Anantapur: Madakasira fort, historic-ally familiar as Simhagiri, with historic structures and caves along with hill top-Singemoothi (face of lion) crossed 500 years of construction. The seven gates are built to reach the hill top of Simhagiri.
Singemothi, the hill top structure, is seen only at Madakasira while no such structures are seen in any other parts of Vijayanagara and other empires.
Singemoothi was built with four pillars on the hill top, along with a big bell, to sense enemies even from a long distance.
Historians said that Madakasira palegars had cooperated with Hari Hara Rayalu and Bukka Rayalu to defeat Mogul King Malik Kapoor in 1336. However, Nijam Ulk presented Gooty and Mad-aksira forts for Maratha ruler Hindu Rao for his cooperation in Mogul war in 1743. His son Murari had constructed attractive structures such as Singe-moothi and Hinduraya well and several temples. The fort appears, with different structures, with wide space to be spend as a visiting spot.
Lord Sri Ramalingeswara temple is built closer to the hill top with wide space and covering two water ponds. On the hill top of Rani Mahal, horse shed, gym and also food storage points can be seen. Historian Ramalingeswarudu observed that the fort appeared to have been constructed five centuries ago with more hard work of rulers.
“Every structure appears with hard stones brought from adjacent hills and the concrete used in the structures is still seen unbreakable,” he observed. In addition, the fort has lots of cave formatio-ns between the rocks.
In addition to the hill fort, Madakasira town was also the part of ruling which was covered by forts from all sides. Lord Venkateswara temple, that was built closer to south gate of the fort, was inco-mplete when Mysore King Hyder Ali attacked Madakasira fort for the second time. In the first time, Murari and his soldiers succeeded to defeat Hyder Ali in 1764-65. Satyanarayana, a teacher, recalled that Lord Garuda temple was consecrated two decades ago.
Lack of proper initiatives led to damage of many structures and even steps to reach the hill top were found damaged. “We celebrate the occasion in every Shivratri. But women climb the steps with difficulty,” Anjankumar, a devotee, observed.
In view of 500 years of construction, the government is planning to celebrate the occasion.
MLC Gundumala Thippeswamy said that he would represent Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu to celebrate the occasion in a grand manner. Already, a park was sanctioned closer to the hill area. Two years ago, lighting facility was provided in the entire route towards the hill. A rope way was also proposed towards the hill top as part of developing tourism.
