Heritage Tourism

Tower Clock  Ananthapuramu (M & D):

The clock tower is a structure located in the heart of Anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was built in memory of the martyrs of the Indian independence movement. In 1945, under the leadership of M. Ramachandra Naidu, the district judge and other persons took the initiative and constructed the building. Its radius is 15 feet, which indicates the 15th date. It consists of 8 faces representing the eighth month of the year i.e. August. The height of the clock tower is 47 feet, which represents the year 1947.

Padmasri Kalluru Subbarao District Archaeological Museum, Ananthapuramu:

District Archaeological Museum, Ananthapuramu was first started on 28-10-1992 as “Padmashri Kalluru Subbarao District Archaeological Museum” in the name of Padmasri Kalluru Subbarao garu of Ananthapuramu district who was a great freedom fighter, donor and outstanding personality. As this museum building is getting dilapidated over time, the State Department of Archeology and Museums has taken up the construction of a new building with more modern features in place of this old museum building and made it available to the public of this district on Date: 10-03-2024. Both the central and state governments have provided their financial assistance for the construction of this museum.

MUSEUM TIMINGS: 10-30 A.M TO 5.00 P.M., HOLIDAY: FRIDAY (ALL GOVT. HOLIDAYS)  ENTRY FEE: Adult: 30/-, Child: 20/-.

PEACE MEMORIAL HALL, Ananthapuramu (M & D):

The ‘Peace Memorial Hall’ is located on a high-rise ground opposite the district court building complex in the Newtown area. It is a great structure spread over an area of nearly 2 acres. Built by Indian engineer Shri V.S.S.S.Raghavan during the British era, the foundation stone of this elegant structure was laid on 13-12-1919 by the Hon’ble C.C.  Todunder, ICS and a senior member of St. George’s Fort Council, Madras.

The main purpose and main purpose of this massive structure was to recover the amount of public subscription given by the top brass of the town, including the British, at the end of The First World War (1914-1918). It will take two years for the completion of the ‘Peace Memorial Hall’ building, which was inaugurated by the honorable Khan Bahadur Muhammad Habibullah Sahib Bahadur, member of the Executive Council of Fort St. George on 7-11-1921. Since then, peace has served as the center of people’s good programs and a community reading hall.

KUNDURPI FORT Kundurpi (V), Kundurpi (M), Ananthapuramu (D):

Kundurpi is approximately 94 km away from the Anantapuramu District Head quarters. Kundurpi is one of the important historical places and a palygar hill forts of Anantapuramu District. Kundurpi named after a local goddesss Kundrupamma. A good number of living and Non-living temples including Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy temple, Narasimha swamy temple, Veerabhadra swamy temple, Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Ballepalli mutt and Fort area which are identified and included in the  Andhra Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act-1960 and being maintained by the Department of Archaeology and Museums Government of Andhra Pradesh. Besides this so many other Post Vijayanagara period Non-living Monuments are scattered in this area, number of stone loose sculptures, inscriptional stones, bronze idols, Archaeological sites etc., indicate the glorious past of the Kundurpi a historical place attracts every visitor who visits this place.

Rayadurgam Fort  Rayadurgam (M), Ananthapuramu Dist:

Rayadurgam is approximately 98 km away from the Ananthapuramu district. This area was once under the rule of Vijayanagara kings. Later it fell under the control of the Palegars. Locals say that it was called Rayadurgam (Giri Fort) due to the rule of a Palegar named Bhupati Rayudu. Rayadurgam is a prominent Jain center in Anantapuram district. Many Jain monuments can be found in Rayadurgam fort. Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is a famous sight near the main gate of the fort. An almost 10-feet tall Ganesha statue known as Dashabhuja Ganapati in Rayadurgam fort also attracts visitors for regular worship. Rayadurgam town also has many ancient temples, monasteries and a Shiva temple with an emerald lingam located near the fort. About 4 km from Rayadurgam 75 Veerapuram is a village called Polimera where there is an amazing ancient rock bed made of solid stone with a history of almost 1000 years. Idhi is very incredible. One of the two rock-cut couches in South India is made of black stone at Banavasi, the historical capital of the Kadambas in Karnataka state. Second 75 is an incredible rock bed carved out of granite rock in the village of Veerapuram. Historians believe that Idhi is related to Jainism. Siddapuram village is known as Ashoka Siddapuram on the borders of Karnataka state near the town of Rayadurgam. Nearby Kala Brahmagiri is a historical ancient place. Adjacent to the Brahmagiri Hill is Ashoka’s inscription engraved on a rock outcrop. It belongs to the 3rd century BC. That is why this area is called Ashoka Siddapuram. These are all the historical sights/places in and around Rayadurgam town.

