Best time to visit : September to February
Located in Southeast India is the historic town of Rayadurg that continues to silently convey the stories of golden royal era. Well-known for its marvellous fort that played a critical role in the power struggle among different rulers and empires, the town is extremely admired by the historians and history lovers. Situated in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, the town also attracts pilgrims to the countless temples in its close proximity.
Facts
The literal meaning of Rayadurg is “Hill Fortress of King”. It clearly indicates that the town gets its name from the fort located on the hill. It is worth mentioning that one of the several craters on Mars has been named after Rayadurg. It was a powerful spot for the mighty Vijayanagar Empire and the fort still retains its glory and magnificence. For the visitors, it is amazing to discover many small forts built inside the main fort. A travel guide would love to tell innumerable stories associated with the tourist places in and around the town. Rayadurg experiences unbearably hot weather during summer months.
Small restaurants and shops in the town offer decent meals for the visitors. One should not miss the popular sweets of the region like Mysore pak and laddu. There are many sweet shops in the main bazaar where these delicacies can be enjoyed.
Rayadurg is famous for its silk sarees and cotton garments that one can purchase at cheap prices in the town. Shirts, pants, cargos and jeans can also be availed in good variety. Another popular category is that of the locally grown agricultural products like groundnut, custard apple, tamarind and pomegranate.
Nearby Places:
- Kalyandurg (about 35 km.): The town is famous for its fort and some ancient temples like Ramaswamy Temple and Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.
- Penna Ahobilam (about 70 km.): Popular for its Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, annual car festival and lavish greenery.
- Gooty (125 km.): Home to one of the most popular hill forts of India, built in the shape of a shell.
- Tadipatri (about 155 km.): Famous for the temples of Sri Chintala Venkata Ramana Swamy and Sri Bugga Rama Lingeswara Swamy and also for the nearby attractions like Belum Caves and Aluru Kona Falls.
- Puttaparthi (about 160 km.): Has popular attractions like Prashanti Nilayam Ashram, Hanuman Temple, Satyabhama Temple, Shiva Temple and the Wish Fulfilling Tree.