Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/P-y5Y_Upy4Y
Location: “Kondapalli Fort, JGGJ+57C, Ghat Road, Kondapalli, Andhra Pradesh 521228”
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kondapalli_Fort
https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/andhra-pradesh/guntur/kondapalli-fort
https://www.holidify.com/places/vijayawada/kondapalli-fort-sightseeing-3894.html
Kondapalli Fort, also locally known as Kondapalli
Kota and Kondapalli Quilla, lies to the west of
Kondapalli in Ibrahimpatnam, Vijaywada, built by Prolaya Vema Reddy, of Reddy kingdom (a
dynasty that ruled post-Kakatiyas) during the 14th century. The fort
served as a military training base for the British Rulers during the British
period. Few historians claim the fort to be built by Anna Verma Reddy, after
capturing Kondapalli from Mudigonda Chalukyas.
The fort has been part of various rules including
Reddy kingdom, Qutb Shahi rulers, Mughals, and ultimately the British.
The fort has 3 successive entry gates, with the main
gate known as the Dargah Darwaza built using a single block of granite (name
derived from tomb/dargah of Gulab Shah, killed in a battle here. The second
entrance gate is the Golconda Darwaza, located on the other end leading to
Jaggaiahpet village. The fortified wall has towers and battlements. At the far
end of the fort there is the Tanisha Mahal or Palace, perched on a crest
between two hills. The palace had many chambers on the ground floor and a huge
hall on the upper floor. In addition, there are several buildings still
standing in the fort, which are ruins. There is deep reservoir near the palace,
which is sourced by a spring. The water in the reservoir is said to be very
cold and to cause fever. There are numerous other water tanks in the fort area,
which go dry during the summer months. An old granary now in ruins, beyond the
reservoir, is inhabited by bats. An English barrack is still standing in the
fort area, which has eight large rooms, apart from a house in an annex. An
English cemetery is
also seen in the fort.
The fort is situated up a hill and is reached through
a beautiful hill side road. The entire journey is beautiful through lush green
hills and forests. The highest point is a watch tower/cell tower, where car can
drive through. From there a beautiful view of the fort can be find.
How
to reach:
By Air: The nearest airport
is the Vijayawada International Airport or Gannavaram International Airport
around 42 KMs. Get to the city centre by taxi, which is about 25 km from the
airport. From there local transport is easily available.
By Bus: Kondapalli Fort is reachable by road from Vijayawada.
Tourists can hail private taxis or hire autos as I don’t think there is any bus
service up the hill. Best is to have your own vehicle.
By Train: Vijayawada is extremely well connected by trains. It has
one of the biggest and busiest railway stations in India, with more than 300+
trains passing through it. Vijayawada Junction Railway Station (BZA) has trains
to all the major cities of south India. Tourists can hail private taxis or hire
autos as I don’t think there is any bus service up the hill.
Kondipalli
Dolls:
Vijayawada is famous for its Kondapalli Toys
especially the Kondapalli Dolls. A colony in Kondapalli, known as the Bommala
Colony or the Toys Colony is well known for crafting these toys which is a
400-year-old tradition in the region. This form of arts and crafts is believed
to have started by a sage named Muktharishi who was blessed with the skills by
Lord Shiva. It is believed that artisans migrated from Rajasthan to learn this
art from Muktharishi in the 16th century. These artisans are now called Aryakhastriyas
or Nakarshalu. References to these names have been found in the Brahmanda
Purana.
The toys are made of Tella Poniki which is a type of
softwood found in abundance on the Kondapalli Hills. The artisans meticulously
carve the wood into the required shape, soften the edges carefully and give a
base coat of enamel paint. To colour the toys, they either use water-colours
mixed with oil or vegetable dyes. These toys are mostly about mythological
figures, art forms, animals and birds for children to play with and stay
connected with nature and our culture. While visiting the Kondapalli Fort, you
can buy these dolls from the roadside vendors at a reasonable price.
Food
availability at top:
There are limited shops (2-3) that contain food items
at the entry of the fort. And there is a souvenior shop keeping the Kondipalli
toys there too.
Timings:
Monday to Sunday: 10 am to 5:00 pm
Entry
Fee:
Adults 10 Rs, Children: 5 Rs
Stay
options:
Vijaywada is the best place to stay with plenty of
stay options
Nearby
places to visit:
1) Kanaka
Durga Temple (on hill top)
2) Bhavani
Island
3) Undavalli
Caves
4) Akkana
Mardana Caves
5) Pavitra
Sangamam
6) Amaravati
Stupa and Amareshwara temple
7) Mogalrajapuram
temple
8) Ancient
temples at Iluru, Shrikakulam, Mopidevi, Pedakapalli and Yanamalkudduru,
9) Sangameshwara
temple, Bhavanarayana Temple at Diviseema
10) Bhattiprolu
Buddhist stupa
11) Avanigadda
Laxmi narasimha temple
12) Ghantasala
Buddhist stupa and temple
13) Shri
Panakala Narasimha temple and Shri Laxmi Narasimha temple at Mangalagiri
14) Shri
Kashi Vishweshara temple at Chinakakani
15) Veerabhadra
Temple, Kondipalli.
Parking
and Photography
Parking is available outside the main entrance,
although there is no dedicated parking area.
Photography is allowed. No use of Drones as it’s a
fort area and under surveillance.