RASASIDDULA GUTTA (JAINA SITE)
Konakondla (V), Vajrakarur (M), Ananthapuramu (D):Konakondla is approximately 80 km away from the Anantapuramu District Head quarters and 8 km from Guntakal Revenue Division. Konakondla is one of the important place where human activities identified right from pre-historic period and continued present period. This place is very famous and known as the birth place of Jaina Acharya Kunda kundana acharya (48 B.C.E – 40 C.E) who contributed a lot to the Jain literature including the Tirukkural in Tamil language. A small hillock on the out skirts of the village is locally known as Rasasiddula gutta as it is evidenced to the fact that the Jains are experts in alchemy (Rasavada) and where ever the Jains reside the places are known as Rasasiddas abounds. During the Badami chalukyan period Jainism flourished in this area and many Jaina vestiges including Jaina sculptures, Nishidi memorial stones, Jaina period inscriptions, Caves with Rock beds, Carvings on the out crap of the Rock sheets reveal the influence of jainism in the bygone period in this area. A figure carved on a Rock sheet of Rasasiddula gutta who stood on a Lotus flower is identified as Kunda kundana charya whose original name is Padmanandi. Nearby the figure of Padma Nandi (Kunda kundana charya) an unique carving with different geometrical marks with in a circle is identified by a local scholar Mr.R.V.Chakravarthi as a Jambu dweepa. This Jambu dweepa indicates this entire universal within the Jambu dweepa, Nava Khandas, Saptasagaras, Meeru parvatha, North pole, south pole etc., are shown with geometrical marks is an unique form of Jaina cosmology and very rare of its kind and carved on a rock sheet is very rare phenomena in entire south india as per the scholars.

Gooty Fort  (Protected Monument, ASI, Govt. of India.)  Gooty Town, Guntakal (M), Ananthapuramu Dist.

Gooty is approximately 50 km away from the Anantapuramu District Head quarters. Gooty is one of the Important historical hill forts of Anantapuramu District. Generally the motto of the forts are defence purposes. The ancient literatures including Koutilya’s Artha shastra giving a vivid description and necessity of the forts. It has mentioned so many durgas (forts) like sthala, Jala, Vana, Giri, Saikata etc., made of wood, mud, brick and stone. The gooty fort played an important political, historical background right from Badami chalukyas period to british period. These are attested by many literary evidences including inscriptional evidences from 7th Century C.E. to British period (20th Century C.E). The beautiful and natural formation of cluster of hill ranges made this Gooty fort a strong and survived centuries of period continuously. One of the Vijayanagara Period Inscriptional testimony states this Gooty fort as navel of entire Bhu Mandala of their kingdom. During the Post Vijayanagara period this gooty fort was controlled by the Maharashtrians during the Chhatrapati Shivaji period and Gopal rao/Murari Rao ruled for a long period and subsequently this fort went under the control of the Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan finally after the Srirangapatnam war (1799) it came to the Britishers true the Nizams. The gooty fort consist of a strong fortification walls on all sites with flight of steps approach to the visitors to see so many ancient entrance gateways, Bastions, Gajasala, Ashwasala, Structural buildings both secular and Non- secular palaces etc. So many European cemetaries including Sir Thomas Munro, Robert son and many other foreigners etc., located in the beginning of the gooty fort witnessed its historical and antique significances right from ancient period to the modern period. Gooty town and its fort is having a close connectivity to the British officers Sir Thomas Munro, who was appointed as a first District collector of this ceded districts taken from the Nizams.

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple (Protected Monument, ASI, Govt. of India.)  Tadipatri (V), Tadipatri (M), Ananthapuramu (D):

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy temple is 4 km from Tadipatri railway station. Tadipatri town is 56 kms from Ananthapuramu District headquarters town.

Brief History of Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple:
Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is a prominent Hindu temple located in Tadipatri in Ananthapuramu district. The temple was constructed in 16th century with contributions from various patrons including local chieftains. One of the notable patron was Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayudu, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara rulers, after whom the temple is named. The temple is an exemplary specimen of Dravidian architecture. The inner sanctum houses the Shiva Linga, which is the principal deity of the temple and is intricately decorated with a lot of spiritual significance. The temple’s vimana (tower above the sanctum) is finely sculpted with figures of gods, goddesses and mythological scenes. The mandapa (pillared hall) is known for its detailed carvings, featuring various deities and symbolic motifs, reflecting the artistic excellence of the Vijayanagara period.
A unique feature of this temple is the presence of a perennial natural spring inside the sanctum, which continuously supplies water to the Shiva Linga. This spring is believed to have divine origins and adds to the temple’s mystical aura. The temple walls and pillars are adorned with exquisite sculptures, depicting stories from Hindu mythology including the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Major Hindu festivals, particularly associated with Lord Shiva, such as Maha Shivaratri are celebrated with great fervor at the temple.

Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple(Protected Monument, ASI, Govt. of India.) Tadipatri (V), Tadipatri (M), Ananthapuramu (D):

Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple (Chintalarayaswamy temple) is a notable Hindu temple located in the town of Tadipatri. Tadipatri town is 56 kms from Ananthapuramu District headquarters town.

Brief History of Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple:
This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu and is renowned for its architectural beauty and historical significance. It was constructed during the 16th century by Pemmasani Timmanayudu II, a prominent chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire. It is an excellent example of the Vijayanagara style of architecture and is known for its intricate carvings and grand structures.
The temple features a towering gopuram (gateway tower), adorned with detailed sculptures depicting various deities and mythological scenes. Inside the temple, the mandapa (pillared hall) is richly decorated with carvings and sculptures, showcasing the skills of the artisans of that era. The inner sanctum houses the main deity, Lord Venkateswara.
The temple is a hub of activity during major Hindu festivals, such as Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Brahmotsavam and other important occasions related to Lord Vishnu. It attracts numerous devotees and tourists who come to seek blessings and admire the temple’s architectural splendor.