The Kondapalli Fort is a 14th century built architectural wonder located in the Guntur district. The fort tells the stories from the bygone era, right from the architecture upfront to the art and culture along with the political scenario of the 14th century. Kondapalli Fort is located on the hilltop and attracts tourists, history buffs and researchers, from across the globe. Kondapalli Fort is also known as Kondapalli Kota and was built by Musunuri Nayaks, a warrior tribe that stayed in the southern region during the 14th century.
Kondapalli Fort is one of the most significant places in Vijayawada and anyone would love to give a visit to the site. But, if you want to enjoy it to the fullest, then choose the winter months as the weather is more pleasant during this time.
History of Kondapalli Fort
Spread in an area of 18sq km, Kondapalli Fort is an architectural marvel that is standing tall and strong for almost 6 centuries now and has witnessed the cultural, political, and geographical shift in this region. The fort was ruled over by several rulers belonging to diverse kingdoms and the most significant among them was Bahmani King. In 1515, the fort was captured by Krishnadevaraya a celebrated emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the Vijaynagar rulers came Mughal rulers and ultimately the fort was captured by Britishers who used it as their military training base.
After Independence, the fort came under the preservation of ASI and since then it is a tourist destination where people come to admire the fort’s architecture and the stories that it guards. Kondapalli fort has an entry gate which is known as ‘Dargha Darwaza’ because there lies the Dargah of Hazrath Syed Galib Shaheed. The fort has another popular entry which is called ‘Golconda Darwaza’ which opens up to a village called Jaggaiahpet.
Places To Visit Near Kondapalli Fort
1. Golconda Darwaza
Golconda Darwaza is located on the opposite side of the hill and has been beautifully carved by skilled artisans. The Golconda Darwaza is made of granite and features intricate carving that is a mix of Persian and Mughal architecture. Golconda Darwaza is one of the must-visit places of Andhra Pradesh.
2. Hazrath Galib Shaheed Dargah
Located 20km away from the Kondapalli fort, there is a dargah of Dargha Hazrat Galib Shaheed Rahmatullah Ali. People often visit the place to offer prayers and experience peace in the divine ambiance. You will definitely feel the faith at Hazrath Galab Shaheed Dargah.
3. Tanisha Mahal
Another palace that exists in the Kondapalli Fort is the Tanisha Mahal. The ruins of this beauty still catch the eyes of the tourists.
How to Reach Kondapalli Fort
Vijayawada is a resplendent city that has a vibrant culture, numerous worth exploring ancient monuments and temples, caves, museums, hills, and amusement parks. The city has something for every traveler and you can consider visiting Vijayawada for your next vacation.
Switching focus on how to reach Kondapalli Fort, the fort is approximately 1,800 km, 1,000 km, 1,200 km, and 700 km away from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. Owing to a well-established transportation network you can arrive here conveniently via roadways, railways, and airways. Listed below are some of the best travel options that you may consider if planning a trip to the city and its mesmerizing structures.
By Road
The fort is well connected by roads, hence it won’t be a problem to commute to the fort via any public transport. In case you are arriving from the nearby cities or states then you may consider the below-mentioned information related to approximate distance in kilometers and the best route to take;
By Rail
Deboard at the Kondapalli Railway Station to reach the Kondapalli Fort. After leaving the railway station one has to cover a distance of 24km to reach this historic tourist destination. One may cover this distance through local transport such as buses or local cabs. Following are the direct trains that one may consider from nearby cities;
- Hyderabad - Krishna Express, Golconda Express, BIDR MTM SF Express
- Guntur - Golconda Express
- Nellore - Krishna Express
By Air
Vijayawada Airport is the nearest airport to reach the Kondapalli Fort. After leaving the airport, one can take local transport to conveniently reach the fort which is 43 km away. Vijayawada airport receives regular direct and connected flights from all the major metro cities of India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune.
Airlines that can be considered for direct flights to Vijayawada airport are AirIndia from Delhi, SpiceJet and IndiGo from Bengaluru, AirIndia, IndiGo, and SpiceJet from Hyderabad, and IndiGo from Chennai.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here.
