At the outset, I tried to find out what the museum in Raja Mahal, the main structure at the fort, had to offer. As my eyes glided over the exhibits, I found myself racing back in time, through the centuries, to a summer day in 1000 A.D. when Immadi Narasinga Yadava Raya surveyed the land where the fort stands today. Then I began tracing the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire and, with it, the growing importance of the fort. However, the fort saw its best days only after the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the decisive battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi (1565 A.D.) Chandragiri Fort came into its own. For, the victor Venkatapatideva Maharaya of the Aravidu Dynasty chose to rule from Chandragiri and not Hampi. Since then, the fort grew in importance. After a tour that took in bronze gods, cannon balls and swords.

Chandragiri Fort is not just about the past. A stroll around the place was all that it took to convince me of that. Several improvements have been made to what the ancients left behind. An indication of this is the boating facility at what is called the Collection Tank. I was told that the tank derived its name from the fact that the rainwater skips down the hillocks and gets "collected" in it.

Fantastic history - thank you so much! McMommy · 2011-05-18: 10:32

Very moving images susjustjake · 2011-05-18: 10:58

nice pictures my friend! AndroidPhotography · 2011-05-18: 11:19

Great shots of an initeresting visit Satish. Being the honest person that I am - I have already called the museum to let them know that you snuck pictures!!!! :-))))) danrav · 2011-05-18: 11:52

I love artifacts. And they sure can throw one as much as possible, back into time and this set is great and I appreciate the history behind these images. ????? · 2011-05-18: 11:58

Thanks for this guided and "forbidden" visit :)) Unchained · 2011-05-18: 12:11

#4 is fantastic! Nadir · 2011-05-18: 12:49

the title..sound like my last name :)..thanks for sharing..nice post! ekachandra · 2011-05-18: 14:24

beautiful ! photodeclair · 2011-05-18: 15:24

fantastic historic shots ilikethat · 2011-05-18: 20:40

ooh sneaky :) I love history, and thank you for sharing that with us! I like the interior shown on the 4th photo :) lovelove · 2011-05-19: 03:52

thank you ! camilleauteuil · 2011-05-19: 09:13

So beautiful! liveandletlive · 2011-05-19: 22:47

great peace4kidss · 2011-05-20: 02:02

Thank you very much for the History lesson and Tour !! Great Shots !! catdad · 2011-05-28: 15:32