strongest forts in the region. 21 structures have been identified within the fort. Its fortifications built with granite stones comprise huge ramparts, magazines, warehouses, granaries and wells. There are two entry gates into the forts, called the ‘Kolepalli Darwaza’ and the ‘Nadella Darwaza’. The entrance gate is three storied, massive and made of granite stone blocks. A building built with rock pillars and covered with rock slabs, has{{convert|110|m|ft}} long inscriptions. A defense bunker is also seen. The source of water supply to the inhabitants of the fort was from three sources namely, the Mutyalama Cheruvu, the Puttalamma Cheruvu and the Vedulla Cheruvu (‘Cheruvu’ in Telugu language means "pond"). On the way to the fort at Kothapalem (known as Puttakota in the past), at the foot hill of the fort, an embankment is seen which is inferred as a security ring bund to protect the royal family palaces and houses of the main functionaries of the fort.^{[5][9][11][12]}

The fort's ruins on the southwest side of the Kondaveedu village is in the shape of an equilateral triangle, and at the turning angles of the triangle at the south west and north east, tower bastions are provided, which form part of the façade wall of the fort. A single wall of {{convert|30|km|mi}} length straddles the hills.^{[5][9][13][14]}

A temple known as the Gopinathaswami temple (dedicated to Lord Krishna) lies at the foot of the hill; its bunched stone pillars are carved out of a single rock. Both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles are seen in the forts. A mosque is located within the fort; this is said to have been built with temple ruins.^[5][9][14]

Restoration works

The department of Archaeology and Museums (Andhra Pradesh) has decided to carry out major development and restoration works to bring out the past glory of the forts. The works proposed involve construction of hill (ghat) road of {{convert|3.5|km|mi}} length from the eastern side of the hill (the first step to approach the forts to begin restoration works), resetting and providing railing along the rocky pathway, and improving the view-points, bastions, garrison barracks, stables and internal roads with appropriate tourist signages.^[15]

ISKCON South India is also embarking on giving a major face-lift to this historical fort through their Spiritual Heritage Revival Project.^[16][17] The Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned a {{convert|65|acre|m2|adj=on}} plot at the foot of the hill to build a beautiful temple for the ancient Venna Gopal deity at the foot of the Kondaveedu Hills in the first phase. The deity was originally installed 500 years ago by the great South Indian Emperor Krishnadevaraya(Krishnadevaraya), who also took over the Fort from its previous rulers, the Reddy Kings(Reddy dynasty).

And provided this first phase is carried out successfully, the AP Government promised ISKCON another {{convert|150|acre|km2}} at the top of the hill to develop. A 3 Crore (30 million rupee) road to the top of the hill is already being completed by Andhra Pradesh government.

Access

Kondaveedu fort is situated in Kondaveedu village between Guntur and Chilakaluripet. About {{convert|25|km|mi}} from Guntur city and about 13 km from the side of Chilakaluripet. Guntur is easily accessible by road and rail from all parts of India. The nearest airport is at Vijayawada, which is {{convert|58|km|mi}} away from Guntur. After reaching Guntur one should board a Guntur-Chilakaluripet ordinary bus and alight at Bhoyapalem-Pirangipuram Road and can hire an auto rickshaw to the fort.

The simplest way to reach the fort by one's own vehicle. Reach Guntur or Chilakaluripet by road. Drive 25 km from Guntur towards Chilakaluripet via NH5 vice verse 13 km from Chilakaluripet and turn towards Bhoyapalem-Pirangipuram Road. In this road we need to travel around 10 km to our destination.

References

External links

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsYzbYRgHEo Video clip of Kondaveedu-Golden age of Telugu Kingdom(Reddy Kings), Best Tourism place in Inida]

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