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Chandragiri is famous for its historical fort, situated 11 km west of
Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Chandragiri was once served as an important
provincial centre of the Vijayanagar Empire. Built in the 11th century,
the fort was the headquarters of Narasimha Saluva, the founder of the
second line of Vijayanagar rulers in 1485. The Fort also linked with the
Aravidu dynasty.
The royal and religious structures at Chandragiri occupy
an impressive site, on the southern flank of a great 180 m granite hill.
Built on a 180 m high rock where earlier fortifications may date from
several hundred years before the Vijayanagar kings took over. Massive
walls with bastions of different shapes, surrounded by a ditch, contain
these structures in an irregular Fort.
The fort is surrounded by eight ruined temples of saivite
and vaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures.
In 2005, The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has added two galleries
at its museum on the second floor of Raja Mahal in the Chandragiri fort
compound.
The North facing Raja Mahal, is the masterpiece of Vijayanagara
palace architecture. Compared to the other courtly building at Vijayanagara,
Raja Mahal is much larger and one of the finest examples of Indo Saracenic
Architecture. Arranged in three storys of arcades, linked by walkways
it has a series of corridors, halls and rooms with projecting window balconies.
Built with lime-mortar, brick, stone, the Raja Mahal is capped with a
domed pavilion roofed by steeply pyramidal tower. Raja Mahal has a audience
chamber in the middle which rises through two storeys. The floors are
supported by massive pillars while the walls are decorated with stuccowork. The
museum in Raja Mahal contains Chola and Vijayanagar bronzes.
Near to Raja Mahal is Rani Mahal. Beautifully laid lawns
leads to Rani Mahal which is similar to Raja Mahal. Compared to Raja Mahal
it is smaller and a different style. There is an inscription on the basement
that this was once served as a commander's quarters.
It has a domed chamber and an arcaded Verandha attached
to the upper storey. It's tower in the middle of the roof is similar to
Raja Mahal. Many damaged temples of 15 to 16 century stand near to these
palaces which all has small stone sanctuaries capped by pyramidal brick
towers with hemispherical roofs.
Chandragiri fort houses a museum displaying the sculptures
and culture of Vijayanagar. There is also a Sound and Light Show with
Amitabh Bachan's voice. There are two shows, one in Telugu (6:30pm to
7:15pm in November to February, and 7:00pm to 7:45pm in March to October)
and the other is an English commentary (7:30pm to 8:15pm in November to
February and 8:00pm to 8:45pm in March to October).
Entrance fee : Rs.30/- for adults and Rs.10/- for kids.
Fort Museum Entrance fee is Rs.2/-. Friday is a holiday. Video: Rs.25/-.
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Monuments 
