Other · In Tirupathi
Chandragiri Fort
Timing & entry
Museum open 10 AM–5 PM, closed on Fridays. Entry is about ₹100. A sound-and-light show has run in the evenings; check whether it is on.
Best time to visit
October to February. Go in the late afternoon for the hilltop and the evening show.
Location
Chandragiri town, west of Tirupati on the Tirupati–Chittoor road.
History and legend
The fort was founded in the 11th century by Yadava rulers. The Vijayanagara kings fortified it in the 15th century, and Sri Krishnadevaraya stayed here on his Tirumala pilgrimages.
What to do
See the three-storey Raja Mahal and its archaeological museum (opened 1988), with Chola and Vijayanagara bronzes and life-size figures of past rulers.
The pink two-storey Rani Mahal is next door, and you can climb the hilltop fort walls.
Distance from Nirvana Backpackers
About 15 km, 30 minutes.
How to reach
Take an auto, cab or bus toward Chandragiri.
Stay at Nirvana Backpackers
Budget AC dorm beds in Tirupati, a base for Chandragiri Fort and the rest of the temple town. Lockers, Wi-Fi and free luggage storage.
See beds & prices