The Tale of Andhra’s Timeless City

Muskaan Gupta

The Tale of Andhra’s Timeless City

Anantpur, a city in Andhra Pradesh, has a rich cultural and architectural history. What makes this ancient city’s ‘story’ so special?

The clock tower in Anantpur (Source- The Hans India)

Anantapur, a city and district in Andhra Pradesh, has a long, rich history. The region was once known as Anantasagaram, which means "endless ocean.” It was believed to be a place of great spiritual significance. The villages of Anantasagaram and Bukkarayasamudram were constructed by Chilkkavodeya, the minister of Bukka, one of the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire. Some authorities assert that Anantasagaram was named after Bukka’s wife, Ananthamma, while some contend that it must have been known after Anantarasa Chikkavodeya himself, as Bukka had no queen by that name.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Anantapur was ruled by the Vijayanagara Empire, which was known for its cultural and artistic achievements. The city became a center for the arts, with many temples and palaces built here during this period. The most famous of these is the Lepakshi Temple, which is renowned for its intricate carvings and murals. Also known as the Veerabhadra Temple, the shrine was built during the sixteenth century in the typical architectural style of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Lord Veerabhadra is the temple's presiding deity. Its lovely mandapams have pillars with finely carved life-size images of musicians and dancers. The main attraction of the temple is a granite statue of the Nandi Bull, which is one of the largest monolithic Nandi statues in the country and indeed a marvel to behold.

The hanging pillar is one of the Lepakshi Temple's most intriguing elements. Out of the seventy pillars in the temple's main hall, this one hangs without any visible support. It is reported that the British made an unsuccessful attempt to move the pillar during the colonial era in order to investigate it. Another important feature of the temple is the huge Shivalinga, hooded under a multi-faced naag. The Kalyana Mandapa or the marriage hall is another remarkable feature of the temple. It is a beautifully carved hall with pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of gods and goddesses. It is said that this mandapam was used for the celestial wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Anantapur not only houses some of the nation's great architectural and historical treasures but also exhibits the true nature of Indian history and architecture—many threads are woven together to form a single, rich, and intricate tapestry.

Hindu and Islamic styles converge in the Gooty Fort's architecture. At the summit of the hill, several wells were built. The fort contains a number of temples, including those dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha, Nageswara Swami, Hanuman, Jyothimma, and Ramaswamy. A dargah is also located inside the fortification.

The Penukonda Fort is another fort located in Anantapur. For a brief period of time, it served as the Vijayanagara Empire's strategic capital. It has perfect fortifications that were never breached. Two noteworthy locations may be found within the fort. The first is the Gagan Mahal, which the emperors used as a summer retreat. Built in 1575, the Gagan Mahal was a center of splendor that was only accessible to kings. The Babayya Dargah that stands testament to the interfaith tolerance between Muslims and Hindus is the fort's second most important site.

Anantapur is also known as Hande Anantapuram, where ‘Hande’ stands for ‘chief.’ Hanumappa Naidu of the Hande family received Anantapur and a few other locations as a gift from Vijayanagar’s emperors. Nevertheless, the Qutub Shahis, Mughals, and the Nawabs of Cuddapah later conquered this region while still allowing the Hande leaders to maintain their rule as their subordinates.

It is said that Anantapur was taken over by the Palergar of Bellary during Ramappa's reign, but his son Siddappa eventually reclaimed it. In the year 1757, Morari Rao Ghorpade launched an assault on Anantapur. Even though the army resisted for a while, Siddappa bargained with his foe to purchase it for 50,000 rupees. Unfortunately, this did not last long enough as Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan gained control of Anantapur. Consequently, all the male members of the Siddappa family suffered a dreadful destiny: they were hanged to death. Siddappa was imprisoned, but he was able to get away and flee to Srirangapatnam.

Anantapur was returned to Siddappa when Tipu's death put an end to his rule. In 1799, a treaty was signed by the Nizam, who took total control of the area, and Siddappa submitted himself to him. After the British took over the region, he was subsequently pensioned off.

In the eighteenth century, the Nizams of Hyderabad made significant improvements to the city's infrastructure, including the construction of a network of canals and irrigation systems, which transformed the surrounding area into fertile agricultural land.

During the British era, Anantapur was part of the Madras Presidency and played a key role in the Indian independence movement. Many of the city's residents, including prominent freedom fighters like Alluri Sitarama Raju and Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, were involved in the struggle against the British rule.

The city of Anantapur was also a site of strategic importance for the British Indian Army during the Second World War. After India gained independence in 1947, Anantapur became part of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh. Today, it is a thriving city with a vibrant culture and a rapidly growing economy. The region is known for its production of cotton, silk, and other agricultural products as well as its vibrant arts and cultural scene.

The region’s rich history is reflected in the many surrounding fortresses. One such fort with multiple legacies is the Gooty Fort, perched 300 meters above the Gooty plains. Being one of Andhra Pradesh's oldest hill forts, the domes of the fort were built using fine stone, mortar, and lime to ensure sustainability. The fort itself was constructed with granite rocks. This shell-shaped fort is made up of fifteen smaller forts that each have a unique entryway. All the entrances to the smaller forts are connected via an outside wall with bastions. The fort also has two large structures—a gym and a barrack. On the edge of the cliff, there is a pavilion of polished limestone called Morari Rao’s Seat.