Siddavatam Fort

Siddavatam Fort, located near Siddavatam village in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, is a historic riverside fortress built in 1303 AD by Matti Raja's of the Tuluva dynasty, who were Nayakars under the Vijayanagara Empire.

The fort spans about 30 acres on the banks of the Pennar River and features imposing gateways with carved pillars topped by intricate Gajalakshmi motifs, along with 17 bastions that once protected the area. It was extensively developed under King Varadha Raju, son-in-law of Sri Krishna Deva Raya, evolving from an earlier mud fort to a rock fort. Known as the "Gateway to Srisailam" or "Dakshina Kashi," the fort contains several temples inside its premises, including the Ranganatha Swamy, Siddheswara, Bala Brahma, and Durga temples, which attract pilgrims.

Throughout history, the fort changed hands multiple times controlled by Vijayanagara rulers, Mayana Nawabs of Kadapa, Hyder Ali of Mysore, the Nizams of Hyderabad, and eventually the British, who used it as the district headquarters briefly between 1807 and 1812 before moving it due to flooding issues from the river.

The Archaeological Survey of India now maintains the fort, which remains an architectural gem showcasing a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles, with large gateways, fortified walls, and historical temples that make it a significant cultural and tourist attraction in the region.