Chandragiri: A Vijayanagara Fort

The central focus of this book entitled “Chandragiri: A Vijayanagara Fort” is an analytical study of the structures in the Chandragiri fort namely, the fortifications, temples, palaces and other minor structures in their larger contexts with the aim of explaining how the architectural changes were related to these larger politico-economic processes. Medieval Indian history to a large extent has revolved around regional kingdoms which have been studied only recently and the renewed interest on the Vijayanagara Empire in the current period is a point in this case.

A brief attempt is made here to understand the process of fortification in medieval Andhradesa and how this process was related to larger developments in polity, society, technological innovations, patronage patterns and warfare.

This book begins with a general introduction of fortification in India and then moves on to medieval Andhradesa in particular and looks at the character of forts with the aim of outlining the general features of forts in the medieval period, than proceeds on to a brief survey of the sources, namely the primary and the secondary sources on which this study is based and then outlines the main areas of enquiry. From here, there is a brief discussion on the nature of sources and the scope of the book is discussed in the context of fortification with an emphasis on broad themes. From here the book proceeds on to specifically look at fortification in medieval Andhradesa with the case study of the Chandragiri fort.

Dr. Meesala Ramakrishna obtained his doctoral degree in History in 2014 from the Department of History, University of Hyderabad, India. He published papers in national and international journals and also contributed to chapters for edited books. He presented several research papers in national and international conferences and participated. Presently working as Guest Faculty in Department of History, Pondicherry University, and also worked as Lecturer in History in BSSB Degree College, Tadikonda, Guntur, A.P and Research Assistant, in UPEII, University of Hyderabad. Participated in Megalithic Burial Exaction at Khamam SR & BGNR Degree College, Documentation Assistant under the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA). Participated in Field Work at Nagarjunakonda and Amaravathi, in Guntur District, A.P. Participated in Field Work at MUDUMAL (Megalithic Site) Mahaboob Nagar District, A.P. Participated in Excavation at KONDAPUR, Medak District, A.P (Satavahana Site) under the ASI Bhuvaneshvar Circle, and Convener for History Forum, Department of History, University of Hyderabad. Participated in Field work on Forts, in Nizamabad District, with Dr. Carl Smith & Dr. M.N. Rajesh under UPE Project. Participated in Excavation at University of Hyderabad (Megalithic Site).