Andhra Pradesh - Kondapalli Fort, Vijayawada

Event date: 11th March 2012
Kondapali Fort

It was very early on Sunday morning that Phani Kumar, my driver came to fetch me from the apartment in Kantheru. First, we went to get Deepika who waited for us in her house at Vijayawada City. It was very nice of Deepika's mother to prepare our breakfast and lunch for the trip. The place is not really well kept and it was so quite when we reached the top of the hill at around 9am. We were the first to arrive and had to wait for the caretaker to open the Fort. Minimum entrance fee is charged. Deepika gave a sweet post next to the canon as soon as we passed the entrance gate.

The fort is located to the west of Vijayawada city in the main hill range known as "Kondapalli". The hill range, about 24 kilometres in length, extends between Nandigama and Vijayawada. It is connected by road from Ibrahimpatnam and Kondapalli villages. It took us only about 21 km from Vijayawada using National Highway 221 which is also a way connecting to Hyderabad City. The fort, locally known as "Kondapalli Quilla", is the historic fort built by Prolaya Vema Reddy, the Hindu kings of Reddy dynasty of Kondavid during the 14th century (1360), initially as a pleasure place and a business centre, along with the Kondavid Fort in Guntur District. Over the subsequent centuries, it became the theatre of several wars among many northern and southern rulers and the British. In 1541, the fort and the province were conquered by the Muhammadans (Bahmani Muslim sultanate.   

It was under occupation of the Bahmani Kingdom for quite some time, until the Gajapati rulers of Orissa (AP's neighbouring state) followed by Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara empire and it later fell into the hands of another Muslim rulers of the Qutubshahi dynasty in the 16th century. Two treaty of alliance were signed with the Nizam ruler, Ali, recognising the control of the British over the territory. This treaty was initially signed on 12 November 1766 under which, the British Company, in return for the grant of the Sarcars agreed to garrison troops in the fort for the Nizam's aid at an annual cost of 90,000 pounds. It is also stated that in 1766, the British under General Caillaud, stormed the fort and took control of it.

A second treaty was signed on March 1, 1768, under which the Nizam recognised the grant provided to the British by Mughal ruler, Shah Alam. But, as a gesture of friendship, the British (then the East India Company) agreed to pay an allowance of 50,000 pounds to the Nizam. However, in 1823, the East India Company rested total control of the Sarcars under an outright purchase from the Nizam. In the initial years, the fort was used as a business centre but after the British took over the fort in 1766, it was converted into a military training base and being left abandoned after the British departure.

The fort has the best picturesque sight (see my photo above) and has 3 successive entry gates. The main entrance gate is called 'Dargha Darwaja' built with single block of granite. It is 12 feet wide and 15 feet high. It's name is derived from the tomb of Darga of Gulab Shah, who was killed in the battle at the gate area. Besides Dargha Darwaja, another entrance is located on the other end of the hill, which lead to Jaggaiahpet village. Inside the fortified wall, it house numerous towers and battlements. At the far end of the fort there is the Tanisha Mahal (palace), perched on a crest between 2 hills. This palace when in good shape had many chambers on the ground floor and a huge hall on the upper floor. In addition, there are several buildings still standing in the fort, which are ruins.

As for the water supply, there is a deep reservoir near the palace (3rd picture), which is sourced by a spring. The water in the reservoir is said to be cold and to cause fever, thus, its being fenced by the Local Authority. There are numerous other water tanks in the fort area, which go dry during the summer months. An English barrack is still standing in the fort area, which has 8 large rooms apart from a house in an annex. An English cemetery can also be found here.

There were some photos that I wish to share here, i.e. a view of Vijayawada Thermal Plant seen on the east side and a unique trees. Since it was nowhere it can be recovered (gone forever), those wishes and hopes will not bring the photos back. Sigh! Nevertheless I'm still thankful that I have very few left for me to write in this blog to record my travelling journal in Vijayawada, Kondappali Fort. I stayed in Vijayawada for almost a year. Will always remember the memoirs of Vijayawada and the friendship that I left forever close to my heart. Forget me not Deepika :)

Peace!

Lola's hidden spot

Last weekend, while having afternoon tea at our favourite spot of the house whilst watching the sunset, we let the pets out too for fresh air. Tottie sit obediently next to the bird cage.

But Lola, being an aggressive girl, jump to the gate and started walking on timber fencing.

We came to know that the wild bird made a nest at our neighbours courtyard. The birds and the nest is an attraction to Lola.

Lola shall patiently sit at the gate post while waiting for the bird to come out from their nest, and most of the times, she falls asleep during the waiting time. Above photos was the process taken for her to sleep there for sometimes and/or until she gets tired and hungry. She's an adorable cat and I pray that nobody is cruel enough to take her away like our previous beloved cats. Please watch and save her for us, Almighty!

Lola & Tottie welcoming the Love Birds

We added 2 new members as our companion, a pair of Love Bird to our home beginning December 2012. Lola & Tottie are equally thrilled with their arrival. We bought the cats their 3-storey cage and the love birds cage were put on top, so that it will be safe from the harassment :)

The sounds of birds singing made their eyes go wild and few times we caught them try to crawl up above the birds cage. It was fun and beautiful to watch.

Lola is a 3 years old female Persian and Tottie, 2.5 years a male Persian cat are siblings from the same father but different mother. Both parents gone in a tragic incidents which will be unforgettable event for us all. 

Lola apparently is more aggressive than Tottie in many ways. She loves crawling outside and hidden away to places where only Nasrul can find her.

The birds are intended to be their company when we are busy to look after them and of course hoping that they both becoming more active. But to our disappointment, both started ignoring the birds after 2 days. Sigh!

