Everyone who watched “Okkadu" movie will surely be familiar with "Kondareddy Buruju”, however, you may not be aware of its glorious past. Here is a brief history of the Iconic Kondareddy Buruju.
It was believed that the iconic Kurnool Fort was built by Achyuta Devarayalu, belonging to the Vijayanagar Empire and it stands even today as a splendid example of the architecture of those times. The Kurnool Fort is located right in the middle of Kurnool city. Konda Reddy Buruju is a part of Kurnool Fort and also the only part left out of the magnificent fort.
Konda Reddy (1597-1643), the last ruler of Alampur defeated the Kurnool Nawab who was a subordinate and an associate of the Golconda Kings several times. After a prolonged battle Konda Reddy was captured and imprisoned in the fortress. Because of his valor and untiringly resolve to fight the Muslim rulers, the fort came to be known as “Kondareddy Buruju”.
The bastion is in the shape of a huge pillar and has two storeys. The first storey has an underground passage tunnel across the River Tungabhadra to Alampur, Mahabubnagar Dist, which is 25 Kms way from the fort. You can see this tunnel even now.
At the highest point of the monument, you get a panoramic view of the city. The fort is now almost in a ruined state, with some portions still standing strong. One such ruined portion of the Kurnool Fort is the Erra Buruju, built of red sand stone. This Buruju was built by the Vijayanagara rulers and was highly important to the successive dynasties who ruled the place. There are two small ancient temples at the foot of this Buruju dedicated to Goddess Yellamma. Pedda Yellamma Temple is on the south-eastern side while Chinna Yellamma Temple is on the north-eastern side.
People here believe that there is a hidden treasure in Erra Buruju. On the walls of Erra Buruju, you can find some splendid symbols that are of great historical significance. On the south eastern side of the wall, you can find a buffalo and Goddess Yellamma, on the eastern side of the wall you can find a mythical lion and a sheep (or a royal boar). On the north-eastern side of the wall you can see a rider on a royal elephant uprooting a tree that symbolizes Lord Indra on Airavath and kalpavriksham. On the same wall you can also see images like a snake engulfing a frog, a buffalo, pair of elephants, pair of spiders, monkey climbing the tree and a horse drawing a chariot. You can also see faint images of Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Goddess Sita. There is also an image of an elephant and a lion locked in a fight.
There is a bastion named Konda Reddy fort, constructed as a strategic watch tower by the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. Underneath lies a passage (tunnel) which connects the fort to Gadwal which is 52 km away. The speciality of this tunnel is that it winds under the river Tungabhadra and reaches Gadwal which was ruled by Nalla Somanadri who built an excellent fort in Gadwal. Stories say that the ruler of Gadwal Kingdom utilised this tunnel to escape from the Muslim conquerors in 17th century. The tunnel was closed down somewhere around the 1901.
Buildings of historical significance lie in ruins all over the state. The Government has to take some preventive steps to bring them back to their former glory. The charm of this iconic structure is undeniably strong.
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