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Bobbili royalty legacy on display
A museum maintained by Bobbili MLA RVSK Ranga Rao and his younger brother RVSKK Ranga Rao is attracting hordes of history enthusiasts who want a glimpse of weapons used during the historical Bobbili battle and other period articles. Swords, guns, spears, shields, and a range of other items of armour, thrones, dresses, and palanquins used by Maharajas around 1757 when Bobbili battle took place.
Sword of Tandra Paparayudu and other weapons mesmerise the museum visitors
Bobbili: A museum maintained by Bobbili MLA RVSK Ranga Rao and his younger brother RVSKK Ranga Rao is attracting hordes of history enthusiasts who want a glimpse of weapons used during the historical Bobbili battle and other period articles. Swords, guns, spears, shields, and a range of other items of armour, thrones, dresses, and palanquins used by Maharajas around 1757 when Bobbili battle took place.
The scions of Bobbili Samsthanam are protecting the articles of historical value and legacy of their forefathers by way of museum in their palace at Bobbili. The articles are arranged in exhibition mode in the palace and the visitors can see them and feel the greatness of the kings of yore. Bussy, the French general, invaded Bobbili Fort on 1757 with the support of Maharaja of Vizianagaram Vijayarama Raju. Bobbili has only a few ferocious soldiers to defend it, but they fought thousands of French and Vizianagaram forces.
However, despite the valiant fight of Bobbili soldiers, the French army lay siege to the fort of Bobbili and blow up the heavy walls with bombs and sophisticated blasting material. Later, almost all the royal women of Bobbili Samsthanam had committed suicide by jumping into flames. Tandra Paparayudu, close relative of zamindar of Bobbili Rao Gopala Krishna Ranga Rao, came to know of the unethical, invasion and launched an attack on Vizianagaram king Vijayarama Raju and killed him. People gave him the title of Bobbili Puli.
A large number of guns and swords used by Tandra Paparayudu, a crown, and armour of self-defence like shields, jackets are on display in the museum. Once a visitor step into the hall, he is transported to 350 years into the past and feel proud to stay on the land of Bobbili. Just beside Bobbili, there is a tank called Phirangula Cheruvu, in which the General Bussy secretly stored some cannons to fight Gopala Krishna Ranga Rao.
Visitors from various places come to Bobbili palace to see the weapons and portraits of kings and their paraphernalia. RVSKK Ranga Rao (Yuva Raja of Bobbili) said, “We feel proud to maintain our culture and historical legacy. We explain our history and culture to the visitors to the museum. We will continue this forever. We frequently clean and overhaul the guns and other antique articles.”
