Kadapa – A Multicultural City

What is the meaning of Kadapa?

The name of the city comes from the Telugu word "Gadapa" which means threshold or gate. It acquired this name with its association with Tirumala Hills; In the old days one had to pass through this city to reach Tirumala hills. In Telugu, the word Gadpa means threshold and over time, the name evolved into Kadapa. After the Treaty of Seringapatam, the Nizam of Hyderabad took over the district. They ceded it to the British in 1800, and in 1808 it was divided as Cuddapah (spelled Cuddapah by the British) and Bellary districts. The district headquarters was located at Siddavatam but was shifted to Cuddapah in 1812.

Situated near the Penna River, Cuddapah is an ancient city in Andhra Pradesh, which is known for its historical importance. Due to the special geographical location, tourists like to come here more. The city is surrounded by Palkonda and Nallam hills.

This historic city has seen many empires settling down and ruining, so the culture here is also diverse. Even today, many ancient structures built during that period can be seen here. Know through this article how special Kadapa is for you in terms of tourism, know about the selected wonderful places here.

Myth of Kishikindhakand – Tourist Places in and around Kadapa

According to the Hindu epic Ramayana, one of the seven kandas, Kishikindhakanda, took place at a place named Vontimitta which is located in Kadapa district. Vontimitta is about 20 km from the main Kadapa city. Near Kadapa is the village of Gandi with the famous Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and people believe that the idol of Lord Hanuman in this temple was made by Lord Rama himself. With the point of his arrow, Lord Rama made an idol of Hanuman ji on a stone. When Hanumanji discovered Goddess Sita, Lord Rama made this idol in honor of Hanumanji.

Gandikota Fort

You can start the Kadapa tour from the ancient Gandikota Fort here. This fort, built during the 13th century, is counted among the famous attractions here. The architecture of the fort is influenced by the Vijayanagara and Quli Qutb Shahi styles. This fort is counted among the selected largest forts of India, which tourists come from far and wide to see. Cuddapah (earlier known as Cuddapah) is a municipal town in the Rayalaseema region and is located in the south central part of Andhra Pradesh. The city gets its name from a Telugu word 'Gadapa' which means border or gate. The city has got this name because from here the path of the holy hill Tirumala starts.

Tirumala is located on the western side of Kadapa. In the year 2010, the spelling of Cuddapah was changed to Kadapa. Cuddapah is located 412 km away from Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The city is situated very near to the Panna river. The city is situated between two mountains Nallamala and Palakonda. Cuddapah was an important part of the Chola Empire between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries.

It was included in Vijayanagara at the end of the fourteenth century. The Vijayanagara Empire was under the control of the Gandikota Nayaks for almost two centuries. These Nayaks acted as the governors of Vijayanagara and are credited with the construction of many ponds and temples in the region. It was conquered by the Muslim rulers of Golconda in the year 1565.

Meer Jumla attacked and plundered the Gandikota fort and defeated the then king Chinna Thimma Naidu using treacherous means. Later the Qutb Shahi ruler, Neknam Khan expanded the boundaries of Cuddapah and named this new expansion as Neknamabad. But whenever historians talk about this period, they use the address 'Nizam of Kadapa' and not 'Nizam of Neknamabad'.

The Nawabs built many mosques and dargahs in this city and contributed in giving a new identity to the art and architecture of the city. In the year 1800, Cuddapah came under the British and they made it the headquarters for one of their four subordinate collectors. The director of this headquarters was Sir Thomas Munro who was the chief collector of this area. The British built three churches in the city of Cuddapah. After independence it became part of the municipality.

What is Kadapa System?

It is surrounded by Nallamala Hills and Palkonda Hills in three directions and is situated on the plateau between Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. Its name is derived from the word "Gadapa", which means "homestead", as it is the gateway to the holy site of Tirumala to its west.

Weather of Kadapa

The place has a tropical climate throughout the year, with very hot summers and mild winters. The monsoon season lasts for about three months and receives moderate rainfall during this time.

How to reach Kadapa

Kadapa is easily accessible by air, rail and road. The city has its own domestic airport which is about 8 km away from the city centre. The nearest international airport is in Hyderabad. Kadapa station falls on the Mumbai-Chennai line, so many trains arrive here at regular intervals. The city is also well connected to other cities of the state by road transport. You will also get buses and cabs to go to Kadapa.

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