Kondapalli Fort

Kondapalli Fort is a popular tourist attraction located in a small village called Kondapalli. It is situated about 16 km from Vijayawada city. The village is renowned for its famous Kondapalli toys, which are crafted from light-weight softwood. These traditional toys enjoy strong demand in both national and international markets.

Kondapalli Fort was built on a hill in the 14th century by King Krishna Deva Raya. This three-storeyed magnificent structure stands as a testimony to the grandeur of the royal era. Over the centuries, the fort witnessed several battles. Later, when Kondapalli came under the rule of the Qutub Shahis, the fort was renovated and redesigned in a different architectural style.

This picturesque fort has three successive entry gates. The first and main entrance is known as the Dargha Darwaja, named after the dargah of Gulab Shah, who was killed in a battle fought at the fort. This gate was carved out of a single block of granite and measures 3.7 metres in width and 4.6 metres in height.

The must-see attractions of Kondapalli Fort are:

• A three-storeyed rock tower
• A dargah of the Persian saint, Gareeb Saheeb
• The remains of the main fort and the prisons of that period

Several stalls inside the fort sell the popular and colourful Kondapalli toys, painted using natural vegetable dyes. These toys are available in a wide range of designs such as Dasavatarams (the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu), elephants with ambari, palanquin bearers carrying the bride and groom, toddy tappers, sets depicting village craftsmen, and various animals.

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