Gandikota Fort, Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Gandikota Fort, Andhra Pradesh, was part of the “Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Heritage Walk”, from 25^th to 28^th December 2025, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.

This Gandikota Fort, on the banks of the Penna River, is enclosed with ancient buildings, stone structures, Hindu Temples, a masjid, Islamic structures, etc., in YSR District (Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy and formerly known as Kadapa District), Andhra Pradesh.

This place, Gandikota, derives its name from the Telugu word “Gandi,” which means a “gorge,” and “kota,” a fort. This strong fort is built on top of a gorge of the River Pennar in a scenic spot; the place and the fort are known as Gandikota.

As per the legends, the fort was first built by a Kapa Maharaja in the 12th century CE. Recorded history begins with the Kakatiyas during the 13th Century CE. The fort came under the possession of the Vijayanagara rulers and Bukka I, who strengthened it, and the Vishnu temples within the fort were built by them.

After the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad under Mir Jumla captured the fort. The mosques and other secular structures were built by him. The imposing Jami Masjid is a pleasing building. Early in the 18th century, it passed into the hands of the Cuddapah Nawabs. After a brief holding by Hyder and Tippu, it was ceded to the British by a treaty with the Nizam in 1800 C.E.

The fortifications are extensive, about 8 km in circumference, with impressive bastions and one main entry. An Anjaneyar temple is immediately after the entrance, which may have been built during the Vijayanagara period. Within, there are a few secular and religious buildings. Shree Madavaraya Swamy and Shree Ranganatha Swamy temples were built in the typical Vijayanagara style.

Among the secular structures, the massive granary and the palaces were built by Mir Jumla. The Jamia Masjid incorporates the decorative elements of the Qutb Shahi style, notably the plasterwork. A tower named Mini Charminar and a structure known as Jail near the Charminar are also noteworthy.

There is a series of reservoirs, tanks, and other hydraulic features providing plenty of water supply.

VISITING HOURS

The Gandikota Fort will be open from 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. The entry will be closed at 17.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH

Gantikota in YSR District in Andhra Pradesh is 15 km from Jammalamadugu, 62 km from Belum Caves, 88 km from Tadipatri, and 92 km from Kadapa, the capital City of YSR District.

The nearest Railway Station is Jammalamadugu.

LOCATION OF THE FORT: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Arikanda Hero Stone and Saptamatrikas Temple, Lakshmivilasapuram, Pakasalai, Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Arikanda Hero Stone at Pakasalai was part of the “Shiva & Vishnu Temples and Hero Stones of Tiruvallur District Visit” on 21^st October 2023.

This Hero Stone has inscriptions installed in front of a Saptamatrikas temple at Pakasalai. The Hero is in a sitting posture with both legs folded. The left hand is holding his tuft and cutting his head with the right hand. He is wearing ornaments on the neck, hands, and ears.

LOCATION OF THE HERO STONE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYANAMA ---

Savadipalayam Sivan Temple / சாவடிபாளையம் சிவன் கோயில் / A Dolmen converted Shiva Temple, சிவன் கோயிலாக மாறிய கற்திட்டை, நீர்த்தொட்டி / Stone Tub, Savadipalayam, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sivan Temple at Savadipalayam was part of the “Shiva, Vishnu, Amman Temples and Heritage sites from Komarapalayam to Edappadi Visit” On 19^th May 2024. Thanks to ல மா செல்வராசு, one of my FB friends from Komarapalayam, for taking me to all these places.  

This Shiva temple has a unique construction. The roof has 4 stone slabs supported by 9 pillars. One stone slab has a hole, and a Shiva Lingam without avudayar is installed under the hole of the slab, so that sunlight falls on the Shiva Lingam. A Rishabam and a Balipeedam are also in front of the Shiva Lingam. A Vinayagar sannidhi was also created inside the same structure in 1990.

DOLMENS

Actually, this temple was constructed using a dismantled Dolmen. These 4 stone slabs belong to the side walls of a dolmen cist. These dolmens were erected to bury the dead about 3000 to 4000 years ago. These 4 stone slabs form a square or rectangular room, called a cist, where the remains of the deceased will be kept along with pots, which contain the favourite article or food of the deceased. Mostly, the east side slab will be provided with a round hole. It was believed that the athma / spirit of the deceased used to come out / go into the cist through this round hole. Mostly, this cist may be used for the secondary burial. Big boulders will be kept around this cist, called cairn circles. But the cairn circle boulders are not seen near this place.

