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{{Original research|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Kondaveedu Fort
|native_name =
|partof = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
|location = [[Palnadu district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
|image = [[File:Kondavid-drug. Signed 'W.R.'.jpg|300px]]
|caption = Water-colour painting of Kondavid Fort
|map_type = India Andhra Pradesh#India
|map_size = 280
|map_caption =
|type = [[Fort]]
|coordinates= {{coord|16.254459|N|80.263866|E|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|code =
|built = 13th century
|builder = [[Reddi Kingdom]]
|materials = [[Granite]] [[rock (geology)|Stones]] and [[lime mortar]]
|height =
|used =
|demolished =
|condition = [[Ruins]]
|open_to_public =
|controlledby = [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
|garrison =
|current_commander =
|commanders =
|occupants =
|battles = [[Reddi Kingdom]], [[Vijayanagara Empire]], [[Qutb Shahi dynasty|Sultans of Golconda]], The [[Kingdom of France|French]] and the [[United Kingdom|British]]
|events =
|image2 = [[File:Kondavid1.jpg|300px]]
|caption2 = The Fort today from the base of the hill
}}
'''Kondaveedu Fort''' is a historically significant ancient hill fortress located in Kondaveedu, a village in the [[Chilakaluripet]] constituency of [[Palnadu district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. The site is located 16 miles west of the city of [[Guntur City|Guntur]]. Apart from this main fort, there are two other forts (names not known) nearby. Efforts are in progress to classify Kondaveedu Fort as a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2016/dec/11/kondaveedu-fort-likely-to-get-unesco-heritage-status-1547919.html |title=Kondaveedu fort likely to get UNESCO heritage status |date=11 December 2016 |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref><ref name=Burgess>{{Cite book |last=Burgess |first=James |title=Indian antiquary, Volume 1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fNAOAAAAQAAJ&q=Kondavid+fort&pg=PA182 |publisher= Popular Prakashan |year=1872}}</ref>

Kondaveedu Fort was constructed by [[Prolaya Vema Reddi]]. It was used as the capital by the [[Reddi Kingdom|Reddi dynasty]] between 1328 and 1482, shifting from their former capital at [[Addanki]].<ref name=gazette/> It was taken by the [[Vijayanagara]] emperor [[Krishnadevaraya]] in 1516.<ref name=gazette/> The [[Golconda]] [[Sultan]]s fought for the fort in 1531, 1536 and 1579, and Sultan [[Quli Qutb Shah]] finally captured it in 1579, renaming it ''Murtazanagar''.<ref name=gazette>{{Cite web |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?volume=15&objectid=DS405.1.I34_V15_399.gif |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 15 1931 |work=Kondaveedu |page=393 |accessdate=2009-10-20 |publisher=Digital South Asia Library}}</ref><ref name=Sewell>{{Cite book |last=Sewell |first=Robert |title= Lists of inscriptions, and sketch of the dynasties of Southern India, Archaeological Survey of India |work=Kondaveedu Reddy Chiefs… |pages=187–188 |accessdate=2009-10-21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXIIAAAAQAAJ&q=Kondavidu&pg=PA187 |publisher= E. Keys at the Government Press |year=1884}}</ref><ref name=gallery>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/other/019wdz000000739u00000000.html |title= Kondavid-durg near Guntur. 19 February 1804. Signed 'W.R.' |accessdate=2009-10-20 |publisher=British on line Gallery}}</ref><ref name=Burgess/>

The fort came under the control of the [[France|French]] colonists in 1752 when it was extensively fortified. It passed on to the British [[East India Company]] 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 [[Magazine (artillery)|magazines]] and storehouses.<ref name=gazette/><ref name=gallery/>

