Situated strategically on the old Machilipatnam-Golconda trade route, Kondapalli fort was built in 1360 by the Reddy kings, and was held by the Gajapathis, the Qutb Shahis, the Mughals and the nizams before becoming a British military camp in 1767. Today it’s a quiet, lovely ruin. On weekdays, you’ll likely have the place to yourself and you can easily spend a few hours hiking around. Kondapalli village, 1km downhill, is famous for its wooden dolls. The fort is 21km from Vijayawada; an autorickshaw costs Rs. 400 return.
