Chandragiri | |
|---|---|
 Raja Mahal, Chandragiri | |
.svg)  Chandragiri Location in Andhra Pradesh, India Show map of Andhra Pradesh Chandragiri Chandragiri (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:13°35′00″N79°19′00″E / 13.5833°N 79.3167°E /13.5833; 79.3167 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Tirupati |
| Government | |
| • Body | Tirupati urban development authority |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.56 km2 (7.55 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 31,220 |
| • Density | 1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Tirupatian |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 517101 |
| Telephone code | +91–877 |
Chandragiri is a suburb and outgrowth ofTirupati and located inTirupati district of theIndian state ofAndhra Pradesh. It is a part ofTirupatiurban agglomeration and a major growing residential area inTirupati[1] It is the mandal headquarters ofChandragiri mandal inTirupati revenue division.[1][2] It also falls in the jurisdictional limit ofTirupati Urban Development Authority.[3] Chandragiri is the southwestern entrance of Tirupati for vehicles coming from Bangalore, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Kalyana Venkateswara Temple, Srinivasamangapuram is located next to Chandragiri through which well-laid stone footpaths called Srivari Mettu are available to reach Tirumala on foot.[4]
Chandragiri is now famous for the historicalfort, built in the 11th century byImmadi Narasimha Yadava Raya and the Raja Mahal (Palace) within it. The fort encircles eight ruined temples ofSaivite andVaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures.
The Raja Mahal Palace is now an archaeological museum. The fort and palace are in the care of theArchaeological Survey of India. The palace is open to the public, but the fort is closed. The palace is an example ofIndo-Sarcen architecture of the Vijayanagar period. The palace was constructed using stone, brick, lime mortar and devoid of timber.[5] The crowning towers represents the Hindu architectural elements.
Chandragiri was under the rule ofVijayanagar from 1367. It came into prominence during the rule ofSaluva Narasimha Raya. Chandragiri was the 4th capital of Vijayanagar Empire. Rayas shifted their capital to here when Golconda sultans attacked Penukonda. In 1646, the fort was annexed to theGolkonda territory.
After the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Mysore King ordered thepalaygara Bisaya Nayaka of Harapanayakanahalli (presentMulbagal,Karnataka) to wage a war against the Sultan of Chandragiri. In the battle, his army was reported to have killed everyone inside the fort. There is also a myth that out of the wealth collected from the Muslim women in the fort, their nose rings alone filled 3 whole bamboo buckets, which were then sealed in a two-stone locker and placed inKurudumale, (in Karnataka) With the Sultan's death, Chandragiri fell underMysore suzerainty. It went into oblivion from 1792 onward.[5]