==Geography==
The fortresses were once the capital of the [[Kondavidu Reddi Kingdom]] 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|abbr=}} (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.<ref name=Sewell/><ref name=Burgess/> Kondaveedu and the surrounding forest areas have a large number of [[Custard apple]] (''[[Morinda citrifolia]]'' (''[[Noni]]'')) trees.<ref name=Gamble>{{Cite book |last=Gamble |first= James Sykes |title= A manual of Indian timbers: an account of the growth, distribution, and uses |work=Anoncae |page=[https://archive.org/details/amanualindianti00gambgoog/page/n59 21] |url=https://archive.org/details/amanualindianti00gambgoog |quote=Kondavid fort. |publisher= S. Low, Marston & co. ltd. |year=1902}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Kondavid6.jpg|left|300px|The Gopinathswami Temple near the Fort. The surviving fortifications can be seen on the hill top.]]
The village of Kondavidu is said to have been established in 1115 CE as a fortified township by Gopanna, a commander of Buddhavarma of the [[Telugu Cholas|Telugu Choda]] dynasty.<ref>{{citation |last=Kasipathi |first=Kapila |title=Tryst with Destiny |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ4sAAAAMAAJ |year=1970 |publisher=K. V. Rao |page=12}}</ref> Later it came under the [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiyas]] and occupied by [[Prolaya Vema Reddi]] ({{reign|1325|1353}}) who shifted his capital from [[Addanki]] to Kondaveedu. Later, the fort was under the control of Vijayanagar Kings, [[Gajapati Kingdom|Gajapatis]], [[Qutb Shahi dynasty|Golkonda sultans]] and lastly under the French and British.<ref name=Godavari>{{Cite book |title=Godavari (Volume 1) |work=Political History: Kondavid |pages=25–26 |accessdate=2009-10-20 |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=cache:vDTiy0jO1gEJ:www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/madras-india--state/gdvari-volume-1-rda/page-4-gdvari-volume-1-rda.shtml+Kondavid+fort&hl=en&gl=us |publisher=Electronic Library}}</ref><ref name=Hindu>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/architecture_hin.html |title= Hindu Temples |accessdate=2009-10-20 |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh on Line |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923003339/http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/architecture_hin.html |archive-date=23 September 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=reddy>{{Citation |last=Prasad |first=Durga |title=History of the Andhras |chapter=The Reddis of Kondavidu and rajamundry |pages=173–177 and 180–182 |chapter-url=http://igmlnet.uohyd.ernet.in:8000/gw_44_5/hi-res/hcu_images/G2.pdf |publisher=P.G. Publishers |year=1988 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313210732/http://igmlnet.uohyd.ernet.in:8000/gw_44_5/hi-res/hcu_images/G2.pdf |archivedate=13 March 2007 }}</ref>{{verify source|date=November 2019}}

In 1323, [[Warangal]] and the whole of Andhra Pradesh came under the reign of [[Tughlaq dynasty|Tughlaqs]] rulers of [[Delhi]]. Their depredations and despotic reign resulted in the formation of a confederation movement by the [[Hindu]] [[Musunuri Nayakas|Musunuri Nayaks]], who ousted the Muslims from [[Warangal]], and the Reddys were part of this movement.<ref name=reddy/>

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.<ref name=Godavari/><ref name=reddy/> 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 Empire|Vijayanagara kings]] (1516), the [[Qutb Shahis]], (1531,1537 & 1579), the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army of [[Aurangzeb]] in 1687, the French (1752), the [[Asaf Jahi dynasty|Asaf Jahi]] Kings, and finally the British (1766 and 1788).<ref name=Sewell/><ref name=Hindu/><ref name=reddy/>

Early in 2019, remains of a [[Stupa|Buddhist stupa]] were found under a dilapidated Hindu temple at Kondaveedu fort.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/buddhist-remains-found-at-kondaveedu-fort/article26044963.ece |title=Buddhist remains found at Kondaveedu fort |last=Jonathan |first=P. samuel |date=2019-01-21 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2019-05-06 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The remains date back to the later Satavahana period — 1st to 2nd century CE. This discovery pushes back of the history of Kondaveedu to the Satavahana period.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/kondaveedu-buddhist-remains-date-back-to-satavahana-period/article26115108.ece |title='Kondaveedu Buddhist remains date back to Satavahana period' |last=Rao |first=G. v r Subba |date=2019-01-29 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2019-01-29 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Three copper plate grants of Prithvi Sri Mularaja were found in Kondavidu.{{sfn|Vyas|1995|p=31}}

