Gandikota canyon: The neglected wonder in our backyard

“Gorgeous!” shouted 12-year-old Nithin from Yelahanka successful Bengaluru arsenic helium feasted connected the majesty of the Gandikota canyon successful Kadapa district. Hewed retired by the mighty Penna stream implicit aeons, the monolithic gorge stretched connected for arsenic acold arsenic his eyes could reach. Nithin’s reaction, however, is not overmuch antithetic from what Gandikota draws from immoderate tourist.

The geological wonderment is India’s reply to the Grand Canyon successful the U.S. The steep reddish sandstone cliffs, hemming successful the stream arsenic it flowed its serpentine course, marque some sunrise and sunset a show to behold. Similarly, humanities structures similar a fort, a temple and a mosque formed different furniture of attraction, particularly for those into art, architecture and archaeology.

Kadapa’s history

Kadapa is steeped successful history: of rulers, dynasties, empires and quality civilisation itself. It speaks done archaeological grounds specified arsenic inscriptions and past coins arsenic good arsenic philosophy, literature, euphony and dance. The usage of respective humanities surnames by the residents of Kadapa contiguous hints astatine the unbroken humanities relevance of the region.

The district’s taste heritage, however, is grossly underrated, truthful overmuch truthful that uncommon inscriptions, dilapidated measurement wells, ramshackle forts proceed to beryllium discovered successful the district’s hinterland. Mackenzie Kaifiyat (an Arabic word for narration oregon explanation), a compilation of manuscripts by the archetypal Surveyor-General of India Colonel Colin Mackenzie (1754-1821), throws airy connected the affluent and eventful past of the district.

These details were collected by radical appointed by him during 1780-1820 to recognize section dialects, cultures and socio-economic conditions of the time. The Kaifiyats of Cuddapah territory were published by noted student the precocious Janumaddi Hanumath Sastry, whose centenary twelvemonth is presently nether way.

Pemmasani Nayaks

Gandikota Fort, an imposing 12th period edifice, has withstood the trial of time. It was built by the Pemmasani Nayaks, feudatories of the Kakatiya dynasty, utilizing reddish granite. “Strategic gateways that look retired of obscurity marque it hard for enemies to breach the fort. Moreover, the Penna stream and the gorge to the northbound and westbound enactment arsenic earthy barriers,” observes historiographer and writer Tavva Obul Reddy, whose publication connected Gandikota is considered a traveller’s guide.

The fort changed respective hands implicit centuries, withstanding attacks and witnessing the emergence and autumn of galore dynasties. Between 14th and 17th centuries, the portion flourished nether the Vijayanagara empire, erstwhile it became a cardinal subject outpost. The 17th period saw the fort changing hands to the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. In the 18th century, the Mughals captured it, and, later, the Kadapa Nawab ruled it. During the British regularisation successful the 19th century, it was nether the Madras Presidency. The structures are presently maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Madhavaraya temple, the Ranganatha temple, Jama Masjid, granary, jail, measurement well, King’s palace, Rani Mahal and the weapon foundry signifier an integral portion of the fort. The Gandikota village, which depends connected tourists for livelihood, besides falls wrong the precincts of the fort walls.

The Madhavaraya temple, built during the reign of Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Devaraya successful the 16th century, is an architectural marvel, offering heavy insights for connoisseurs of creation and history.

The ‘Mukha Mandapa’, the pillared portico, has 24 pillars with ornate carvings and magnificent sculptures of the mythical lion-like carnal ‘Yali’, recovered connected the pillars of astir Hindu temples successful the past. After the Nizam’s forces captured the fort, the idol of Madhavaraya (Krishna) was cautiously shifted to the adjacent Mydukur town, wherever a caller temple was built later.

The distinctive architectural benignant of Vijayanagara rulers is erstwhile again evident connected the Sri Ranganatha temple, dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu successful the reclining posture. Lord Narasimha’s triumph implicit the demon king Hiranyakasipu is depicted connected 1 of the walls of the temple, which besides showcases the ‘Dasavataras’, the 10 incarnations of Maha Vishnu.

After conquering the fort, General Mir Jumla built the Jama Masjid successful 1650 nether patronage from the Qutb Shahi kings. For this reason, the Masjid’s architecture benignant resonates with the Charminar successful Hyderabad, though the erstwhile has lone 2 minarets. The expansive courtyard erstwhile featured a fountain, which received h2o from the Rayalacheruvu waterbody via a conduit.

The weapon foundry, the granary and a jailhouse bespeak the fort’s quality to withstand a siege. Believed to person been built during the Qutb Shahi oregon the Mughal regime, the three-storey granary features Indo-Islamic architectural benignant and is supported by 2 rows of 12 immense pillars. Constructed astatine specified a precocious elevation and wrong a fort, the granary kept heat, moisture and pests distant from the monolithic quantities of grains it held successful its heyday. 

Tourist footfall

Today, visitors from Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad flock to Gandikota. Residents of Bengaluru, astir 300 km away, find it a promising play getaway, followed by those successful Hyderabad and Chennai, some astir 380 km away.

Since the famed temple metropolis of Tirupati is astir 225 km away, devotees coming from far-off places tin harvester pilgrimage with adventure, by adding Gandikota to their itinerary. The spot mostly witnesses important footfall during weekends, which touches up to 3,000 a day.

According to authorities sources, mean regular footfall successful 2023 was 830 visitors per day. The Department of Tourism has acceptable for itself an ambitious people of attracting 1,920 visitors a time by 2027 and heighten it to 3,288 visitors a time by 2035.

The authorities led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu precocious launched a bid of improvement projects and held a gathering successful Gandikota to sermon ways to amended infrastructure nether Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.

The SASCI’s Gandikota maestro program contemplates operation of prima hotels, gorge illumination, dependable and airy show, pathway astir the monuments, a star powerfulness system, a practice trail, viewing points and a stepped promenade astatine the gorge viewpoint, an amphitheatre and a boating jetty.

A structure metropolis volition beryllium developed soon to marque the tourists walk the night. According to Kadapa District Collector Sridhar Cherukuri, a helicopter-ride to presumption the gorge from the entity and deployment of caravans for tourists are besides connected the anvil.

Challenges galore

The spot presently lacks designated viewpoints, pathways and guidance for visitors. Access points are unsafe, and visitors embark connected a risky trek up to the presumption point. It besides lacks capable accusation boards, drinking h2o facilities, nationalist toilets and garbage bins. Visitors littering adjacent practice spots is besides a origin of concern. The spot has besides witnessed an unregulated mushrooming of backstage resorts that encash connected the play rush.