Gooty Fort

Last updated

Gooty Fort
Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh
Near Gooty in  India
Gooty Fort.JPG
India Andhra Pradesh location map (current).svg
Red pog.svg
Gooty Fort
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Gooty Fort
Gooty Fort (India)
Coordinates 15°06′48″N77°39′05″E / 15.1133979°N 77.6514648°E / 15.1133979; 77.6514648
TypeFortress
Garrison information
Past
commanders
Murari Rao, Thomas Munro

The Gooty Fort, also known as Ravadurg and Gutti Kota, is a ruined fort located on a hill in the Gooty town of Andhra Pradesh, India. The town of Gooty (originally, "Gutti") is located in the Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance. [1]

Contents

History

Gooty Fort, Andhra Pradesh Justinian Gantz - Gooty Church Garden, Andhra Pradesh 2013 CSK 09540 0158.jpg
Gooty Fort, Andhra Pradesh

Eight inscriptions have been found on the rocks close to the Narasimha temple located within the fort premises. These inscriptions are seriously damaged, but appear to be from the reign of the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI (r. c. 1076-1126 CE). The earliest of the existing fortifications and other structures can be dated to the late Chalukya period. [2]

The fort later came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire. During the reign of Venkata II (r. c. 1584-1614), the Vijayanagara lost the fort to the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The Mughals appear to have controlled the fort after their conquest of the Qutb Shahi capital Golconda. Around 1746 CE, the Maratha general Raja Murarirao Ghorpade captured the fort, and made it his permanent residence eight years later. He repaired the fort, and commissioned the stucco ornamentation of the small gateways. [2]

In 1775 CE, the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali attacked and besieged the fort. After two months, Murari Rao was forced to surrender, as he ran out of water supplies. The fort later came under the control of the East India Company. Its administrator Thomas Munro was buried at the cemetery located at the foothill. [2]

Architecture

The fort is located on a group of hills that rise up to 680 m above the sea level. The hills are connected by lower spurs. The citadel of the fort is located on the westernmost hill. [2] It has only one entrance known as "Mar Gooty." [3] The summit of the citadel has two buildings, apparently a granary and a gunpowder magazine. The ruined Narasimha temple is located near the summit. On a 300 m high cliff, there is a small pavilion called "Murari Rao's seat", which provides a panoramic view of the town below. It is said that the Maratha general Murarirao Ghorpade used to play chess and swing here. [2]

The lower fortifications comprise a series of ramparts, which are connected by gateways and flanked by bastions. Numerous reservoirs excavated on the rock clefts were used to trap the seasonal rainwater. [2] 108 wells were also dug within the fort walls. [4]

There are several ruined buildings within the fort, including granaries, storerooms, and magazines. Some of these were used as prisons by the East India Company administrator Thomas Munro. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golconda</span> 11th-century citadel in Telangana, India

Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located in the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls. It was ceded to the Bahmani Kings from Musunuri Nayakas during the reign of the Bahmani Sultan Mohammed Shah I, during the first Bahmani-Vijayanagar War. Following the death of Sultan Mahmood Shah, the Sultanate disintegrated and Sultan Quli, who had been appointed as the Governor of Hyderabad by the Bahmani Kings, fortified city and made it the capital of the Golconda Sultanate. Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especially Kollur Mine, Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds known as Golconda Diamonds. Golconda fort is currently abandoned and in ruins. The complex was put by UNESCO on its "tentative list" to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with others in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gingee Fort</span> Fort in Tamil Nadu, India

Gingee Fort or Senji Fort in Tamil Nadu, India is one of the surviving forts in Tamil Nadu, India. It lies in Villupuram District, 160 kilometres (99 mi) from the state capital, Chennai, and is close to the Union Territory of Puducherry. The site is so fortified that Shivaji, the Maratha king, ranked it as the "most impregnable fortress in India", and it was called the "Troy of the East" by the British. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam and the nearest airport is Chennai (Madras), located 150 kilometres (93 mi) away.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gooty</span> Town in Andhra Pradesh, India

Gooty is a town in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Gooty mandal in Anantapur revenue division. The town is renowned for the Gooty hill fort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gandikota</span> Place in Andhra Pradesh, India

Gandikota is a village and historical fort on the right bank of the Penna river, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The fort was the centre of power for various dynasties, such as the Kalyani Chalukyas, Pemmasani Nayakas, and the Golconda Sultanate. A sand fort was constructed by Kaka Raja, Vassals of Kalyani Chalukya rulers. Various additions of Islamic architecture were made during subsequent Muslim rule. The fort is a centrally protected monument of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alampuram (Hemalapuram)</span> Mandal in Telangana, India

Alampuram (Hemalapuram) is a town situated in Jogulamba Gadwal district in the Indian state of Telangana. Alampur is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site in Shaktism and is also home to the Navabrahma Temples, a group of nine temples dedicated to Shiva built in the seventh and eighth century CE. It is the meeting point of the rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to as Dakshina Kasi and is also considered the western gateway to Srisailam. The sacredness of Alampur is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. It is surrounded by the Nallamala hills and is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra River. Alampur was ruled by badami chalukyas they built 9 cluster of shiva temples. After them rashtrakutas of manyakheta and western chalukyas of karnataka built papanasi temples. Alampur is home to multiple Telugu and old Kannada inscriptions .Alampur contains numerous Hindu temples, the prominent ones being Jogulamba temple, Navabrahma temples, Papanasi temples, and Sangameswara Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panagal, Nalgonda district</span> Town in Telangana, India

Panagal, also referred to as Panagallu or Panugallu, is a historic town located 4 km northeast from Nalgonda city in Telangana, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Andhra Pradesh</span>

The recorded history of Andhra Pradesh, one of the 28 states of 21st-century India, begins in the Vedic period. It is mentioned in Sanskrit epics such as the Aitareya Brahmana. Its sixth-century BCE incarnation Assaka lay between the Godavari and Krishna Rivers, one of sixteen mahajanapadas. The Satavahanas succeeded them, built Amaravati, and reached a zenith under Gautamiputra Satakarni.