==Structure==
The three forts on top of the narrow hill range are now in ruins; the earliest-built fort dates 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 foothill 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.<ref name=gallery/><ref name=Hindu/><ref name =fort>{{Cite web |url=http://www.baatasaari.com/english/attraction/Kondavidu/kondaveedu-fort.aspx |title=Kondavidu fort |accessdate=2009-10-21 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=guntur>{{Cite web |url=http://wiki.worldflicks.org/guntur.html#coords=(16.3,%2080.45)&z=13 |title=Guntur |work=Kondavidu |accessdate=2009-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019103825/http://wiki.worldflicks.org/guntur.html#coords=(16.3,%2080.45)&z=13 |archive-date=19 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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.<ref name=gallery/><ref name=Hindu/><ref name=Singh>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first= Rajinder Pal |title=Census of India, 1991, Volume 6 |page=12 |accessdate=2009-10-21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w6xHAAAAYAAJ&q=Kondaveedu+fort |publisher= Govt. of Andhra Pradesh |year=1994}}</ref><ref name=imperial>{{Cite book |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India:Volume 17: Provincial Series |work=Kondavid |page=336 |accessdate=2009-10-20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ngK2AAAAIAAJ&q=Kondavid+fort&pg=PA336 |publisher= Supt. of Govt. Print |year=1908}}</ref>

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 also located within the fort.<ref name=gallery/><ref name=Hindu/><ref name=imperial/>

==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.<ref name=facelift>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/08/stories/2009030854290500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310101019/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/08/stories/2009030854290500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-10 |title= Kondaveedu Fort to get major facelift |accessdate=2009-10-20 |date=2009-03-08 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

ISKCON South India is also embarking on giving a major face-lift to this historical fort through their Spiritual Heritage Revival Project.<ref name=revival>{{Cite web |url=http://news.iskcon.com/node/2831/2010-05-21/iskcon_south_india_to_restore_ancient_kondaveedu_fort |title=ISKCON South India to Restore Ancient Kondaveedu Fort |accessdate=2010-06-26 |publisher=ISKCON SOUTH INDIA |date=2009-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031125512/http://news.iskcon.com/node/2831/2010-05-21/iskcon_south_india_to_restore_ancient_kondaveedu_fort |archive-date=31 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=revival_kondaveedu>{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5875146.cms |title= Land sharks back ISKCON bid to 'capture' Kondaveedu fort |accessdate=2010-06-26 |work=Times of India |date=2010-04-30 |first1=M N |last1=Samdani}}</ref> 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]], 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. Krishnas Idol is very rare in the world. Below is the picture of Krishna located in Cheghizkhan pet (Kondaveedu)

[[File:VennamuddaGopalaSwamy.jpg|thumb|Venna Mudda Gopalaswamy near Kondaveedu]]

==Access==
Kondaveedu Fort is situated in Kondaveedu village west of [[Guntur City]]. It is 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 [[Gannavaram Airport]], which is {{convert|58|km|mi}} away from Guntur city. 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==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
=== Sources ===
* {{citation |editor-last=Vyas |editor-first=Dr. R. T. |author-link=R.T. Vyas |url={{Google books|fETebHcHKogC|plainurl=yes}} |title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects |publisher=The Director, Oriental Institute, on behalf of the Registrar, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara |year=1995 |isbn=81-7017-316-7 }}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kondavid Fort}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsYzbYRgHEo Video clip of Kondaveedu-Golden age of Telugu Kingdom(Reddy Kings), Best Tourism place in India]

{{Forts in Andhra Pradesh}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Guntur district]]
[[Category:Forts in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Guntur district]]
[[Category:13th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Vijayanagara Empire]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 13th century]]

Kondaveedu Fort - Revision history

Bot at 05:19, 19 October 2022