Bellamkonda (' the hill of caves ')
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Bellamkonda (' the hill of caves ')
Hill fortress in the Sattanapalle taluk of Guntur District, Madras, situated in 16° 30 N. and 80° E. The works consist of a single stone wall, connecting the elevated points of the hill and having bastions at the south-east and north-west angles, which terminate the two extremities of the principal front. The entrance, which is in this front, at about a third of its length from the north-west bastion, is gained by a winding pathway from the foot of the hill near the village. In shape, the fort is roughly an equilateral triangle, enclosing an area of irregular elevation of about one-sixteenth of a square mile. The wall is in a very ruinous state, every shower loosening and bringing down parts of it. The two bastions are the most perfect parts, but even these from their overhanging position seem to threaten destruction to everything below. The interior is overgrown with bushes and long grass, which obstruct the passage to the eastern and western faces in many parts. There still remain some buildings of stone, the old magazine and storerooms. The highest point is 1,569 feet above the sea. The early history ot the fortress is obscure. It is said to have been constructed by the Reddi kings of Kondavid. After their power had passed away in 1482 it perhaps fell into the hands of the Orissa kings, for Firishta says it was taken by the Sultan of Golconda from a Telugu Raja who was a vassal of Orissa. In 1531 the Orissa king took the place a second time by a general escalade, regard- less of the loss of his best troops. It must afterwards have reverted to the kings of Vijayanagar, for it was finally taken by the Muhammadans in 1578, when they put an end to Hindu rule in this part of the country. At the close of the eighteenth century the English had a few troops stationed at the bottom of the hill in mud huts.