Madakasira is a town with a population 19,432 in 2001 and also a mandal in Sri Satya Sai district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is located near the state border with Karnataka. The Madakasira Hill Fort in the town is a centrally protected monument of national importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kondaveedu Fort</span> Ancient hill fortress in Kondaveedu, Andhra Pradesh, India

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. Apart from this main fort, there are two other forts nearby. Efforts are in progress to classify Kondaveedu Fort as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warangal Fort</span> Building in Telangana, India

Warangal Fort is located in Warangal District, Telangana, India. It was the capital city of Kakatiya dynasty and the Musunuri Nayakas. It appears to have existed since at least the 12th century when it was the capital of the Kakatiyas. The fort has four ornamental gates, known as Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, that originally formed the entrances to a now ruined great Shiva temple. The Kakatiyan arch has been adopted and officially incorporated into the emblem of Telangana after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The fort is included in the "tentative list" of UNESCO World Heritage Site and was submitted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO on 10/09/2010.

Hyderabad was the capital of the Indian states of Telangana. It is a historic city noted for its many monuments, temples, mosques and bazaars. A multitude of influences has shaped the character of the city in the last 400 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Telangana</span>

The history of Telangana, located on the high Deccan Plateau, includes its being ruled by the Satavahana Dynasty, the Kakatiya Dynasty (1083–1323), the Musunuri Nayaks (1326–1356), the Delhi Sultanate, the Bahmani Sultanate (1347–1512), Golconda Sultanate (1512–1687) and Asaf Jahi dynasty (1724–1950).

The Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation is a state government agency which promotes tourism in Telangana, a state in the Southern region of India. The retired Director General of Police Pervaram Ramulu is the appointed First chairman of Telangana State Tourism. Tourist attractions in Telangana include historical places, monuments, forts, water falls, forests and temples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Telangana</span> Cultural history of an Indian state

The Culture of Telangana in India has a cultural history of about 5,000 years. The region emerged as the foremost centre of culture in Indian subcontinent during the rule of Kakatiyas, the Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahi dynasties—. The rulers patronage and interest for culinary, arts and culture transformed Telangana into a multi-cultural region where two different cultures coexist together, thus making Telangana the representative of the Deccan Plateau and its heritage with Warangal and Hyderabad being its epicenter. Hyderabadi cuisine and Kakatiya architecture both from Telangana, are on the list of UNESCO creative city of gastronomy and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The regions major cultural events celebrated are "Kakatiya Festival" and Deccan Festival along with religious festivals Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dasara, Ugadi, Sankranthi, Milad un Nabi and Ramadan.

Kabbaldurga is a ruined fort located in Ramanagara district, Karnataka. It is at a distance of 75 km from Bangalore. Murari Rao Ghorpade, 18th century Maratha chieftain who controlled Gooty was defeated by Hyder Ali in 1776 AD and kept in Kabbaldurga fort till death. Murari Rao surrendered and sent to this fort along with his family members. During British Raj, convicts were thrown off the cliff of this port, as a punishment. As it is near Bangalore, it is a favourite trekking destination, which is a relatively easy trekking and night trekking is also undertaken by private groups. Old and crumbling buildings on top of the fort represent a prison, garrison, ammunition storage godown and there are small temples of Bheemalilngeshwara and Kabbalamma temple.

Kaulas Fort is a historic fort in western Telangana in India. It was constructed by Rashtrakutas in the 9th century CE. It later came under the rule of Chalukyas of Badami, the Kakatiyas, Musunuri Nayaks, Bahmani Sultanate, Qutub Shahis, Mughals, Marathas and, finally, the Asaf Jahi rulers of the Hyderabad State. It is in the Kamareddy district, near the trijunction of Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra states. It has historically served as a strategic outpost contested by many kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratnagiri Fort, Andhra Pradesh</span>

Ratnagiri Fort is a hill fort located in the Ratnagiri village near Rolla, in Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Located near the border of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the Rayalaseema region, it is also known as Seema Golconda. The Government of India has designated it as a Monument of National Importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madakasira Fort</span>

Madakasira Fort, also known as Simhagiri, is a hill fort located in the Madakasira town of Sri Sathya Sai district, in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Government of India has designated it as a Monument of National Importance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wars of the Deccan Sultanates</span> Military conflicts between the Deccan Sultanates and the Vijayanagara empire

The Wars of the Deccan Sultanates were a prolonged period of military conflict lasting from 1495 to 1678 This series of battles pitted the rival powers of the Deccan Sultanates against the Vijayanagara Empire. Over the course of approximately 120 years, these two entities engaged in a series of wars and skirmishes that were marked by significant displays of military strength and strategic maneuvering.

References

  1. "Centrally Protected Monuments". Archeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Monuments in Anantpur". Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. Vinayak, Akshatha (12 July 2016). "Gooty Fort: Remembering Those Times". nativeplanet.com. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. "Historic Gooty fort in need of renovation". The Hindu. 7 June 2016.