Indian Columbus

Penukonda, once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire after the fall of Hampi, is a treasure trove of architectural surprises and forgotten heritage. Amid its temples, forts, and water tanks, stands the Jamia Masjid . From a distance, the building may resemble a typical Vijayanagara-period mandapa. Indeed, it originally was. A classic hall with sturdy pillars, a simple sloping roof, and yalis (mythical lions) at the base, this mandapa was most likely part of a Shiva temple that stood within the Penukonda fort precincts. Today, that very mandapa serves as the front façade of the Jamia Masjid . An inscription found within the mosque clearly dates the mosque to 1668 CE , built by Abdul Hassan during the reign of Ali Adil Shah II of the Bijapur Sultanate .  Architecturally, the Jamia Masjid bears close resemblance to other Bijapuri mosques . Happy travelling.

Pala Venkatramana Swamy Gopuram and the Silent Tank of Penukonda Remnants of a Temple Town’s Golden Past Penukonda, once the second capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire, is a layered palimpsest of history, faith, and forgotten glory. Amidst its crumbling ramparts and scattered shrines, two starkly contrasting yet equally evocative structures stand out,  a towering 4-tiered gopuram , the last surviving witness of the Pala Venkatramana Swamy Temple , and the massive granite water tank  that served the town's sacred and secular needs. The Tower Without a Temple The gopuram, built in the characteristic Vijayanagara style , rises elegantly with its four diminishing tiers, each defined by ornate pilasters, miniature shrines, and decorative moldings. Though the temple it once crowned no longer survives, the gopuram remains stoic its weathered stucco work and granitic base telling tales of devotional fervor and royal, patronage. This imposing gateway structure likely dates ba...

Penukonda Fort – An Overlooked Chapter of Vijayanagara Splendour After the catastrophic fall of Hampi in 1565 CE following the Battle of Talikota, the glorious Vijayanagara Empire reeled under crisis. Amidst the ashes of destruction, the empire attempted to revive itself, choosing Penukonda , a strategically located town in present-day Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, as its temporary capital. Penukonda Fort , sprawling across the Penukonda hill, became the epicentre of this renewed assertion of power. With multiple layers of fortification, secret water tanks, watch towers, temples, and a rich blend of architectural styles, it remains a lesser-visited gem. Among its many hidden structures is a humble, almost unassuming building tied to one of the most tragic episodes in Vijayanagara history, the imprisonment of Timmarusu . Who Was Timmarusu? Mahapratihara Timmarusu was the trusted minister and mentor of Krishnadevaraya , one of the most celebrated emperors of South India...

  Penukonda is known as the second capital of the Vijayanagara Empire after the fall of Hampi. But tucked beyond its fort walls and palace ruins lies a lesser-known sacred space, a   Mahakali cave temple , nestled within natural boulders and reverently maintained by devotees. There isn't a grand mandapa or a multi-tiered tower. Instead, it's a shrine where  nature itself becomes the garbhagriha , where hills cradle the Divine Mother, and where silence reigns over any architectural elaboration. Penukonda Fort Maha Kali Cave Temple The Trail to Kali – Through Boulders, Painted Stones, and Wild Paths The journey to the Mahakali temple begins inside the fort's inner landscape, where the terrain transforms into rolling hillocks and scattered greenery. A short but uneven trek begins with large stone steps shaded by trees. Along the way, one encounters painted rock markings, some arrow signs, others with simple folk figures. These guide you across the rocky trail. One striking f...