We also trying to put them in a cage at night so my idea of having the cage will not go wasted. But again, they really not used to it and a pity to see their big and heavy size in the cage. However, the cage that was provided in a hostel (where we placed them during our vacation) is even smaller. Can imagine now of their misery being left there with a basic thing, locked in a cage 24hrs a day.

Indeed, their presence made our days fully occupied and cheerfully. We hope you like them too!

How important is your hair style to you?

Naim, my son is very anxious with his hair. It's getting annoying looking at him touching his hair a million times whenever he saw mirror. As he loves sharing my McBook and Ipad, the first thing that I'll see is his photo in the photo booth. Here are some of his numerous hair style throughout the years:-

In 2006, before the hair transformation :)

2009 - It's a year where he kept his hair very long. Nobody can made him cut even 1 mm though the teacher at WIS keep on complaining. It was a famous hairstyle following a shock wave of Korean & Taiwanese drama series in Malaysia. Do F4 group in Meteor Garden series sounds familiar to you? Huh... he adored them!

Jully 2009

Cut a little in Sept 2009

With Nazhif & Luqman in Oct 2009

2010 - Beginning 2010, we shifted back to KL and Naim attended a government school nearby our house. His long hair has to be short, else, the discipline teacher will give him a free hair style cut. The teacher was aiming seriously at him, but couldn't caught him as Naim knows how to gone missing or hide his long hair with gels during Monday assembly. His hair is his asset. However, before 2010 school end, the teacher managed to cut it in front of all students and teacher gathered during the last assembly day. He had to wear head cover when we were in Singapore.

March 2010 Started schooling in Malaysia, hence, the hair must be short!

Nov 2010

December 2010

2011 - It was a peak of his craziness. Right after school holiday, his friend (a hair stylist) wanted him to be his model for the friend graduation show. The hair was dyed stylishly and it was the first time Naim went on stage. We came to know very much later about it.

January 2011

He was on "Hair Runaway", by professional Hair Stylist!

December 2011

2012 - A final year in Secondary school, so, he behaves and made the discipline teacher very proud of his behaviour improvement.

January 2012

September 2012

Below photo was taken on Saturday, 15th December when he and his friend registered themselves for a driving license. He has finished Secondary school when the SPM was over in 2nd week of December.

If you think it's easy and cheaply to maintain, I wish to share that it's not. He visited hair saloon very often, he sacrificed hearing all our nags when he asked for money for the visit. Sadly, we both have no choice but to gave in. 1 day he has to pay on his own, lets bet that he will be more careful with his own money.

Roses in Greece

Let's start with a famous song by Bobby Vinton "Roses are red Violets are blue", 1962 hits.

A rose is a woody perennial of the genus, Rosa within the family of Rosaceae. There are over 100 species of Rosa. Roses can be herbs, shrubs and trees. For the first time in my life, what I saw in Greece is a Rose Tree, so tall and full of healthy roses welcoming a summer season in 2008.

It was a trip back to Athens from Delphi, where the bus made a quick stopped for toilet. It was a dream come true for me to go so near and admiring a beautiful creation of Almighty when the bus driver suddenly stopped for about 5 minutes.

Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses. The garden roses is what I encountered in here, so graceful and stunning.

The name rose comes from french, itself from a Latin word, Rosa, which perhaps borrowed from Greek word wrodon. In Malaysia, we called rose as "Mawar".

Roses form a group of plants that can erect shrubs, climbing or trailing with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Its flower vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy in colours. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America and Northwest Africa.  Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant. 

Below photos are red roses that I saw in Epidaurus Colosseum courtyard. Beautifully blossom and melted my hearts.

Chrysanthemum in Humayun's Tomb

Everyone must have love the crsyanthemum flowers, often called mums or chrysanths, a perrenial (plant that leaves for more than 2 years) flowering plants that of the genus (low level taxonomic rank of living and fossil organism) chrystanthemum in the family of Asteraceae.  Asteraceae is a cluster of aster, daisy and sunflower family. The words asteraceae coming from a Greek word "Aster", meaning star. Thus, these groups of flowers are a resemblance of a Star. Below is a pastel of yellow, truly reflecting a meaning of star flower :)

I wish to share a collection of chrysanthemum that I've took a shot during o family holiday in Delhi, visiting a beautiful Humayun Tombs with beautiful garden sponsored by the Agha Khan. It was a beginning of Winter in Delhi but the flowers stand a harsh cold weather.

Pink chrysanthemum against the sandstones of Humayun's Tomb entrance in above photo.

Bright yellow chrysanthemum, famously use in offering prayer in the Hindu's religion.

A combination of Pink and Yellow chrysanthemum will give a gorgeous looking bouquet to a love 1.

Orange colour chrysanthemum for those who loves challenges and be outstanding.

Pastel pink chrysanthemum for loves and affections. Suitable for all the beautiful girls in the world!

My most favourite color of chrysanthemum above all.

Last but not least, beautiful color of chrysanthemum that I wish to dedicate to my friend, Adibah Hanim. She may want to have this for a brighter start of 2013 year. Happy new year Dib, Bee.. Love you

I have lost more than a thousand pictures of flowers that I took during a visit to Italy, Turkey, Bali, etc due to so much trust over dedicated storage of a hard disk. After weeping sadly regretting those mistakes, it encourage me to seriously write this blog so that all my journals and memory will not be gone astray.

Happy New Year everyone. May love, happiness, compassion and mental/physical health be ours throughout the year. Let us not judge others and made peace with all, starting with our self. Amen!