List of tourist attractions in Anantapur

Anantapur is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It lies on National Highway-7. It was also a position of strategic importance for the British Indian Army during the Second World War. Due to this, there are many forts around the area with historical significance, now became a center of attraction for tourism.[1]

Anantapur is world-famous for the quality handloom silk clothes and sarees it produces at Dharmavaram. The city is famous for cotton, silk industries and leather puppets.

Government Initiatives

Photo Contest[2]

Photo Contest is an initiative by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department which is open for all natives of Andhra Pradesh and Tourists to the State, for participation, to encourage the tourism. Participants can send their original photographs which relate to Heritage, Scenic, Religious, Cultural, Wildlife or any other Tourism sector in Andhra Pradesh. These photographs are used on the website of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department to promote Tourism. Participants are encouraged to submit, by providing prizes every month.

Forts and landmarks

1. Gooty Fort[3]

Gooty fort is situated at a height of 300 meters above the plains in Gooty. It is one of the oldest hill forts in Andhra Pradesh. The fort was built by the emperors of the Vijayanagara Kingdom . The Marathas under Murari Rao conquered it. Then it was taken over by Haider Ali in 1773 and eventually fell into the British hands after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799. The fort was built in the shape of a shell and has 15 forts with 15 main doors (mukhadwaralu) inside the structure. There is a small pavilion made of polished lime stone called Murari Rao's seat. This pavilion is on the edge of a cliff from where one can have a

panoramic view of the surroundings. The unique feature of the fort is the availability of water resources at such a height.

Gooty fort view

2. Penukonda Fort[4]

Penukonda Fort

3. Rayadurgam Fort[5]

Rayadurgam is one of the few Indian cities which has a Martian crater named after it. Rayadurgam Fort is a primeval structure, which had a considerable role in the history of the Vijayanagar Empire. The impregnable fort has many temples. The shrines dedicated to Narashimhaswamy, Hanuman, Prasanna Venkateswara, Jambukeswara, Kanyakaparameswari and Elamma are the prominent ones. Though now mostly in ruins, the fort takes you back to the royal splendor. It also offers a breathtaking view of the town below.

5. Thimmamma Marrimanu[7]

Thimmamma Marrimanu is regarded as the biggest Banyan tree in South India. It was recorded as the biggest tree in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.[8][9] It is Located about 35 km from Kadiri, and 100 km from Anantapur.

Thimmamma Marrimanu

6. Anantasagaram[10]

Anantasagaram is a reservoir/dam in Anantapur.

8. Yadiki Caves[12]

Yadiki Caves is midway between Gooty and Tadipatri. The cave system is in the picturesque village of Konapulappadu which is 18 km. from Yadiki. The magnificent view of the hillocks, gorges, spring, paddy fields, lake and winding roads enthralls every visitor. Geemanugavi cave is 5 km. in length and one can go up to 2 km. inside. The intricate designs of stalactite and stalagmite formations takes shape of chandeliers, bridges, globes, snakes etc. The sight of some, which glitters like diamonds is amazing. Uudamanugavi, another cave can accommodate 100 people. Kona Ramalingeswara temple adjacent to the spring adds to the beauty. For those who are young in mind and body there is scope for trekking and rock climbing.

Temples

1. Lepakshi Temple[13]

Lepakshi Temple is the most important place in the Anantapur District from the historical and archaeological point of view. The Skandhapuranam refers to Lepakshi as one of the 108 Saiva temples in India . Sri Virupanna, who worked as a Treasury Officer of Penukonda Fort of Vijayanagara Empire, took up the construction of the Lord Veerabhadhra Temple at Lepakshi in the 16th-century. One can find the late Vijayanagara style of architecture in the vestiges of Lepakshi. Built in 1530 AD, it is famous for a huge 100-pillared dance hall, adorned with exquisite sculptures. One can see a life-size granite sculpture of Veerabhadra, a giant monolith of Nandi as well as carvings of Naga linga, flying Gandharvas, Ganesha etc. Special pujas are conducted every Monday. The 10-day Asvayuja Masam Festival celebrated in February is when devotees from far and wide join the celebrations. From the centre of the mantapa emerges a dome, twenty-one feet high, like a great lotus of heaven. In this huge mandapa, the ceiling is divided into different panels by beams that are painted with some of the most exquisite murals of the Deccan.

References

  1. ↑ http://asihyd.ap.nic.in/anantapur_gooty.html
  2. ↑ "Photo Contest New...". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  3. ↑ "Gooty Fort". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  4. ↑ "Penukonda Fort". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  5. ↑ "Rayadurgam Fort". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  6. ↑ "Dharmavaram Silk Sarees". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  7. ↑ "Thimmamma Marrimanu". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  8. ↑ Matthews, Peter; McCarthy, Michelle Dunkley; Young, Mark (CON) (1994-01-01). The Guinness Book of Records. Facts on File.
  9. ↑ India Today. Living Media India Pvt. Limited. 1992-01-01.
  10. ↑ "Anantasagaram". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  11. ↑ "Yogi Vemana Samadhi". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  12. ↑ "Yadiki Caves". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  13. ↑ "Lepakshi Temple". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  14. ↑ "Penna Ahobilam Temple". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  15. ↑ "Tadipatri Temple". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  16. ↑ "Hemavathi". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  17. ↑ http://asihyd.ap.nic.in/anantapur_gooty.html
  18. ↑ "Aluru Kona". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  19. ↑ "Kadiri Lakshminarayana Swamy". aptourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
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