Chandragiri

Chandragiri

Chandragiri (Telugu: చంద్రగిరి), is a suburb of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also the southern entrance to the Temple city for vehicles going from Bangalore, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The greatest of Hindu Emperors, Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara Empire was brought up at Chandragiri Fort, before his coronation at Penukonda in Anantapur District.

The places around Tirupati are most of this mandal. It is fully covered with lavish greenery and mountains (Eastern Ghats). There are many historic places in this mandal such as Srinivasa-Mangapuram, Srivari-Mettu, and Agasthreeswara Temple, which belongs to lord Shiva and is the place where the only river in chittor district Swarnamukhi grows and starts to appear. Several educational institutions were also located in this mandal.

People of various religions live here, mostly Hindus, followed by Muslims and Christians. In chandragiri town a local Durga Devi temple is located which is famous for Tirunallu at the time of Hindu festivals as it grabs many local ones and many from nearby villages.

This mandal also holds the village of EX-CM's Naravaripalli and currently the opposition leader Mr.Nara Chandra babu naidu.

This Mandal constitutes of many large panchayats under its constituency which include

Thondavada, Narasingapuram, kuchivari palli, Gangudupalli, Dornakambala, Mallayapalli,., etc ,

Chandragiri Fort 

Chandragiri is famous for the historical fort, built in the 11th century, and the Raja Mahal (Palace) within it. Chandragiri was under the rule of Yadava Naidus for about three centuries and came into control of Vijayanagar rulers in 1367. It came into prominence during Saluva Narasimha Rayalu,he got the title of Mahamandaleswara and his illustrious Prime minister Chitti Gangarayalu(Ganganamatyudu) was known for his vision, wisdom and rectitude and was revered as a Bhisma Pitamaha in his times, he was the person who identified intellectualism of Timmarasu and taken him into the service of Chandragiri and later promoted to the Prime minister of Vijayanagar Empire.Gangaraya discendents served the Vijayanagara empire as trusted Generals and Governors for several generations,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 the Golkonda territory and subsequently came under Mysore rule. It went into oblivion from 1792 onward. The fort encircles eight ruined temples of saivite and vaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures.

The Raja Mahal Palace is now an archeological museum. The palace is three storeyed, is an example of Indo-Sarcen architecture of Vijayanagar period. The crowning towers represents the Hindu architectural elements. The palace was constructed using stone, brick, lime mortar and devoid of timber.