Kondaveedu Fort
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 (names not known) nearby. Efforts are in progress to classify Kondaveedu Fort as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
| Kondaveedu Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part of Andhra Pradesh | |
| Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, India | |
Water-colour painting of Kondavid Fort | |
The Fort today from the base of the hill | |
Kondaveedu Fort Kondaveedu Fort | |
| Coordinates | 16.254459°N 80.263866°E |
| Type | Fort |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
| Built by | Reddy Kingdom |
| Materials | Granite Stones and lime mortar |
| Battles/wars | Reddy Kingdom,Gajapati Empire, Vijayanagara Empire, Sultans of Golconda, The French and the British |
Kondaveedu Fort was constructed by Prolaya Vema Reddy. It was used as the capital by the Reddy dynasty between 1328 and 1482, shifting from their former capital at Addanki. It was taken by the Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya in 1516. The Golconda Sultans fought for the fort in 1531, 1536 and 1579, and Sultan Quli Qutb Shah finally captured it in 1579, renaming it Murtazanagar.
The fort came under the control of the French colonists in 1752 when it was extensively fortified. It passed on to the British East India Company who got control of the fort in 1788 but abandoned it in the early 19th century in favour of Guntur. Now, the massive fortifications and battlements are seen in ruins only. The interior has extensive ruins of magazines and storehouses.