- Built
- 11th century
- Best time
- November to February
- Distance from Tirupati
- About 12–15 km
- Nearest railway station
- Tirupati, about 17 km
- Nearest airport
- Tirupati, about 32 km
- Ideal time needed
- 2–3 hours
History
Local Yadava rulers built the fort in the 11th century and held it for about three hundred years. It later passed to the Vijayanagara Empire, whose rulers made it their last seat of power. Tradition links Krishnadevaraya's youth to Chandragiri, and it is said that Telugu classics such as Manucharitra and Amuktamalyada were written here. In 1639 a Vijayanagara ruler at Chandragiri granted the East India Company the land on which Madras, today's Chennai, grew.
What to see
The Raja Mahal is made from stone and brick set in lime mortar, without any timber, and its towers carry Hindu motifs. The Rani Mahal next to it follows the same design. The museum inside the Raja Mahal is organised into galleries for stone sculpture, bronzes, models and finds from Yaganti.
- Raja Mahal museum with Vijayanagara coins, a suit of chain mail and life-size figures of rulers
- A scale model of the whole fort complex
- Rani Mahal, the queen's palace
- Eight ruined Shaiva and Vaishnava temples
- Gardens, lawns and a lake with boating
- Sound-and-light show in the evening narrating the fort's history
Best time to visit
The fort is open all year, but the heat of summer makes long walks tiring. November to February is the most comfortable period, with days roughly between 15°C and 30°C. Stay on for the evening show if you can.
How to reach
Chandragiri is roughly 12–15 km from Tirupati town, a 15–30 minute drive depending on traffic. Tirupati railway station is about 17 km away and Tirupati airport around 32 km. Autos, taxis and buses run from Tirupati, and we can add the fort to any Tirumala darshan package.
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