Gagan Mahal, the legendary 16th century royal palace built
during the Vijayanagar period is located in Penukonda. It was the second
capital of Emperor Sri Krishna Devaraya. As per folklore, Gagan Mahal was the abode of beautiful royal dancer, Gangamma, for entertaining the visiting kings and dignitaries. The palace, which was in a dilapidated
condition, has now an eye-feasting look, after restoration by the Department of
Archeology and Museums. The Department has placed ancient sculptures, mostly hero stones, in the compound as an open air museum.
The building, facing east and composes of two floors of
arcade chambers, with corner tower on the northern side. Steps in front of
the building lead into the building and staircases on either side lead to first
floor. The ground floor consisting of recessed 45 arches in the pavilion. There
is provision of rooms in the middle of the ground floor and the first floor.
The first floor has 12 arches and eight windows. The surface of the walls of
building is coated with stucco. The tower has six projecting windows
supported by brackets. The palace built without a single rafter is a
combination of Indo-Persian architectural style adopted by Vijayanagara kings.
Penukonda also called
as Ghanagiri or Ghanadri was the second capital of Vijayanagara Empire. At the
fort's eastern entrance there are several inscriptions of the walls and the
language could be Kannada or Telugu. As per the inscriptions at the place
king-Bukka I of Vijayanagar entrusted the province of Penukonda to his son Vira
Virupanna Udaiyar in whose time the Penukonda Fort was built. In view of a huge
incline, the huge and compelling fortress offers a breathtaking point of view
of the town underneath. The fort built out of stone, mortar and lime is not in
the best of state, but instead gives its visitors a gander of the grand past.
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