(August 2026 - Penna Gorge, Gandikota, Jammalamadugu Mandal, Dr.Y.S.R.Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh )
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| @ The Grand Canyon of India |
An almost lonely winding road snaking past windmills perched atop Erramalla Hills like white damsels waiting for their loved ones took me to Gandikota, the site of the Penna Gorge and the 13th Century Fortress (If it may be called that) overlooking it, a lesser known natural and historical place, regarded rightly as "The Grand Canyon of India". For a place with a deserving tourism potential, only two APSRTC (Public Transport) busses connect it to it's Mandal headquarters of Jammalamadugu, each scheduled 12 hours apart at 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. Today, Rayalaseema portrays a resource filled yet underdeveloped vibe, however centuries ago, it was a crazed contesting ground of the finest empires of South India, a watershed region of culture and conquest, of art and brutality, of fame and fortune in equal measure.
.jpeg) | | @ Madhavaraya Swamy Temple |
.jpeg) | | @ The Grand Canyon of India |
After gorging two famous Karam Dosalu, I made a tryst with the beautful Gorge. It was a sight to behold. The Second Saturday Morning was bereft of too many tourists, and the El Nino extended summer did not trouble me and I've felt that the moniker "The Grand Canyon of India" is truly deserving. Millions of years ago, the River Penna cut through the extant Erramalla Hills, and water eroison caused this unique phenomenon, exposing the reddish Gandikota Quartzite rocks, eventualy causing a deep, rocky canyon - a picturesque and breathtaking site that words fail to describe.
.jpeg) | | @ The Miniature Charminar |
.jpeg) | | @ Jama Masjid, Gandikota |
On the right banks of the Gorge, the ramparts of the 13th Century Fort stand tall, originally a site of a vassal of Western Chalykyas / Chalukyas of Kalyana. Later, the Vijayanagara Era (c.1336-1646 CE) gave a larger and beautiful dimesnion to the place - with the now dilapadated Madhavaraya (Lord Shri Krishna) and Ranganatha Swamy (Lord Shri Maha Vishnu) temples standing as proud examples. The region came under the control of the artistic Pemmasani Nayakas, who were more renowned for the temples at Lepakshi and Tadipatri. The walls and pillars of the temples hark back to the halcyon days of Hampi rivalling modern day European megacities, with fantastic figurines of River Goddesses, Yali Cavalry, Apsaras, tales from Ramayana and Mahabharatha competing for space and attention.
 | | @ Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Gandikota |
After the Golconda conquest of Gandikota, Jama Masjid, a Miniature Charminar and Jail were commissioned by the victorious Mir Jumla (c.1650 CE) which complete the other monuments of the fort. After a sturdy but refreshing three hours, as the Sun was beating down, I made my retreat. By luck, as I was gulping down tea, I spotted a lone auto without any passengers, got down at Anna Canteen near the Tahsildar's Office in Jammalamadugu, and had a sumptuous Rs.5/- meal.
 | | @ Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Gandikokta |
While visiting the Grand Canyon on Colarado river in Amazon (USA) reamains a distant prospect, I take great pride and happiness in visiting teh Grand Canyon of India - a sight to behold, a much needed sojourn amidst the hum drum of the routine life.
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| @ The Grand Canyon of India |
@ Gandikota - The Grand Canyon of India.
Maheeth Veluvali,
16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu,.
Monday, 17th of August, 2026.
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