Festivities to draw tourists to Kondaveedu Fort

Guntur: The state government for the first time is conducting festivities at the historical Kondaveedu Fort in a big way on February 17 and 18 to create awareness among people on the significance of historical Kondaveedu Fort and its culture and heritage. The fort will attract more national and international tourists if it is properly developed.

The government has already constructed a ghat road to the fort at a cost of Rs 50 crore for the convenience of the tourists and developing the fort to attract international tourists. The Vedulla Cheruvu, Mutyalamma Cheruvu and Puttalamma Cheruvu on the hillock of the fort are also being developed.

The government is developing Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple and Sivalayam atop the hill of the fort. The hill has been illuminated at a cost of Rs 5 crore and Rs 12 crore has been granted to renovate the fort. The government is planning to develop the fort on par with international standards to attract tourists for the fort is very close to the emerging capital city of Amaravati.

The district administration is expecting that more than one lakh people will attend the Kondaveedu festivities. On this occasion, the AP Toursim Department will make arrangements for helicopter-rides, trekking, rock-climbing, para-mounting, water rides, boating, laser show and hot air balloon ride. There will be cultural programmes too.

The festivities will be conducted from 10 am to 10 pm and from evening 6 pm to 10 pm everyday, several film artistes will conduct cultural programmes. The RTC is running buses to the hill for the convenience of visitors. Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishna Murthy will inaugurate the Kondaveedu Fort festivities at the fort on the hill on February 17 and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the ghat road on February on 18th and address the public meeting.

Minister for Civil Supplies Prattipati Pulla Rao said, "The government will develop the historical Kondaveedu Fort on par with international standards. The government has already laid ghat road to the hillock and renovation was started.

We will develop the fort to attract the tourists.” Kondaveedu Development Committee convener Kalli Siva Reddy said, “Reddy Rajas ruled the Kondaveedu from 1325 to 1424 and constructed the fort. Great poet Sreenadha was the poet laureate of King Pedakomati Vemareddy, Yerrapragada was the poet laureate of Prolayavema Reddy who ruled the Kondaveedu Fort."