Chandragiri Fort

There is more to Tirupati than spirituality and Chandragiri Fort is a reminder of those who ruled over this sacred land. It is an interesting place to visit for heritage enthusiasts. Chandragiri was built by the Yadava Rayas in the 11th century, and they ruled it for over three centuries. It then came under the control of the Vijayanagara rulers who moved here when the Golconda sultans attacked their capital at Penukonda. It was annexed by the Golconda sultans in 1646, and finally came under the rule of the kings of Mysore. Around the end of the eighteenth century, the fort was abandoned, and it sunk into oblivion.
The main structure here is the Raja Mahal, the king’s palace. It is now used as a museum, housing various artifacts found in the fort as well as the surrounding areas. The museum also has models of the fort, the main temple, as well as many other temples in the region. There is also a Rani Mahal or the Queen’s palace.
More interesting is a walk through the lanes of the erstwhile fort, which is dotted with ancient and recent temples, against the backdrop of the rocks. There are a few structures on the rocks, which have no paths leading to them, but trekking is possible there. Srivari Mettu, one of the walking paths to the main temple, starts here at the fort. It is said that originally this was a private road meant for the royal family. Over the years, as the fort was abandoned, the path too fell into disrepair but it has now been repaired, and people can use the path to reach the temple.

Additional information: Chandragiri Fort is about 12 km from Tirupati from where frequent buses are available.