The Udayagiri Fort

Andhra Pradesh, India

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Udayagiri Fort in Andhra Pradesh is a historic hilltop fortress built around the 14th century by Langula Gajapati, a chieftain under the Gajapati rulers of Orissa.

It later came under the Vijayanagara Empire during Krishnadevaraya’s reign, who undertook a lengthy siege to capture this strategically located fort accessible only through a jungle path. The fort's architecture is notable for its massive granite blocks, thick walls, bastions designed for cannons and muskets, and fortified gateways.

Over time, it passed through the hands of Golconda chieftains and the Nawabs of Arcot before the British took control. Historically, Udayagiri Fort served as a military stronghold, arsenal, and prison for political offenders, with facilities for manufacturing guns, mortars, and cannonballs.

The Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, who later became the chief of the Travancore army, was associated with the fort, and his tomb still remains there. Today, the fort is preserved as an archaeological site and a bio-diversity park, blending its military heritage with natural beauty atop the hill, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.