A STONE TUB

This stone tub is also found near the above, Dolmen-converted Shiva temple. This tub measures around 10 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and a foot deep. This tub has 18th- to 19th-century inscriptions. Since the inscription was heavily damaged, the details are not known. This tub was used to store water for the cattle.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Menhir / sangili karupanasamy kovil / சங்கிலி கருப்பணசாமி கோவில், Singaripalayam, and Karuppattipalayam, Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Menhirs was part of the Hero Stones, Hero Sthambas also called Malakoil, and Inscription Stones Visit in the Tiruppur and Coimbatore Districts of “Kongu Mandalam” on 25^th July 2024. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Palladam Ponnuswamy of வீரராசேந்திரன் தொல்லியல் மற்றும் வரலாற்று ஆய்வு மையம் – Veerarajendran Tholliyal MaRRum VaralaRRu Ayyvu Maiyam, Tiruppur, for taking us (me & Mrs Sakthi Prakash) to all these Heritage sites. 

Menhir at Singaripalayam.

There are two Menhirs with Cairn Circles found in this place. Of the two, one is broken, one foot above the Ground. These Menhirs belong to the Stone Age Megalithic Period (2500 BCE to 200 CE) பெருங் கற்காலம். The Good Menhir is wide at the bottom, reduced at the top, and bent backward.  It measures about 3 feet wide, 10 feet high, and 1 foot thick at the bottom.

The Good Menhir is worshipped as Sangili Karippana Swamy. In addition to the Menhir, there are a lot of terracotta dolls like Cattle, men, women, Stucco Horses, and Spear / Vel inside the temple as offerings.

LOCATION OF THE MENHIR: CLICK HERE

The broken Menhir with offerings

The remains of Cairn Circles

The remains of Cairn Circles

The remains of Cairn Circles with offerings

Menhir at Karuppattipalayam.

This Menhir is installed in front of Mariamman Temple. This belongs to the Stone Age Megalithic Period (2500 BCE to 200 CE) (பெருங் கற்காலம்), perhaps installed along with the Cairn Circle. The cairn circle is missing due to the development of human habitation in this area.  

The Menhir is wide at the bottom and reduced at the top. It measures about 3 feet wide, 6 feet tall, and 1 foot wide at the bottom. The Villagers used to call this Sai Kal or Naattukal. Pooluva Gounder Community people worship this Menhir and do poojas before starting any auspicious functions. 

LOCATION OF THE MENHIR: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Menhir, A Stone Age burial monument, Sevur, Shri Brahma Kovil, Sivagangai District, Tamil Nadu.

கும்பகோணம் வட்டார வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கத்தினரால் 2024, டிசம்பர் மாதம் 14அம் தேதி அன்று ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்ட காரைக்குடி மரபு நடையின் ஒருபகுதியே இந்த  சிவகங்கை மாவட்டம் சேவூரில் இருக்கும் இந்த குத்துக்கல் பதிவு.

இவ்வகையான குத்துக்கற்கள் பெருங்கற்காலத்தில் இறந்தவர்களின் நினைவாக எழுப்பப்பட்டவையே. இந்த குத்துக்கல் ஒரு குழுவின் தலைவனுக்காக எழுப்ப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம். இக்குத்துக்கல் சுமார் 20 அடி உயரமும், 5 அடி அகலமும் ஒரு அடி கணமும் கொண்டதாக உள்ளது.  பெருங்கற்கால மக்கள் எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் திசையை அறிந்தே செயல்பட்டனர். அதன் முன்மாதிரியாகவே இக்குத்துக்கல்லின் பரந்த பகுதி மிகச்சரியாக கிழக்கு நோக்கி எழுப்பப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

ஆய்வர்களின் கருத்துப்படி இவ்வகையான குத்துக்கற்களின் காலம் பொயுமு 3000 முதல் 1800 வரை இருக்கலாம். இவை சங்க காலம் வரை நடப்பட்டதாகக் ஆய்வர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர்.

The visit to this Menhir at Sevur, in Sivagangai District, was part of the Karaikudi Heritage Walk, on 14^th December 2024, organised by Kumbakonam Vattara Varalatru Aayvu Sangam.

This menhir was part of a prehistoric burial site containing a Cairn Circle, a Dolmen with Cist, and a Menhir. Usually, these types of menhirs were erected as a monument for the leader of a group as a mark of respect. The Cairn Circles are missing, the Dolmen with Cist is partially visible from the ground, and the Menhir is only standing.

This menhir measures 5 feet wide, 20 feet high, and 1 foot thick. Some cracks are found on the top and might have been a little taller than the present when it was erected. Usually, the east-west direction is followed in the Stone Age burial monuments. In this case, also the flat surface of the menhir is facing east.

As per the historians, these burial monuments belong to the Stone Age, i.e., 3000 to 1800 BCE, and were practiced till the Sangam Age, i.e., 300 BC to 200 CE.

LOCATION OF THE MENHIR: CLICK HERE

The nearby temple

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---