Kondapalli Fort

Coordinates: 16°37′31″N 80°31′50″E / 16.625283°N 80.530667°E / 16.625283; 80.530667
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses, see Kondapalli (disambiguation).

Kondapalli Fort
Part of
Nizams) and the British
Events16th century Kondapally pedda Bailu or Plains Ply Ground Of Battles between Vellanki Rajas of Rayudu and Bahamanis of Golconda with the support of Paritrala Jupally Chieftains
Garrison information
OccupantsAbandoned

Kondapalli Fort, also locally known as Kondapalli Kota and Kondapalli Quilla, lies to the west of Kondapalli in

Gajapati dynasty to the Nizam Nawabs, and then the East India Company.[11]

Geography

The fort is located to the west of Vijayawada city in the main hill range known as Kondapalli in the

dolerites.[14]

History

The fort was built in 1360 CE by Anna Vemareddy of the Kondaveedu

Gajapati dynasty, in 1472. But in the bargain, he gave Kondapalli and Rajahmundry to the Bahmani Sultan. Subsequently,Purushottama Deva defeated Hamvira in 1476 and occupied the throne of Gajapati. But it is also said that in 1476, a revolution began at Kondapalli when there was famine in the Bahmani kingdom. The garrison of Kondapalli revolted and gave possession of the fort to "Hamer Oriya" or Hamvira.[16][17]

Rajamundry, for some unknown reason he signed a peace treaty with the Sultan, which resulted in souring of relations between Bahmani and Vijayanagar rulers, which resulted in minor battles. But in 1481, after the death of Sultan Mahammad, the Bahmani Sultanate was in disarray and taking advantage of this situation Purushottam fought with Mahmad Shah, the Sultan's son, and took control of Rajahmundry and Kondapalli fort. Gajapati Purushottam Deva died in 1497 and was succeeded by his son Gajapati Prataprudra Deva.[16]

In 1509, Gajapati Prataprudra Deva started a war against Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar Empire, but Gajapati had to retreat to the north to defend an attack by Sultan Allauddin Hussan Shah of Bengal. The consequence was that Krishnadevaraya had an easy victory over Kondapalli, which he occupied in June 1515. In the last war fought in 1519, Krishnadevaraya once again defeated the Gajapati ruler. Since the Kondaveedu fortress was very strong, after three months siege of the fort, Krishnadevaraya had to personally direct the operations to get control of the fort. Following this war, Krishnadevaraya married Gajapati Prataprudra Deva's daughter, Kalinga Kumari Jaganmohini. A treaty was also signed for restoring all land up to the southern boundary of the Krishna River to Orissa, which included Kondapalli.[16][18]

But after the treaty with Vijayanagara emperor, between 1519 and 1525, Gajapati Prataprudra Deva had to defend his territory against invasion by Sultan Quli Qutab, the Sultan of Golkonda. But in the final assault, in 1531, Kondapalli came under the rule of Sultan of Golkonda. The war with Golkonda Sultans was continued by Govinda Bidyadhar, the new ruler of the Gajapati Kingdom who had succeeded Gajapati Prataprudra Deva (who died in 1533) but ended finally with a treaty with the Sultan.[16]

The area came under

British East India Company recognizing the control of the British over the territory. This treaty was initially signed on 12 November 1766 under which the company in return for the grant of the territory agreed to garrison troops in the fort for Nizam's aid at an annual cost of 90,000 pounds. It is also stated that in 1766 the British, under General Caillaud, stormed the fort and took control of it.[19][20][21]

A second treaty was signed on 1 March 1768, under which the Nizam recognized the grant provided to the British by Mughal ruler Shah Alam. But, as a gesture of friendship, the British (then the East India Company) agreed to pay an allowance of 50,000 pounds to the Nizam. However, in 1823, the East India Company rested total control of the Sarcars under an outright purchase from the Nizam.[19][20][21]

In the initial years, the fort was used as a business center but after the British took over the fort in 1766 it was converted into a military training base.[22]

Structure

Royal prison at Kondapalli Fort
Aerial view of Kondapalli Fort

The fort, which has a very picturesque sight, has three successive entry gates. The main entrance gate is called the ‘Dargha Darwaja’ built with single block of granite. It is 12 feet (3.7 m) wide and 15 feet (4.6 m) high. Its name is derived from the tomb or dargha of Gulab Shah, who was killed in battle here. Besides Darhgha Darwaza, another entrance gate called the Golconda Darwaza is located on the other end of the hill, which leads to

Jaggaiahpet village. The fortified wall has towers and battlements.[19][23]

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.[19][23]

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.[23]

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.[23]

Restoration works

The Archeological Department of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken restoration and renovation works of the fort and the structures located within its precincts. The works cover improving link road to the fort from the National Highway, strengthening and restoring of historical walls, restoration of Jail Khana (prison house), Koneru pond and Museum, building a ropeway up to the hill, construction of inner roads, providing basic amenities such as three-phase power supply, drinking water and toilets, landscaping and setting up food courts. The museumcontains relics found at that place along with display of Kondapalli Toys and lot of Historical references.[24][25]

References

  1. ^ New look for Kondapalli Fort Deccan Chronicle.
  2. ^ Kondapalli to draw more tourists The Hans India.
  3. ^ "Vijayawada kondapalli Fort to get facelift". The Hindu.
  4. ^ Famous Places in India, Kondapalli Fort.
  5. ^ Chemical conservation treatment to Kondapalli fort begins The Hindu.
  6. ^ Vijayawada Tourism, Kondapalli Fort.
  7. ^ Krishna district official website, History Krishna District.
  8. ^ Heritage trek to Kondapalli The New Indian Express.
  9. ^ Kondapalli fort to be tourist destination soon The Hans India.
  10. ^ Kondapalli forts gets a new lease of life Times of India
  11. ^ Kondapalli Fort is the perfect getaway for history and nature lovers The News Minute.
  12. ^ "Glorious Krishna: District Profile". Krishna district:Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  13. ^ "Nature's pharmacy at hand". The Hindu. 29 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  14. ^ A.T.Rao. "Allanite from the Kondapalli charnockites, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India" (PDF). Department of Geology, Andhra University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  15. ^ Mudigonda Chalakyulu, the fort has been home to several dynasties The News Minute.
  16. ^ a b c d "Detail History of Orissa: Early Period to 1568 AD". Government of Orissa and National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 25 April 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  17. ISBN 978-81-7013-128-1. Retrieved 25 October 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  18. ^ Satyan, B. N. Sri (1972). Mysore State Gazetteer: Bellary. Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Govt. Press. p. 70. Retrieved 25 October 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  19. ^ a b c d "The Devil's Peak, Kondapalli". British library Online. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  20. ^ a b Smith, Vincent Arthur (1908). The Oxford student's history of India. At the Clarendon press. p. 172. Retrieved 25 October 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  21. ^ a b Hunter, Sir William Wilson (1881). The imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 2. Trübner. pp. 472–473. Retrieved 26 October 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  22. ^ "Glorious Krishna: District: Tourism". Krishna district:Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  23. ^ a b c d Burgess, James (1872). Indian antiquary, Volume 1. Popular Prakashan. pp. 184, 185. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  24. ^ "Kondapalli fort to get facelift worth Rs 4.25 cr". Express News. 26 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
  25. ^ "Two tourism projects in Krishna district get nod". The Hindu. 4 July 2006. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2009.

External links

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