Chandragiri

Chandragiri was the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, located about 12 kms from Tirupati. The forts and Mahals here are attractive tourist spots. Chandragiri denoting the 'Hill of the Moon’ is traditionally associated with Chandra the Moon God who performed penance at this place in order to please Lord Siva. Punctuated with fertile lush green fields and hillocks, this picturesque place attained prominence during the medieval times. It has many religious structures like temples of Raja Rajeswari, Venugopala, Karttikeya, Siva and Hanuman at the entrance of the fort as guardian deity; ponds, tanks, sculptured mandapas besides a well-built fortification at the summit.

The well-secured fortification having cyclopean walls buttressed with the typical bastions at regular intervals and pierced with gateways and zig-zag entrances, appears to have been erected originally by Immadi Narasinga Yadava Raya, while ruling from Narayanavanam. It gained importance with the rise of kings of the Saluva lineage of the Vijayanagara Empire. Structures in the Citadel: The fort along with the structures inside owes much of its construction to the Vijayanagara rule. Raja Mahal and Rani Mahal are the two imposing structures fairly preserved in the citadel. Both are raised on high moulded plinths and have in their layout a series of corridors, halls and rooms with projecting window balconies decorated with stuccowork and supported by heavy corbels. The austere yet elegant flat ceilings are laced with a border of foliage design. The steps to upper storeys are well lit by narrow arched slits. These edifices are built in coursed rubble masonary set in lime mortar with finely plastered surfaces and limited usage of timber. These bear close resemblance with the famous Lotus Mahal in the Zonana enclosure at Hampi a World Heritage site. The temples of Chandragiri also follow the typical Vijayanagara pattern of plan in having a sanctum, a vestibule and an open pillared mandapa. Recent excavations by the Hyderabad Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India, near the Rani Mahal, have laid bare the remnants of some more structures in the form of terraced pillared halls, court- yards and well secured restricted entrances with Yali balustraded flight of steps leading to the edifices.

Regular government and private buses ply between Tirupati and Chandragiri. Three wheelers, rickshaws at affordable cost are available at the town bus stand.