Gooty Fort . Review on Gooty Fort

Gooty Fort – Shell Shaped Fort

India has hundreds of forts which are in a neglected state and many are in danger of falling into complete ruin. The Gooty Fort is one such fort which remained neglected during the British period & now the Archaeological Department of India is totally neglecting this monument.  Surprisingly this fort is still a prime attraction to the tourists.

During one of the numerous trips to Anantapur, I made up my mind to visit the Gooty Fort. Anantapur is a city and a district place in Andhra Pradesh. It is famous for Silk sarees & forts. Sri Satya Sai Baba was born in Anantapur District near Puttaparthy and studied in Uravakonda in Anantapur.

About Gooty Fort

The Gooty fort is around 50 Kms from Anantapur, situated at a height of 300 meters above the sea level in Gooty.  The fort was built during the Chalukyan times. Major part of this fort was fortified and strengthened during the Vijayanagara era.  The Fort has been granted the title of 'World Heritage Site' by UNESCO. The exact construction date of the fort is not known, according to the historical records the earliest inscriptions found in the structure date back to the 7th century. The fort was captured by Mir Jumla and then came under the sway of Qutub Shahi chiefs. In 1773, it was captured by Haider Ali & Tippu Sultan and later fell into the British hands. About 10 Km away from Gooty Fort, archeologists have discovered a stone on which constitution belonging to Ashoka is written.

The Fort was build primarily from Security point of view. No structure inside the fort has any architectural magnitude & has not withstood the ravages of times. The fort is built in the shape of a shell and has 15 inner forts with 15 main doors in an area of approximately 25 acres. The fort of Gooty is an amalgamation of Hindu-Islamic architecture. The fort has numerous temples, including Nageswara Swamy Temple, Lakshminarasimhaswamy Temple and Ramaswamy Temple.

On the top of the fort a small pavilion made in polished lime stone is known as Morari Rao's seat. It offers a panoramic view of the town below and is believed to be the favorite resort of Maratha ruler Morari Rao. Sitting on the top of the fort & watching the sunset, beautiful landscape & a walk in the evening is probably the best activity to do. It takes approximately thirty minutes to climb the fort but for photography enthusiast it may take little more time to climb the fort as there’s lots of stuff to be photographed.

Few useful Suggestions

The climate is hot for most of the year and early mornings or evenings are the best time to visit the fort.

It is better to wear light coloured & light weight cotton clothes. Avoid synthetic clothes, as they trap heat and are very uncomfortable.

Most of the shops & restaurants near Gooty will not accept debit / credit cards. It’s better to bring sufficient cash.

Things to bring during visit

Suitable clothing, Plenty of water, Snacks, Comfortable shoes for trekking, Sunscreen (especially during summer) Sunglasses, Hats, Umbrella, Binoculars, Camera & there are no restaurants /food stalls on top of the fort; it’s better to carry the food.

Gooty has many nearby beautiful places to visit.

Penukonda – This place is around 65 Kms from Anantapur. It served as the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire for a short period. This is one of the holiest places in south India, It has 365 temples of Lord Hanuman. This place is also popular for the Babaiah Dargah (Mausoleum) The Dargah of 12th Century Sufi Saint Hazrat Syed Shah Baba Fakruddin Suharwardy(R.A) A perfect symbol of brotherhood & communal harmony between all the communities.

Rayadurg Fort – This magnificent fort is situated on the foothills of the Rayadurg Town. This unique hill fort was constructed by Junga Nayak. A part of this fort wall has disintegrated. There are four caves placed beneath the slope which has small doors of stone with sculptors of Siddhas. The area of the fort comprises of many village temples like Elamma, Narashimhaswamy and Hanuman.

The Big Banyan Tree – One can also visit the big banyan tree known as Thimmamma Marrimanu, located around 35 km from town Kadiri & 100 Kms from Anantapur. It is reported to be the world's biggest tree with a canopy of 19,107 square metres. Its branches spread over 5 acres and were recorded as the biggest tree in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.

One can also visit some wonderful places like Lepakshi, known for the biggest Nandi statue in India, and there are many temples built during the13th century AD. Dharmavaram another famous place for silk sarees, Puttaparthy, abode of Sri Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba,  Hemavati, Penakacherla & PABR dams, Aluru Kona water fall near to Tadipatri & world famous Belum caves near Tadipatri.

Where To Stay : There are some star hotels & many budget hotels to stay at Anantapur. Do not go for online booking, it’s better to check suitable hotels & directly ask for the low tariffs & special discounts.

Best Time to Visit : Any time is the fine to enjoy the beauty of Gooty Fort but September to February is the perfect time. The weather during these months remains cool and pleasant.

To Get There : Anantapur is around 212 Kms from Bangalore & 315 Kms from Hyderabad. This place is well connected with major cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore with regular and frequent train and bus services. The nearest Airport is Puttaparthi around 8o Kms from Anantapur & Bangalore Airport is around 170 Kms.

Final Words : Gooty Fort is one of the must visit attractions of Anantapur, Visit this place to see its beauty which it offers through its forts & temples. In fact this is the only place where one can see the panoramic view of nearby villages.  People visiting Gooty Fort near Anantapur for study tour, picnic or a social event, they will surely discover the unusual blend of culture and natural beauty that makes Gooty so special.