KONDAPALLI FORT
Kondapalli Fort, also locally known as Kondapalli Quilla, located to the west of Kondapalli in the Krishna district, close to Vijayawada, the third largest city of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Kondapalli Fort, dating back to 14th century, is constructed on a hillock near Vijayawada.
In the 14th century, Prolaya Vema Reddy of Kondavid built this fort as a recreational and business centre.
Finally the fort was used as a military training base by the British rulers.
A good picnic spot, the village is famous for toy making with light-weight wood available on the hill forest.
This is pleasant picnic spot attracting steady growth of tourists. Besides, there are several other ruined buildings in the fort. Inside the fort, a deep reservoir is located, which has its source in a spring.
These toys are famous world-over as “Kondapalli toys”.
This fort has three successive entry gates, out of which the main entrance gate is called the Dargha Darwaja.
Made out of a single block of granite, this main entrance gate is 3.7 m wide and 4.6 m high.
Another entrance gate of the fort is the Golconda Darwaza, which serves as a gateway to the Jaggaiahpet Village.
Another entrance gate of the fort is the Golconda Darwaza, which serves as a gateway to the Jaggaiahpet Village.
The fort with a three-storied rock tower is assumed to be built by Prolaya Vema Reddi, the founder of Reddy kingdom of Kondaveedu.
Some historians claim that the fort was as old as 7th century and was built by King Krishna Deva Raya.
The fort got renovated later under the control of the Qutub Shahis.
We can still see the ruins of Gajasala (place where elephants are stayed), Ranimahal (Queen s palace) and Bhojanasalas (dining halls), prisons etc.
The Virupaksha temple in the fort premises is ideal for Vanasamaradhana (a Telugu festival in Karthika Masam), celebrated during November. And people from several places visit the place in large number and celebrate the festival.
The major attraction of the fort is the Tanisha Mahal or Palace, which is located on a crest between two hills. and dargah of Gareeb Saheeb, a Persian saint.
The village is renowned for its toys known as Kondapally Toys.
The village is renowned for its toys known as Kondapally Toys.
ABOUT TOY VILLAGE INFORMATION-KONDAPALLI
The town is famous for its colorful toys made of a soft wood called "Tella Poniki" (also known as "Puniki").
This wood is specially grown and carved by highly skilled group of artisans.
The early ancestors of these people belonged to Rajasthan who have migrated to Kondapalli very long back and have started this tradition and they are known as "Nakashus".
Apart from this community, some other families are also engaged in this traditional occupation of toy making.
They acquire the wood from the nearby forests of Gangineni and Madaram.
Instead of cutting down the entire tree, they just cut the branches so that the tree develops the branches again and the wood is available most of the time.
This wood is specially grown and carved by highly skilled group of artisans.
The early ancestors of these people belonged to Rajasthan who have migrated to Kondapalli very long back and have started this tradition and they are known as "Nakashus".
Apart from this community, some other families are also engaged in this traditional occupation of toy making.
They acquire the wood from the nearby forests of Gangineni and Madaram.
Instead of cutting down the entire tree, they just cut the branches so that the tree develops the branches again and the wood is available most of the time.
TOY MAKING PROCESS
The fort is located to the west of Vijayawada city in the main hill range known as Kondapalli in the Krishna district.
The hill range, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) in length, extends between Nandigama and Vijayawada.
The forest area in this hill range abounds in a type of lightwood known as 'ponuku' (Gyrocapus jacquini), which is used exclusively for the manufacture of the famous Kondpalli toys.
The forest vegetation around Kondapalli fort and the nearby hills are also well known for medicinal plants and trees such as Phyllanthus amarus (Telugu local name "nela usiri"), Phyllanthus, Andrographis paniculata (local name: “adavi mirapa” or “nelavemu”), Thedlapala (Wrightia tinctoria), Tephrosia purpurea, Albizia amara, Streulia urens and Chloroxylon swetenia.
This handicraft product has been given a Geographical Indication under the name "Kondapalli Bommalu" ('Bommalu' in Telugu means "Toys"), as protection given to a reputed product.
The hill range is mainly made up of charnockites, with some pyroxene granulites, granites, khondalites, pyroxenites and dolerites.
Several natural materials like enamel gums, water colors, oil paints, tamarind seed powder, saw dust, makku (a herbal adhesive) and lime are used in making of the toy.
As it involves several stages, they first cut the wood, dry it and cut it into pieces.
The wood is then heated up to dry it up and make it moisture free.
And later the artisans chisel the wood into required shape and stuff it with sawdust to give it a fine structure.
Different parts of the toy are carved separately and a natural adhesive made of tamarind seed paste is used to bind the limbs of toy and to give it a final touch. With that, the basic shape is done and they apply a coat of "sudda" (lime) to the toy and dry it for a day or two.
They color it with oil and water colors (natural colors), use vegetable dyes. Precise paintbrushes, which have goat hair, are used to paint the toys and finally they embellish it to finish the toy.
As it involves several stages, they first cut the wood, dry it and cut it into pieces.
The wood is then heated up to dry it up and make it moisture free.
And later the artisans chisel the wood into required shape and stuff it with sawdust to give it a fine structure.
Different parts of the toy are carved separately and a natural adhesive made of tamarind seed paste is used to bind the limbs of toy and to give it a final touch. With that, the basic shape is done and they apply a coat of "sudda" (lime) to the toy and dry it for a day or two.
They color it with oil and water colors (natural colors), use vegetable dyes. Precise paintbrushes, which have goat hair, are used to paint the toys and finally they embellish it to finish the toy.
A very light white wood is used to make the lively painted toys, including mythological figures, women and animals.
Hence, the toys are eco-friendly and much safe when compared to the plastic and synthetic toys.
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