MONUMENTS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

The state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in southern India is renowned for its beautiful natural features, including its waterfalls, prominent temples, Borra and Belum caves, and golden beaches. Along with these sights, this state is also endowed with a large number of renowned heritage structures that showcase superb architecture and intricate craftsmanship.

Chandragiri Fort

The Vijayanagar empire constructed this fort and palace in the eleventh century. Up until the prince's coronation, it serves as a fort. The king moved his palace to this fort when Muslim kings besieged Golconda. It is now accessible to everyone as an archaeological museum. In Tirupati, you may find this palace.

Kondapalli Fort

Kondapalli, which lies a bit outside of Vijayawada, is where this fort is situated. It was constructed in the 14th century to improve the city's defences. This fort contains numerous buildings, including Daragh, the queen's residence, and others.

According to tradition, a Hindu king first constructed this fort, which Muslim conquerors later seized and expanded with numerous more buildings. Gulab Shah's grave is located inside the fort. There are numerous battlement towers in this fort.

At the fort's conclusion, there is a palace with many rooms, a large hall, and a substantial reservoir nestled between two hills.

There was formerly a granary, but it is now in ruins. Behind this fort, which the British utilised, lies a barrack. There is also a small British graveyard in this fort. The prison chamber, Koneru pond, museum, and fort areas are this fort's principal draws.

Hill fort of Anantapur

A little town in Anantapur is called Gooty. A sizable hill fort in this town dates back to the seventh century. This state's oldest hill fort is located here. Given that it is not a little single fort, this is known as the king of forts. There are 15 tiny forts with their own entrances on this hill fort.

Therefore, breaking inside the main fort is not easy. There are water reservoirs inside of this fort.

A spring had been attached to one of the fort's wells. Before the Qutub Shahi kings and subsequently the British took control of the fort, ammunition was housed there.

The hill fort in question has a round shape. The height above sea level is roughly 700 metres. This hill fort is now in ruins. Inside the fort, there are a lot of small reservoirs. It contains a lot of enormous buildings.

Additionally, there are jails, a granary, a powder magazine, a pavilion for kings, and storage areas. Built-in the eleventh century, it was captured by Muslim rulers in the sixteenth. It was afterwards taken by Aurangzeb and ultimately seized by the British.

Penukonda fort

Near Anantapur is the Penukonda fort. A variety of different religions predominated in the state while it was ruled by numerous distinct petty kingdoms and sultans.

This fort was built by Krishna Deva Raya to safeguard Jainism. It contains numerous Jain temples. In one of the temples of this fort, there is a stone idol that is green in colour. Protecting all Jain temples from Muslim encroachment was the major tenet of this fort. The fort was revered by both Muslims and Britons because it stood up for its cause.

A saint from the 12th century is also supposed to have been looking for a spot to settle down. He was given a little, dry twig by his master, who instructed him to make his home where the twig would eventually bloom.

After visiting numerous locations, he finally arrived at this fort. He placed the twig beneath a tree and went to bed. When he opened his eyes, the twig had blossomed into a tiny plant.

Hemavathi

A small distance separates Hemavathi from Amarapuram. In the eighth century, it was a bustling community. This village is home to an ancient Shiva temple with distinctive architecture made of rare rocks that produce a pleasing sound when touched. A Jain temple that was constructed 2000 years ago is also present.

Many relics from this temple are now kept at a museum close by. A number of historic temples, including the Siddeshwara, Doddesvara, Virupaksha, Malleswara, and other temples, can be found in this village.

Lamp pillar of Penukonda

It is a long, solid pillar that has been built on a high platform. It has an iron lamp in a cubical on the top. On the bottom, there are a lot of cravings. In the past, it was used to illuminate the street.

The best monuments in this state are just these. Other noteworthy structures include the Buddhist ruins at Manchikallu, the Nagarjunakonda archaeological site, the Dutch Cemetery, Bandar Fort, the Jonnagiri inscription, the tomb of Abdul Wahab Khan, the Old Cave Temple, Bodipati Dibba, the Kondaveedu fort, and several others.

You should travel to Andhra Pradesh if you want to see many antique stones, peaks, inscriptions, temples, churches, and other architectural wonders.

Hill fort of Madakasira

This is a horseshoe-shaped hill fort from the 18th century. Massive rocks and stones were used in its construction, and Saracenic-style ornate plaster and bricks were added. When the Marathas conquered this area, Morari Rao constructed this fort as his palace. A sizable bastion and an antique entrance in the same style are present.

Yerragudi or Jonnagiri site

In the third century BCE, Ashoka inscribed his laws on rocks. The inscription is written in Brahmi script and Prakrit. Erragudi has both the major and minor edits (also called Yerragudi or Jonnagiri site). These are some of India's earliest inscriptions that have been found. The location is in Kurnool district, near to the Andhra-Karnataka border. Under Indian law, it is a site that is protected by ASI.

^{Dantapuram prehistoric rock shelters} 

 

This area contains ancient Buddha stupas. It is thought to be a Buddhist temple and a shiddhardas residence. The Boudha Gynana dantha puri is a significant archaeological site where the archaeological department discovered some bricks, pots, nabed clothing, terracotta items, bangles, beads, stone, and iron objects. After the Kalinga conflict, Ashoka Chakravarthy elevates it in BC 261.

 

GUNTAPALLI BHUDDHIST CAVES

Two Buddhist caves, a chaitya hall, and a sizable collection of stupas may be found in the site's rock-cut area. The chaitya hall features a unique entrance made of carved stone that imitates wooden architecture in a more straightforward manner than that at the Lomas Rishi Cave. In addition to excavated caverns on two levels, there are structural building remnants built of stone and brick, including those of two brick vihara and an unusually constructed chaitya hall.

BAVIKONDA BUDDHIST MONASTERY

One of the world's oldest religions, Buddhism dates back nearly a thousand years. The founder of the religion, Lord Buddha, held that peace and prosperity were the fundamental tenets of the faith. The Bavikonda Ancient Buddhist Monastery is one of the last examples of the religion's illustrious heritage that was born in India.

In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Bavikonda Buddhist Complex is located on a hill about 130 metres above mean sea level, 16 kilometres from Visakhapatnam. A hill with wells is what the Telugu word Bavikonda signifies. Bavikonda, as the name suggests, is a hill with wells for collecting rainwater. Ruins of the Bavikonda Monastic complex date to the third century BCE.

Although the exact date of the evacuation of the Buddhist monasteries in India is unknown, it was confirmed based on archaeological research conducted by the British in 1906. Around the third century BCE, the venerable Bavikonda Buddhist Monastery was constructed. Numerous artefacts that were discovered during the site's excavations assisted in determining the complex's age.

The most significant of the relics discovered here is an urn containing a fragment of bone thought to be from Lord Buddha. All across the compound, inscriptions could be found. The Archaeological Department also removed pots, coffins, tiles, and coins from the location.

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