Gandikota
Gandikota India's very own Grand Canyon, and famous for it's fort, the capital of the Pemmasani Nayakas during the Vijayanagara Empire.
While Gandikota is more famous nowadays due to that gorge through which the Penna flows, the fort there has a long glorious history, the Pemmasani Nayakas were regarded as the sword arm of the Vijayanagara Army, known for their fighting ability. It gets it's name due to the gorge(Gandi) formed between the Erramala hills range, where the Penna river flows through a narrow gap of just 300 ft, creating a magnificient looking canyon.
While the canyon itself is splendid in it's own way, the history of the fort is as fascinating. The name of the fort itself has become a synonym for bravery, courage much like that of Bobilli, Kondaveedu.
The original fort of Gandikota was a sand fort built by a chieftain of the Kalyani Chalukya ruler, Someswara I in 1123.It was under the rule of the Kakatiyas between 1239-1304.
The Pemmasani Nayak kingdom was founded by Pemmasani Timma Nayaka, when Sri Krishna Deva Raya, gave him the control of Tadipatri province around 1509. The current fort was built by Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka, the commander of the Vijayanagara Army, under Sri Krishnadeva Raya, son of Pemmasani Timmanayudu II, renowned as a great warrior.
Ramalinga Nayaka played a major role in Sri Krishnadeva Raya's victories over the Bahmani Sultans of Golkonda, Bijapur, as well as the Battle of Raichur, where he led from the front in one of the greatest triumphs ever for the Vijayanagara Empire. He made Gandikota as the capital, and ruled over a large territory that included Tadipatri, Gutti, Kondaveedu and stretched all the way up to Kondapalli. The Pemmasanis would later play a major role in the Aravidu dynasty seizing power post Sri Krishna Deva Raya.
However with Pemmasani Timma Nayaka the last ruler of Gandikota losing to Mir Jumla in 1652 AD, the fort came under the control of the Golkonda Qutub Shahis, it later came under the British rule. The fort has two temples dedicated to Madhavaraya and Ranganatha, though the latter is more in ruins now. The former was built during reign of Sri Krishna Deva Raya,however the main deity was shifted to Mydukuru, when the fort was captured by the Golkonda sultans.
The Madhavaraya Temple is known for it's ornate mandapa, and a five storey Gopuram, carved with sculptures and a wide courtyard. The fort also has a large granary with a vaulted roof used for storing food grains, an ammunition magazine now mostly in ruins, and a palace, which doesn't exist much.
Some of the other attractions at Gandikota fort include House of Drums, a Charminar like structure, the prison. And a lake called Erra Koneru, so called as warriors used to wash their blood staine swords here, turning it red. There is also the Jamia Masjid within the fort premises, built during the reign of the Golkonda Sultans.
